Showcase Miniatures Brings Back a Vintage Garbage Truck

[cfritschle]

Showcase Miniatures has announced the return of the 1950s era GMC garbage truck!  My reference book for this one is a little vague, but I think the prototype was introduced as a 1948 model, and continued in production through the 1954 model year.

https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/n_scale/n_scale_vehicles/36.html

It is SKU #36, and now includes a vacuum shaped windshield, wheels cast separately from the chassis, and a cast resin cab.

[thomasjmdavis]

Definitely something I can use.  Wonder if I can make decals that small....

[Cajonpassfan]

When you say “vintage”, what era would that be in this case...?
Thanks for posting,
Otto K.

[cfritschle]

When you say “vintage”, what era would that be in this case...?
Thanks for posting,
Otto K.

Otto, 

GMC introduced new styling for the 1948 model year in the summer of 1947.  So, this truck should work for anyone whose modeling era is from the summer of 1947 through the 1950s.  And probably, some of these trucks were still in service in the 1960s.  My brother-in-law had an early 1950s 2-ton Chevy that we used as a water truck through the 1970s.

[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks Carter, good to know. I may need to get one for my “circa ‘49 LA”.
Otto

[mmagliaro]

I really welcome this.  Just so people know, modeltechstudios also has a garbage truck of this style, and one that's even older, more like a 1930s truck.  They are resin, not cast metal, but they look surprisingly good.

https://modeltechstudios.com/hoscale1940s-50seragarbagetruck-loadedwithgarbagelayoutready-1.aspx

(don't be put off by the "hoscale" in the link.  it is N Scale)

[thomasjmdavis]

I really welcome this.  Just so people know, modeltechstudios also has a garbage truck of this style, and one that's even older, more like a 1930s truck.  They are resin, not cast metal, but they look surprisingly good.

https://modeltechstudios.com/hoscale1940s-50seragarbagetruck-loadedwithgarbagelayoutready-1.aspx

(don't be put off by the "hoscale" in the link.  it is N Scale)

Max, I am not a truck expert, but definitely 40s era or later, not 30s.  Plus, did you note this in the Model Tech description:

create a "Garbage Pickup Day" scene curbside in a highly viewed / foreground scene on your layout....
*chassis/cab parts provided by CMW Holdings Ltd*

And I think all CMW trucks so far have been 1948 or later.  All my CMW vehicles are packed away right now, but I am guessing it shouldn't take too much to ID the cab.

That said, both of the Model Tech versions look great, and I think the overall appearance is enough different from the Showcase model and the recent CMW advertised version that one could have all of them.  My only issue with the pre-finished ones is that those who model particular places need correct cabs and paint schemes (Chicago Streets and Sanitation), and having to tear apart a finished model to get the windshield, swap out cabs, etc. is a pain.  So the Showcase model fills a need.

It seems like there are more 50s era garbage trucks released lately than 50s era buildings.

[mmagliaro]

Max, I am not a truck expert, but definitely 40s era or later, not 30s.  Plus, did you note this in the Model Tech description: And I think all CMW trucks so far have been 1948 or later.  All my CMW vehicles are packed away right now, but I am guessing it shouldn't take too much to ID the cab.

That said, both of the Model Tech versions look great, and I think the overall appearance is enough different from the Showcase model and the recent CMW advertised version that one could have all of them.  My only issue with the pre-finished ones is that those who model particular places need correct cabs and paint schemes (Chicago Streets and Sanitation), and having to tear apart a finished model to get the windshield, swap out cabs, etc. is a pain.  So the Showcase model fills a need.

It seems like there are more 50s era garbage trucks released lately than 50s era buildings.

I stand corrected.  Yes, the other style they have: https://modeltechstudios.com/hoscale1940s-50seragarbage-refusetruck-style2layoutready-1.aspx

is also labeled as 1940s/1950s,  not 1930s.

[tehachapifan]

sure wouldn't mind a more modern front-loader. Maybe seventies and later.

[cfritschle]

Both of the Model Tech Studios garbage trucks are based on the CMW IH R-190.  The prototype IH R-190 was marketed for the 1952-1965 model years.  CMW will soon be releasing their own garbage truck with a 1954 Ford cab.  You can see the pre-production samples by scrolling about 1/3 the way down this page.  https://www.nscalesupply.com/cmw/cmw.html

GHQ does make a garbage truck based on the 1970-1984 Ford L-8000, but unfortunately it is not equipped as a front-loader.  http://www.ghqmodels.com/store/53018.html

[daniel_leavitt2000]

sure wouldn't mind a more modern front-loader. Maybe seventies and later.

I have been hiding on to a MakyMyModel front loader for years hoping something better would come out. I wonder if we could light a fire under Showcase to come out with one. If they did a Mack vocational COE, they could use the cab and chassis to make a pumper fire truck.

[James Costello]

I keep wishing a range of injection molded construction / farm equipment with a 60' HTTX / OTTX / MTTX flat is the next DODX-style project for MTL.

I'll have to keep sending pics to @Shipsure