Butler Brothers logger

[Muleskinner]

Way back when I was logging in the Willamette Forest here in Oregon, I had heard tales of an Off Hiway rig in Nianamo, B.C. on the Island of Vancouver which was said could haul three times the load of an average Off Hiway rig any where in the Pacific Northwest. Being a logger you hear a lot of tales, which make Paul and Babe look like midgets. This truck was one of them.

I really didn't believe it until on one trip to the Island to see some friends, I saw this rig sitting in the back lot of a logging outfit in Nianamo, but never had time to stop and look it over. I was steered not to long ago to a web site which had sketchy pictures of the same rig, which I used to do the model. The biggest problem was the size in comparison to what model trucks were on the market today. Then one day I was looking at the models in my stash and low and behold I found the one which I was looking for in the ERTL Payhauler!

I needed two and only had one so I made a trade with Loghauler who lives close by and began my quest to build a hopefully model of this truck, if not perfect but a facsimile to it.

I began by stretching the frame a great deal because of the length of the 1:1 and converting the axles so it would have the four as on the 1:1. I also removed the cab from the Payhauler front end at the line where the floor board met the sides and rebuilt it to the type on the Butler truck. With this done the rest of the Payhauler front end was discarded to the parts box and the front of the frame was built into the type on the 1:1, with the offset radiator beside the engine and air cleaners in front.

To make a long story short, This is the unfinished results of the weeks work. I still have a lot of details to add to the drive train and also another fuel tank for the right side. I also have to add the rear spring supports to the back axle as well as detail the rear bunks by adding cables to them. The steering unit for the tandem steer axles also has to be added.

All in all it has been a challenging model as I do not build trucks very often, unless they are historical or unusual in the logging industry but also it gave me a break from the Lidgerwood I am building. This model will eventually have its trailer unit and will be weathered in my usual fashion. When completed in 1/25th scale the model will be about four feet long when scaled to the 1:1.


The Original 1:1


The 1/25th scale model in progress


Front details showing the suspended cab shock mounts.


Another detail shot of the front end.



Panoramic view length wise of the whole truck.