11.08.2021 Views

Deals on Wheels #469

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W<br />

Brisbane Metro RC Truck<br />

and C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> Club<br />

owner Chris Leech<br />

Even the little man in the<br />

truck is highly detailed<br />

ith poor mental and physical health<br />

of truck drivers <strong>on</strong>e of the big issues<br />

facing the industry, small respite from<br />

the road can be found in the form of radio<br />

c<strong>on</strong>trolled trucks, and they aren’t just for<br />

kids anymore.<br />

The Brisbane Metro RC Truck and<br />

C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> Club is a collecti<strong>on</strong> of<br />

individuals who share the passi<strong>on</strong> of<br />

building, modifying and creating in 1:14<br />

scale. And it’s not just trucks either, with<br />

the club boasting a ‘mini city’ display at the<br />

2021 Brisbane Truck Show with trucks, cars,<br />

machinery and buildings all c<strong>on</strong>forming to<br />

the scale with the usual transport-centred<br />

sprawl of depot, quarry and petrol stati<strong>on</strong><br />

giving the display a life-like feel. There’s even<br />

a doughnut shop for the cops to hang out at.<br />

“People who’ve come up to us here at the<br />

truck show are all impressed by the scale of<br />

everything," says club owner Chris Leech.<br />

"The detail, the lights <strong>on</strong> the trucks and the<br />

sounds they make, it’s all pretty realistic."<br />

Looking at the display it really is like a<br />

world in miniature with a loading dock<br />

complete with pallets of oil drums being<br />

loaded via a remote c<strong>on</strong>trolled forklift<br />

<strong>on</strong>to a trailer, which then takes the load<br />

to another destinati<strong>on</strong>.<br />

But it’s the light and sound element<br />

that bring it to life – the beep of the truck<br />

reversing, the simulated pneumatic hiss of<br />

air brakes, even the blare of a truck air horn<br />

is replicated.<br />

It’s easy to see why the hobby is massive<br />

overseas, especially in Northern European<br />

countries like Sweden and Norway where<br />

the weather doesn’t allow a lot of outside<br />

activity, as those countries enjoy large RC<br />

truck shows (pre-Covid anyway) and big<br />

membership numbers in clubs.<br />

While Australia has hundreds of RC clubs<br />

catering to cars and off-road buggies, RC<br />

truck clubs are not as supported but that is<br />

something the Brisbane Metro club wants to<br />

120

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