New Nn3 power truck from Showcase Miniatures

[TomBo3]

Just got this new Nn3 power truck today from Showcase Miniatures. The photos show it beside my Searails power truck. The one from Showcase runs smooth and slightly slower then the Searail unite. It looks like the new power truck will fit wherever the searails one will with some slight modification to the loco you want to power. If you want one, better order now as the first shipment to Showcase is only 20 unites. Tried to add pictures but a popup states I'm not allowed to add pictures???

[Chris333]

Think you need 25 posts first.

Here is a link: https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/nn3_scale/0018.html

It looks smaller and with a shorter wheelbase to better match their Shay kits.

[160pennsy]

My Showcase Miniatures Nn3 power chassis arrived yesterday and I also took some comparison photos next to the Searails PowerMAX. This new power chassis is meant to be a replacement for the now OOP Searails PowerMAX which was used in the Showcase Miniatures Nn3 Shay & Climax kits. The wheel base on the Searails unit is around a scale 5’ 3/4” and the Showcase Miniatures scales out to 5’. The rear truck side frames on the new Showcase power unit attach to an etched metal box (comes with the power unit & you have to fold & assemble) that fits over the chassis. If you have one of their Climax or Shay kits just specify which kit & they’ll include the side frames when you order the new power chassis. The rear truck side frames on the Searails unit were attached by first removing the bottom plate and then replacing it with a new cast bottom plate & side frames from the kit.

Showcase Miniatures on left, Searails on right. My initial test run results were similar to what TomBo3 saw...IMHO it seems to run better (and is quieter) than the PowerMAX but your mileage may vary.

[Chris333]

Any problems with wheel wobble on the Showcase truck?  It took me 3 Power Max chassis to get one with straight wheels.

[160pennsy]

Any problems with wheel wobble on the Showcase truck?  It took me 3 Power Max chassis to get one with straight wheels.

No wheel wobble that I could notice Chris. The PowerMAX in my photos does have some wobble when it runs and requires additional weight on top to improve electrical pickup. I'll try to post some videos of each once I get them uploaded to YouTube

[Chris333]

Cool. The short WB should look better under their Shay as well.

[160pennsy]

Some videos of both power chassis running on test track. My power pack is a Rokuhan RC-02

[randgust]

Hey, I may have discovered something.

I just got the Nn3 16-ton Shay kit and power truck.   Power truck works well enough.   But my experience with everything is that I was dumbfounded that the lead truck doesn't do anything at all.  It really, really, should at least have power pickup.   I've got a lot of switches, including Marklin curved.   My Climax works OK, no pickup issues, but a single power truck?

In my Nn3 Climax A, using the Rokuhan SA-001 (which is just a rocket sled out of the box) the lead truck is a classic, end-axle, 4x4 pickup, very free wheeling.   I use it on my Climax A as the unpowered truck and rely in it for most of the electrical pickup; it even uses ears and spring wipers just like the Kato 11-105.   

I'd broken one of the Rokuhan SA power trucks, saved the pickup truck, did a comparison with the printed Showcase truck.  Holy smokes, that pickup truck really looks like it could be substituted for the lead truck on the Shay, file off the sideframes and glue on the Shay ones, set up insulated pickup wipers under the frame, you'd have 4x4 pickup on the lead Shay truck without any additional drag at all.   I've got to try that.  The bolster pin on the Rokuhan 'looks like' it can be mounted to the Showcase frame.  Those Rokuhan chassis are dirt cheap, too.

Stay tuned....

[randgust]

OK, so, so far it looks promising.   Assembling the kit now.

First challenge was putting a second set up pickup wires into the power truck.   Done.  Works.   Use extra decoder wire ends, nice and flexible.

I'd do a build thread on this if anybody wants it.... otherwise just results.

[Chris333]

Those Rokuhan chassis are dirt cheap. I never bought one, but if you get 4 wheel pick-ups from it then it's worth it. You can get the unpowered chassis for $13. http://www.zscalemonster.com/rokuhan/rolling/

[bbunge]

I had noticed the same with the Showcase shay.  I will have a lot of switches and plan to power the frogs, but the pick up the better, so a good lead! 

FYI, I haven't played with it much, but the B&O 0-6-0 seems to be a niffy little engine and good runner.  Tom Knapp has put up some nice looking low Nn3 shells ranging from simple to complex to make a 2-6-0.

https://3dptrain.com/pages/seller-profile/t-r-knapp-model-engineering