Scania R124GA8x4/4 with Nooteboom Euro low loader

Nowadays I keep a model a bit longer than before. Sometimes I add some things or change it slightly. Of JLM Intertrans I already built a Scania T114G pulling a stepframe trailer. I broke off the trailer to replace it by a Euro low loader. This trailer also fitted well to the bonneted tractor however you don't often see a single air tag axle in combination with a low loader. JLM actually bought this trailer for their four axle Scania and I wanted to build this tractor as well.

Modular When I was taking pictures of the real Scania T114G at their yard they told me they also bought a four axle unit. I was still to be build just like the trailer. But they gave me a specification of the new trailer so I had the dimensions immediately. But it wasn't meant to build this one because I took more attention to their bonneted truck. Besides that I didn't knew how their new tractor would look like and I already started with the T-series tractor. When I removed the trailer after a few years the tractor also should be replaced. It got a complete metamorphose. This time I could play with the modular concept of Scania. Their P-R-T-range has the same base components and you can get innumerous varieties. The P stands for COE with a low cab, the R has an high cab and the T is the bonneted version. The chassis and cabs has the same basis but not every vehicle can be delivered ex works like a low cab tractor with a V8 engine. This engine normally doesn't fit but there are some specialized companies who adapts vehicles to their special purposes. A high roof cab wasn't available on the P-series but nowadays it is. Like the axle configurations you can see many of them within their range. All kinds of more axle vehicles are to be delivered in the P, R and T range however some of them are quite rare (like a T as 6x2/4 tractor). The makeover At first I started to dismantle the bonneted truck. The chassis had to be shortened and the boogie had to be adapted. The T114 had a non driven tag axle with single air while the four axle unit has a double driven boogie which double wheel montage. The chassis was shortened by using smaller Technic beams. Quite an easy task and after a few hours of building this was ready. The engine had to be replaced by another one; the T114 has and 11 litre engine while the R124 is powered by a 12 litre version. The engines are different in real life as well but both have the same size so the new one fitted in the chassis. The mudguards are the same except from the steps. On these truck they are closed. The second steered was the last addition to the chassis. This unit is quite compact. Actually the real thing is fully air suspended but I put leaf suspension on the front axle otherwise it might be less stable. The driver's cab has to fit as well so it would overcome quite a metamorphose. I didn't need the roof spoiler anymore. The company also removed it from their bonneted tractor because they like it more without. But I never removed it from my model. Therefore I had to adapt the backside of the cab by making corners while the sides felt into the cab itself. For the new model I had to make those corners to give it a better look. In 1999 I also build an R-type cab but this one had straight edges at the back. Then I couldn't make it better because you didn't had those small slopes in LEGO's inventory. A very useful set is 4939 containing eighteen of those slopes. Enough for my cab. I had to make an engine hub. The floor was removed and the dashboard had to be adapted at the lower part. Eventually the front of the cab had to be changed as well. The difficulty here was the grille can be opened in three pieces. The side parts are turning outside. While you can also open the doors you have two hinged components at the same point while they also turning into the opposite direction. I wanted to keep the opening doors so I had to think about something else with the 'nose trills'. With the base and top hinges I could solve this. The upper part of these flaps are not very sollid but it looks more real like in this way. The previous 4-series Scanias had plate hinges on top of both flaps so they fitted better. Of course you can tilt the cab and underneath it I put more details than in the bonneted truck. Behind the cab I put a large fuel tank, a storage bin and air tubs. This time it didn't cost me that much time to build a new tractor. low loader As already mentioned I first build the low loader. For me it's a simple trailer with three steered axles. Different from the stepframe trailer I've chosen for gear rack steering instead of pneumatic cylinders. For steering cylinders there was not much space left. The floor is fixed to the axle part and there is a U-shape trough the axle assembly. The back part is more detailed than the earlier Euros I made. For the hydro neck I used pneumatics to operate it. With two big cylinders you can adjust it and with two small cylinders you can set it off from the frame of the tractor while disconnecting it. Therefore I used a single hand pump which is put in the storage bin on the hydro neck. This truck is also laden with the CAT D7R which suits very well on this model. It was also the reason I build this low loader because the dozer actually is too big for the Renault Magnum of Holtrop - Van der Vlist but fitted on that model as well. A project which I could fulfill in quite a short time. Other data Length: 150 cm Width: 19.2 cm Height: 30 cm Wheelbase: 35 cm Construction: short Date: May 2007 - September 2007 (trailer December 2006 - April 2007)

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