[Support] M25 Dragon Wagon

[Ecam]

I think it was so big because there wasn't any power steering and you needed to get all the leverage possible to turn it.

Back before I started driving trucks I watched a driver back the trailer in a hole off a side street. He had manual steering, and in the fifteen minutes or so it took him to clear the road way I saw him cut the wheel about twenty times lock to lock maneuvering into position. His cuts were much faster at the start than toward the end. And this was in a conventional tractor that weighed a whole lot less than a DW.

[Ecam]

Crew seating, water cans, commander's desk and 50 cal ammo storage. One seat remains for the 7th crew member and 50 cal gunner but it hangs on the cab structure above the transmission.

[Ad Lav]

Taking shape really well!

[Ecam]

Taking shape really well!

Coming from the guy who gave me the inspiration for this build, thank you.

[Ad Lav]

I miss the M26 - don’t make me build another one

I cheated - shut the armoured windows and hid the interior lol

[Herr Dr. Professor]

"Better?" Yes! I was impressed by the steering wheel spokes, but I noticed the missing levers right away. That's the kind of detail I check each month for the farm model reviews. But I kept my mouth shut because there's no way I could approach the quality of your build. Then, VOILA! the levers appeared beautifully executed. Way to go! WOOHOO!

[Ecam]

"Better?" Yes! I was impressed by the steering wheel spokes, but I noticed the missing levers right away.

I just ran out of time on that day but wanted to get a post in before bed. I learned those three levers are all air brake valves. Center one is trailer brakes (still in use today on semi trucks) the other two were right/left "cutting" brakes for the tractor drive wheels (no steer axle brakes).

[Ecam]

Started the fifth wheel last night. Still need to complete the ramps on the back of the 5th wheel plate and then will start the base. Unlike today's tractors that only tilt fore and aft, the DWs had side to side tilt as well.

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Here is the mechanics of the plate. The spring (last picture) holds the the jaw in the locking position and holds the jaw open when kingpin is out (trailer removed). I did goof on the lever, I had been working from the bottom so long I mirrored the arm. When I was driving trucks I used to curse the engineers when they put the 5th wheel release on the passenger side of the truck. Kingpin mounted to the card in the first photo then removed and locked in the second.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

More accidental learning for me! Thank you! I always wondered how a fifth wheel works. As a young man, I drove (and had to load and unload) any truck, any size, so long as it didn't bend in the middle. Given the chance, this old guy now wouldn't hesitate to try a tractor/trailer.

[Ecam]

There are three styles that I know of in the States (had to buy a bunch of them while a maintaining a fleet). This the rotating jaw, a twin jawed clamshell style and a bar that slid behind the kingpin when locked.