Weekend Update 6/30/13

[3DTrains]

The SM trucks sure have some nice-looking detail, no?

Cheers!
Marc - Riverside

[BCR 570]

Yesterday I built a couple of the Showcase Miniatures F type Cab Overs.

Thanks for posting - going to have to get one of those.  Any chance you could post a photo of the front?

Tim

[bc6]

Here you go, not a great pic however.

Thanks for posting - going to have to get one of those.  Any chance you could post a photo of the front?

Tim

[peteski]

Thanks for posting - going to have to get one of those.  Any chance you could post a photo of the front?

Tim

Why not go right to the manufacturer's website where these are properly featured?
http://www.showcaseminiatures.net/vehicles.html

[nkalanaga]

Peteski:  I went to their site, but it didn't answer my question:  When were the F type COEs first made?  I know it says "80s and 90s", but Ford was making similar trucks in the 60s and 70s.  Do you know when this particular model was introduced?  Or, for that matter, what model it is?  A search on "Ford F series COE" on Google got a lot of Ford F-150 sites, which are certainly NOT these, and nothing that looked familiar.

Or maybe Showcase is calling it an "F type" to avoid licensing issues, and I'm looking for the wrong name?

[pennsyfan1361]

It's a Ford CL9000, I think they came out in 1977.   Rich

[peteski]

Peteski:  I went to their site, but it didn't answer my question:  ...
Or maybe Showcase is calling it an "F type" to avoid licensing issues, and I'm looking for the wrong name?

BCR 570 simply asked for a photo of the front of the model. I pointed him to the manufacturer's website which has a very nice frontal photo of the couple of fully decorated models.  That's all. I didn't answer your question because:

1. It hasn't been asked yet at the time I posted my response.
2. I don't know the answer.
 

If you notice, Showcase is not using names on their models (except for Divco).  Most likely for the reason you stated.  These models feature rectangular headlights which most likely dates them from the late 70s on. I'm no truck expert, but if these trucks existed earlier, you could backdate them by removing those headlights and replacing them with round ones. Just drilling couple of indentations in the nose might do the trick.

[pennsyfan1361]

The Ford W9000 was introduce in 1966 and looks a lot Different then the much taller Ford CL9000 that is showcase F type truck that was introduce in 1977.        Rich

[bbussey]

Very nice Bryan.  Will these sides be available for sale?

Quoting DKS "Molds yield at least 5-6 parts as they are", I highly doubt it. Unless Bryan redesigns the molds...

Well, the resolution to that is to get a clean set of resin masters from the wax tool, then make rubber molds of that to make production parts.  But it has to be planned ahead if that is the desired goal, as you would then have to account for shrinkage of the rubber and shrinkage² of the resin when cutting the wax tool.  I only accounted for one shrinkage of resin with the diners and RPO, since I'm using the wax castings directly and didn't need more than one set of each.  I might build two RPOs so I can paint one in the light silver/gray scheme with the Hunter green window band.  But casting one of each diner style was enough, as New Haven didn't utilize many full-service diners on their intercity trains.

Also, DKS and I have not experimented with the double-casting option.  These resin sides have been the perfect length, but I'm removing sides from existing models which can be done precisely with a milling machine to match the length of the resin sides.  We don't know if there will be a variance when casting car sides for a core kit.  That is future R&D work for another day.

I don't think there would be a viable market for these, since there is no heavyweight core kit.  It might be an option for some oddball lightweight cars once the ALM core kits are available.

[BCR 570]

Why not go right to the manufacturer's website where these are properly featured?

Because bc6 was posting larger and closer-in pictures of an unpainted model which showed more detail.

1977 is my modelling year so I will have to get one or two of these.

Thanks bc6!


Tim

[peteski]

Because bc6 was posting larger and closer-in pictures of an unpainted model which showed more detail.

1977 is my modelling year so I will have to get one or two of these.

Really Tim?
The photo he posted wasn't all that much larger than the website photos, and the photo on the website shows all the details quite nicely.  I suppose that I could post them both here to compare them.  Whatever...   

[nkalanaga]

Peteski:  Thank you.  No, I hadn't asked my question here, because I didn't have the question until I looked at their website!  So, if I gave the impression that I was complaining about you're not having answered it, I didn't intend to. 

pennsyfan1361:  Thank you, too.  Looks like simply backdating the Showcase model is out, so I'll save my money.  What I'd really like is a mid 60s to early 70s long-nose Kenworth, similar to the Athearn HO model, in affordable plastic.  These were one of the signature log trucks of the Northwest, as well as common tractors and straight trucks nationwide.

[pennsyfan1361]

N Kalanaga:  the Con-Cor/herpa Kenworth W900 is a good model with a little work new tires and  air cleaners and take off the Aerodyne sleeper that was introduce in the late 70s. The Kenworth W900 was introduce in 1963/1964 and has been made for decades. Carter has an article on how to improve the look of the Con-Cor Kenworth W900  in N Scale Vehicle Association, Tips 'N Tricks http://nscalevehicles.org/       Rich

[nkalanaga]

Yes, I have a bunch of those Con-Cor/Herpa trucks, both in service and stockpiled.  Even as/is, but with the sleeper removed or changed, they look good.  But they are 30+ year old models, and the molds seem to be getting worn, so a new model would be nice. 

It seems to me that the first version sold by Con-Cor had an earlier style sleeper.  Does anyone else remember these, and if I'm right, know when they changed?

[Wlal13again]

It's a Ford CL9000, I think they came out in 1977.   Rich

Correct