The Tonkin tractors are 1:53 ,Their trailers measure 1:50 scale same as Conrad.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT CONRAD TRAIERS ARE THE WRONG SCALE AS THEY MEASURE THE SAME AS THE TONKIN

To all,

Sorry to contradict some of you, but Tonkin Replicas claim their trailers to be 1/53: http://www.tonkinreplicas.com/model-finder11.htm

Moreover, the Rackley 16-tire expando lowboy has a standard deck width of 8'6" or 259cm: http://www.rackleybiltcustomtrailers.com/emptycatalog/index.html . Should the model be in a true 1/50 scale, then the deck should measure 5.18cm in width but it is only 4.9cm wide, which equals to a 1/5285 scale, very close to the claimed 1/53 scale (259:53= 4.888cm).

One easy way to further verify the true Tonkin scale is this:

- the 48' semi-trailer: it should be 29.26cm long in 1/50 scale and 27.60cm only in 1/53,
- the 53' semi-trailer: it should be 32.3cm (1/50) or 30.17cm (1/53): that 1.83cm difference in length makes a noticeable difference, when you compare 1/53 and 1/50 53' semi-trailer models.
Does anyone owns any of these Tonkin models to verify it?

I hope this helps.
Guy

Okay Guy: Take a regular three axle Tonkin lowboy "Cheater XL". It should scale out to 1/50 like George Hiram is saying. BUT, these Rackley trailers are smaller and, as you point out, are scaled to 1/53. Take four different manufacturer's three axle lowboys (American style) and put them side by side. I took the Conrad Talbert, The First Gear Talbert, the Tonkin XL Cheater, and the Sword(WSI) Rogers. All four are very close to the same width. But they are all different sized in length. NOW, I don't know how these four model lowboys compare to the real lowboys. In length, the Conrad model is the shortest. Then the Tonkin is next. Then the First Gear, and finally the Sword is the longest three axle lowboy. So someone smarter than me please figure out how this mess ends up. By the way, the Joal three axle is shorter and wider!!!!!!!!! Thought that would help mess up everything. Claus, your thoughts???????? Craig

I measured the following trailers with a 1/50 scale ruler. First, length doesn't enter into the equation, as there are many deck lengths available in real life from 20 ft. to 30 ft. All trailers have 3 axles on the rear. The neck swing is the radius from the king pin to rear for tractor turning distance. The Ken Craft trailer has what appears to be a 10ft or wider deck, not very practical for an average trailer.


Conrad Talbert: 7ft.9in.wide, 20ft.deck length, 78in.neck swing, 4ft.axle spread, 43ft.6in.total length
typical trailer of the time 70's - 80's, 18ft. or 20ft. decks.

Tonkin Rackley: 7ft.9in.wide, 20ft.deck length, 84in.neck swing, 5ft.axle spread, 41ft.total length
27ft. of deck to the rear of bolster between axles

Tonkin XL Cheater: 7ft.9in.wide, 23ft.deck length, 78in.neck swing, 4ft.axle spread, 48ft.total length


1st Gear Talbert: 8ft.3in.wide, 23ft.deck length, 72in.neck swing, 4ft.2in.axle spread, 48ft.total length


Norscot Trail King: 8ft.wide, 25ft.deck length, 93in.neck swing, 4ft.4in.axle spread, 50ft. total length


Sword Rogers: 8ft. 1in.wide, 24ft.deck, 78in.neck swing, 4ft.3in.axle spread, 50ft.total length

Diecast Masters: 8ft.wide, 27ft.deck, 84in.neck swing, 4ft.4in axle spread, 53ft.total length
XL Specialized

Average US trailers (except the West Coast Rackley type trailer) are:

8ft.6in. wide, 26ft.deck, 84in.neck swing, 4ft.6in.or 5ft.axle spread, and 51-53 ft. total length.

So, I would say the Tonkin trailers could pass as 1/50 scale trailers.

Thank you Clifton, I didn't have the Rackley specs handy.