Bowser Bucklers Roller Bearing Trucks

[tom mann]

Are now available:

http://www.zscalemonster.com/full_throttle/200/

Proportionately, they look great; but unfortunately, they look a little soft. 

[techrepjapan]

... but unfortunately, they look a little soft. 

How so?

[tom mann]

How so?

The springs and bearings don't look as sharp as I would have hoped for (MT is still the gold standard).

[DKS]

This is true--the tooling isn't as crisp. Also, be aware that this is not a truly prototypical truck. It has the general detailing of a 100-ton, but the wheelbase and wheel size (33-inch) of a 70-ton. The compromise was necessary in order to prevent them from colliding with the stirrups on some rolling stock.

That said, they still blow AZL's roller bearing trucks out of the water.
 

[Sokramiketes]

The springs and bearings don't look as sharp as I would have hoped for (MT is still the gold standard).

I think you're confusing oversized details for "sharpness" on the MTL trucks.  And the MTL roller bearing looks like a tiny roller skate anyway,  so these FT trucks are really welcome.  I wish I didn't need to buy so many. 

[techrepjapan]

The springs and bearings don't look as sharp as I would have hoped for...

This is my thought, too. But, I'm wondering if it's just a poor quality photo.

Does anyone have any in hand?

[techrepjapan]

This is true--the tooling isn't as crisp. Also, be aware that this is not a truly prototypical truck. It has the general detailing of a 100-ton, but the wheelbase and wheel size (33-inch) of a 70-ton. The compromise was necessary in order to prevent them from colliding with the stirrups on some rolling stock.

That said, they still blow AZL's roller bearing trucks out of the water.

Isn't this new roller-bearing truck actually a Barber roller-bearing truck? I'm no expert, but I notice the triple-spring design versus MTL's dual-spring design of the same name (roller-bearing versus Barber roller-bearing).

Mr. Smith... Have you examined samples? I, too, have the same problem as "Sokramiketes".

[DKS]

Isn't this new roller-bearing truck actually a Barber roller-bearing truck? I'm no expert, but I notice the triple-spring design versus MTL's dual-spring design of the same name (roller-bearing versus Barber roller-bearing).

Mr. Smith... Have you examined samples? I, too, have the same problem as "Sokramiketes".

There are dozens of roller bearing truck designs; Barber is just one, and being a "Barber" doesn't mean it's supposed to look a particular way. The triple springs is what makes the Full Throttle trucks a bit of a foob--usually, trucks with three visible springs are 100-ton. If Full Throttle wanted accurate trucks while still using 33-inch wheels and a shorter wheelbase, two visible springs would have done it; however, they're being used on rolling stock that ordinarily has 100-ton trucks, hence the triple springs.

I received pre-production samples from Full Throttle back in July of last year; the photo in the earlier post is one that I took for their website and packaging.

[techrepjapan]

There are dozens of roller bearing truck designs; Barber is just one, and being a "Barber" doesn't mean it's supposed to look a particular way. The triple springs is what makes the Full Throttle trucks a bit of a foob--usually, trucks with three visible springs are 100-ton. If Full Throttle wanted accurate trucks while still using 33-inch wheels and a shorter wheelbase, two visible springs would have done it; however, they're being used on rolling stock that ordinarily has 100-ton trucks, hence the triple springs.

I received pre-production samples from Full Throttle back in July of last year; the photo in the earlier post is one that I took for their website and packaging.

Thank you for the explanations, Mr. Smith. Any chance that the current production might be different than the pre-production samples you received? Did you happen to provide feedback on the pre-production sample about the "foob"?

[DKS]

Thank you for the explanations, Mr. Smith. Any chance that the current production might be different than the pre-production samples you received? Did you happen to provide feedback on the pre-production sample about the "foob"?

No, the production run is identical to the preproduction samples. I did not offer feedback on the product, as I knew in advance that there would not be an opportunity for any changes.

[Ryan87]

The number of visible springs does not determine the weight capacity of a truck.
There's a number of factors most of which aren't apparent on a model, however there are many
70 ton capacity trucks that look exactly like the bowser truck...

case in point
http://freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cp80503&o=cprail
http://freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=bn217547&o=bn

[DKS]

The number of visible springs does not determine the weight capacity of a truck.
There's a number of factors most of which aren't apparent on a model, however there are many
70 ton capacity trucks that look exactly like the bowser truck...

case in point
http://freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cp80503&o=cprail
http://freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=bn217547&o=bn

I am aware of this. It is only a rule of thumb, not an absolute. Moreover, even if the prototype 70-ton truck in question has three visible springs, the wheelbase on the model is still incorrect, which was a design decision made to ensure compatibility with all rolling stock.

More information on freight trucks here: http://jamesriverbranch.net/clinic_2a.htm

[DKS]

Here's a quick comparison of currently-available roller bearing trucks in Z.

Micro-Trains (original, top; current, bottom):


AZL:


Full Throttle:


Despite the crisp tooling of Micro-Trains' current truck, the details are oversize and the wheelbase is substantially too short.
The proportions of the AZL truck are seriously wonky, and the tooling looks like melted ice cream.
Despite the slightly short wheelbase of the Full Throttle truck, and the slightly soft tooling, IMO it wins hands down.

[tom mann]

I agree that the correct proportions make up for the soft tooling (in this case).  But man-o-man, it sure would be nice to have a truck that combines the best features of the Bowser and MT.

So am I correct in that the AZL wheels do not work with the Bowsers? 

[DKS]

So am I correct in that the AZL wheels do not work with the Bowsers? 

I believe that is correct.