This model from Kevin Shanahan represents a tractor-trailer combination hauling chemicals for a fictitious company called E. E. Souther. It is known in the industry as EES. The combination is designed to be as lightweight as possible to maximize payload. The tractor is a Peterbilt 362 non-sleeper cabover tandem drive with a third air lift pusher axle pulling a 48' tri-axle chemical tank trailer. The gross combination weight is 140,000 lbs. The tractor has single exhaust, aluminum frame and wheels, and low profile tires. The trailer has no landing gear in order to save additional weight and is set off on support stands when disconnected from the tractor. The 600 horsepower Cummins ISX driving through an Allison automatic transmission and 46,000 lb. tandem drive axle ensure the combination keeps up with traffic on the flat highway and will not impede traffic on even the steepest legal grades.

The Peterbilt tractor is a Herpa model with the cab cut down to a day cab configuration. The frame was stretched to add the pusher axle to the tandem drive axles. The front steering axle is a Herpa steering axle conversion kit with Herpa duplex tires and wheels. The tractor and trailer tires are Dennis Aust low profile 11x24.5 tires mounted on A-line ten hole polished aluminum wheels. The tractor features a cut-off bumper, A-line kitbashed fuel tanks, Plano Model Products deck plates, an Alloy Forms exhaust stack (with hollow metal exhaust stack) and air intake, Microscale Decals, Howard's Hobby license plates, Herpa roof mounted air fairing, scratchbuilt side fairings, scratchbuilt trailer air lines and light cable, and pump off hoses.

The trailer is a 38' Herpa tank trailer stretched to 48' in length, with 5 bulk reinforcement bands added to the trailer, a repositioned tri-axle, extended and kitbashed fenders, Microscale decals, Howard's Hobby license plates, and Dennis Aust 11x24.5 low profile tires on A-line polished aluminum wheels.

The model was painted with Tamiya, Floquil, and Model Master paints and finished with Testors Dullcote.

Posted July 14, 2012