By Bruce Dombey/photos by the author
A small corner of my On30 layout models a heavy industry, one that handles palletized material. For years I have searched for a 1940s vintage forklift in O Scale to no avail. Then about a year ago I found a modern 1:43 forklift at a show and thought it had enough “vintage” features that I could backdate it. The model in question is a Welly diecast forklift model #9797 as seen in Photo 1. (These can be found on eBay quite easily. —Ed.)
![Vintage Forklift Kitbash](https://oscalemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ost-vintage-forklift-02.jpg)
I did not work from plans but, after forty years of working in heavy industry, I had a vision of what my finished forklift would look like. First I disassembled the model completely and began work on the body. I cut two pieces of 0.030” thick styrene, one 1’0” x 4’3” and the other 2’0” x 4’3”. When glued together they form the firewall between the engine compartment and the operator, and a platform for the engine (See Photo 2). I trimmed and sanded the engine platform to match the sides of the forklift body using a small machinist square to check my progress. Once it was shaped properly, I glued a shim under the platform to keep it level and then cemented the unit in place.
![Vintage Forklift Kitbash](https://oscalemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ost-vintage-forklift-01a.jpg)
Next I cut a piece of 0.010” thick styrene to the shape shown in Figure 1 and Photo 2. This is a wrapper that will form the back of the new forklift body. I set the body flat on the work surface and placed the wrapper against it. I wrapped the styrene around the body, cementing as I went and glued the top of the wrapper to the engine platform/firewall. For added definition I glued a 0.010” x 0.060” styrene strip around the top of the engine compartment and another 0.010” x 0.1875” strip at the belt line. These can be seen in Photo 3.
![Vintage Forklift Kitbash](https://oscalemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ost-vintage-forklift-03.jpg)
A new dashboard was needed and I started with a piece of 0.020” styrene sheet cut 2’0” x 3’3” and framed it with 0.020” x 0.100” strip. I added another 0.010” x 0.060” strip around the base (See Photo 4). The steering column is 0.062” diameter styrene rod drilled to accept a common straight pin and glued to the dashboard. Flanking the column are two 0.125” dia. disks punched from 0.030” styrene to represent the gauges.
![Vintage Forklift Kitbash](https://oscalemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ost-vintage-forklift-04.jpg)
The original steering wheel was too small. I made a new wheel by removing half the spokes from an O Scale brake wheel and drilled it to take a straight pin. The shift lever is made from another straight pin with a large round head.
The fuel tank seen in Photo 4 was made from 0.218” (7/32) dia. styrene tubing cut 1’6” long. The ends were made from 0.030” styrene sheet using a 0.1875” (3/16) hole punch. The cap was made using a 0.125” (1/8) hole punch. The hold down straps are 0.010” x 0.060” styrene.
![Vintage Forklift Kitbash](https://oscalemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ost-vintage-forklift-05.jpg)
The engine is an HO Scale casting made by Life-Like, part # 1659, Power Generator. I removed the unit from its frame and cut off the fan and the crankcase. After I relocated the air cleaner, the unit was ready to be cemented to the engine platform. I reused the exhaust pipe by slipping it into a piece of 0.156” (5/32) tubing to represent the muffler.
![Vintage Forklift Kitbash](https://oscalemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ost-vintage-forklift-06.jpg)
The chassis required some work as well. I removed one front wheel to shorten the axle so that when reassembled the wheels would fit tight against the frame. I also removed the rear wheels and axle so I could deepen the notches in the frame that would allow the rear wheels to fit inside the new body wrapper.
![Vintage Forklift Kitbash](https://oscalemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ost-vintage-forklift-07.jpg)
I added a few nut-bolt-washer castings to the lift assembly and using scrap styrene rod and strip I fabricated a lift drive. The drive is a double-ended motor with pinions that drive the racks on the lift. All of the parts and pieces prior to final assembly can be seen in Photo 5.
![Vintage Forklift Kitbash](https://oscalemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ost-vintage-forklift-08.jpg)
I brush paint all of my models using Polly Scale acrylic paints. I painted the entire forklift body Olive Drab. The fork assembly, engine exhaust and wheels were painted Roof Brown. I used Grimy Black for the tires, seat, floor mat and steering wheel. The “CASE” dry transfer is a Woodland Scenics item. Finally I view the finish a model receives as another detail, so I brushed a generous amount of tan chalk over every-thing because a variegated surface always looks more realistic (Photos 6 and 7).