skunk
87thScale addict
5th B-day
Posts: 2,762
|
Post by skunk on Sept 3, 2004 23:37:31 GMT 1
I would like to make one of these TATA trucks. Which would be the best base for a kitbash? I am not a great truck fan, so I dont even know exactly which Benz it is based on?  Then, I will get to decorate it, like the trucks are in India, which should be a lot of fun. |
|
stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
|
Post by stanhas87 on Sept 4, 2004 2:17:08 GMT 1
|
|
skunk
87thScale addict
5th B-day
Posts: 2,762
|
Post by skunk on Sept 4, 2004 3:10:07 GMT 1
That will be perfect I should think.
Interesting that the TATA has a split windshield. I wonder if that is due to Indian truckers' preferences, or if TATA just werent able to make windowglass that large and complex?
And now the Wiking fanatics will be upset with me for messing up a Wiking...
|
|
|
|
Post by only87 on Sept 4, 2004 5:36:45 GMT 1
The cabin the Tata is based on the Mercedes NG (standing for New Generation). It is the one with the "step" in the door window. The type that followed this one is called SK (schwere Klasse = heavy class/purpose), it is the one with the Porta trailer and the car transporter on the site Stanhas87 has linked to, which is not more than an updated NG cab.
I think the Tata has a split-screen for a better stability of the cab, the Indian roads are very rough, so they build the trucks very tough. And it may be more pricey to build that way, although the windscreen on the NG/SK line is totally flat.,.
The NG cab was made in two different versions, the narrow and the wide one, Herpa made the wide one. Wiking, Preiser, Kibri and Herpa (daycab) made the small cab (to speak of the NG type). Mercedes was the only manufacturer that offered a semi-cab, which is a mixture of daycab and long haul cab. Roskopf made this one. The narrow cab had all options, the wide cab was only available as a long haul cab, all in all four different. Tata took the small cab as a basis, but no semi-cab. The shape of the Wiking cab is so so, the best one should be the daycab from Herpa, if you could get hold of one.
Kibri and Wiking made both, the long and the short cab.
Btw, there's no such thing as a 1600 serires. The Mercedes nomenclature (still) works like this: The first two numbers (or maybe just one) are the maximum gross weight in tons (trailer not included). The last two digits are the horsepower in tenners (26 = 260 hp).
Tata's logic is the same.
|
|
skunk
87thScale addict
5th B-day
Posts: 2,762
|
Post by skunk on Sept 4, 2004 18:06:28 GMT 1
That was just about everything I could expect to find out. Thank you only87.
That also helps explain the name of the Tata in the pic. It is called the LPS 3516 TC (L= name of truck, like NG/SK?, P=tractor, S=single axle, TC=Twin Cab?). 3516 would indicate it's a 3,5 tonner, 16 would mean 160hp. That would mean that they rounded the numbers up a bit; according to the spec sheets, it has 150.6hp... top speed 69.7 km/h!
Now I just have to find a Herpa NG day cab to work from. ;D
|
|
skunk
87thScale addict
5th B-day
Posts: 2,762
|
Post by skunk on Sept 4, 2004 19:10:12 GMT 1
|
|
|
|
Post by only87 on Sept 4, 2004 19:31:12 GMT 1
LPS means:
L = Lastwagen, the german word for a truck above 7,5 tons.
P = cab over engine, I forgot what the P actually stands for.
S = Sattelzugmaschine, german for articulated lorry or tractor-trailer.
A standard Mercedes truck is just called L, all that differs from the standard is added to the L, so a L, LP, LS and the LPS should appear in the TATA program, but it doesn't. A Standard truck is called S, which confuses the things a bit. An A should stand for Allrad, which means all-wheel drive, a K for Kipper, dump truch chassis.
TC sounds plausible for twin cab, but I think it stands for turbo charged, a quick look on the TATA range made this quite secure. The 6 in line cummins engine really is turbocharged!
The artics also seem to differ in its nomenclature from Mercedes'. The 35 means 35 tons gross weight allowed. Mercedes wouldn't add the trailer, a similar Mercedes would be called something like 1616 (maximum front axle wight is 6 tons, rear axle 10 tons on this TATA).
I think I have some jpgs of the TATA and it's Mercedes counterpart and will forward them to you.
|
|
|
|
Post by only87 on Sept 4, 2004 19:46:28 GMT 1
|
|
skunk
87thScale addict
5th B-day
Posts: 2,762
|
Post by skunk on Sept 5, 2004 2:42:19 GMT 1
Thanks for all of your help!
The collected knowledge of the members of this site is quite impressive!
|
|
|
|
Post by Marc S. on Sept 5, 2004 15:15:19 GMT 1
only87,
I have a question in regard of your remarks on Mercedes' name scheme. I thought that the current scheme was
- S (Sattelzugmaschine) for truck-tractors (and no letter if it is a straight truck), and
- LS (Luftfederung, Sattelzugmaschine) for air-suspended truck-tractors (hence, L for an air-suspended straight truck).
I agree with the A and K designations.
I recall the LPS names very well, so did Mercedes change the scheme at some point in time, or is my information just wrong?
Thanks!
Marc S.
|
|
stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
|
Post by stanhas87 on Sept 5, 2004 20:08:47 GMT 1
|
|
|
|
Post by only87 on Sept 5, 2004 21:25:29 GMT 1
only87, I have a question in regard of your remarks on Mercedes' name scheme. I thought that the current scheme was - S (Sattelzugmaschine) for truck-tractors (and no letter if it is a straight truck), and - LS (Luftfederung, Sattelzugmaschine) for air-suspended truck-tractors (hence, L for an air-suspended straight truck). I agree with the A and K designations. I recall the LPS names very well, so did Mercedes change the scheme at some point in time, or is my information just wrong? Thanks! Marc S. I don't really know much about actual trucks, but I believe there has been a change. As far as I know, the lettering is quoted now after the numbers (1843 LS), whereas in the old days it was reverse (LS 1624). A simple L would not make any sense any more, because Mercedes doesn't offer a bonneted type of truck any more (exception in Brazil). But It may already have changed back in 1973 when the NG series replaced the heavy LP series (with the cubic cabin). The smaller LP trucks were only updated and were finally replaced in 1984 by the LK (leichte Klasse/ light class) series, so until then there was the NG series and the LP. Air suspension should have debuted in the late 60's, so this could have been a good point to rearrange their nomenclature. Mercedes nomenclature always was meant to be logical, but it didn't always follow one logic because the they always hesitated to rename their products until they had a new product, not an updated one and so the updated ones still remained in their old nomenclature. That makes the overall view very confusing. Tata didn't hesitate, I know the truck fom the picture was sold as a 1616 back a while, now it's called 3516. Well, that confuses everything... I don't dare to look what the Mercedes trucks from Brazil are called nowadays. |
|
|
|
Post by only87 on Sept 5, 2004 22:00:31 GMT 1
Now I was curious and took a look at the Brazilian Mercedeses. www.mercedes-benz.com.br/veiculos_comerciais/caminhoes/extrapesados.htmThe listing in the left side is only logical from an historical point of view. The standard trucks still share the old nomenclature whereas the new ones (the cabover types) are called different. The LK-2638 has nothing to do with the "Leichte Klasse" LK-series from 1984 because this one still follows the older logic from the 1960's and means standard truck with dump body (Lastwagen/ Kipper). But it shares most of the cab parts with it. Anyone confused? No wonder. It all makes sense in the end, but one could write a dissertation about it. |
|
stanhas87
87thScale addict
1978 Dodge Monaco CHP
Posts: 4,906
|
Post by stanhas87 on Sept 6, 2004 1:46:09 GMT 1
Dear Sirs:
The more I look to the Brazilian LS 1634,the more Navistar it looks like to me. Probably that was developed with DaimlerChrysler connections - Freightliner or Sterling.
|
|
|
|
Post by only87 on Sept 6, 2004 4:05:32 GMT 1
|
|
