Showcase/MAC N Scale Model Vehicle Comparisons

[haasmarc]

Are you sure?

[cfritschle]

Are you sure?

The 4-door sedan in the photo shown above definitely has B pillars.  However, if you remove the B pillars, you can use the Showcase/MAC model as a stand-in for the 4-door hardtop, as shown below.  However, there is a difference between the sedan and the hardtop in the rear side windows. So technically the Showcase/MAC model is the 4-door sedan, but now that one of the B pillars is gone, I am going to remove the other B pillar and call my model a 4-door hardtop.  There is no way I will be able to find and replace the broken B pillar. 



Update:

The Showcase/MAC 1964 Ford Galaxie 4-door sedan has been “repaired” and is now a 4-door hard top.  It came out of the repair shop looking a little rough, but I am sure I will be able to find someplace to park it on the layout.



Edited to create new links for images.
 

[screeh]

Reviving this thread, as the latest newsletter from Showcase Miniatures includes a wee bit of info on making windshields:

"Since we have already posted about how WE make windshields, we thought we would share how SOME of our customers make windshields... Timothy [Petrishen] shared with us that he learned how to make windshields from watching Ken Patterson's "What's Neat This Week in Model Railroading"
There are two episodes that detail how to make windshields from transparent tape.
Episode #32 at the 11:07 mark (https://youtu.be/vidOB49jYYk?si=y-_iEP3yANIF9pAB)
and
Episode #86 at the 8:54 mark (https://youtu.be/zfSSXo41W-I?si=YJCDbqwdmSM0NV6l)"

The examples are HO and I anticipate that applying this method in N would be a true test of Zen.

Cheers,

Stu

[cfritschle]

These comparison photos are for the Showcase/MAC 1958 “C. A.” Series Long Bed pickup (J12NB).  While the overall size and proportions of the pickup looked good, I did notice that the front bumper of the pickup seemed to ride a little too high compared to the rear bumper.  So, after priming the body and chassis I decided to see if the front of the pickup could be lowered.  After carefully working between the front tires with a small grinding wheel mounted in a Dremel, I was able to remove some material from the top part of the chassis where the front of the pickup meets the chassis.  After a little more work with a file, the contact point for the front of the chassis now had about a 45-degree slope as shown in the photo.

The Showcase/MAC 1958 Chevy pickup chassis after the removal of a small amount of material at the front of the chassis.


When I placed the pickup body on the chassis, the front bumper was significantly lowered.  The photo below shows the Showcase/MAC 1958 Chevy pickup before (on the left) and after (on the right) the removal of that small amount of material from the front of the chassis.


So, with that task accomplished, I finished the painting and detailing, and then took some comparison photos with the Atlas Ford F-150 and the RPS/Atlas Ford F-250 pickups.

This comparison photo shows the Showcase/MAC 1958 Chevy pickup parked next to an Atlas 1997-2004 F-150 pickup.


And this comparison photo shows the Showcase/MAC 1958 Chevy long bed pickup parked between an Atlas 1997-2004 F-150 pickup and a River Point Station (now Atlas) 1992-97 F-250 pickup.


The N scale length and width of the Showcase/MAC 1958 Chevy Apache compares very favorably with the width and length of the prototype, which appears to be the long bed (98 inches long) Fleetside pickups that were introduced “late” in the 1958 model year.  And, while the cab of the 1958 Chevy appears smaller than the cabs of the Fords from the 1990s in the comparison photos, this is prototypical because the cabs of most full-size pickups became roomier beginning in the early 1960s.  Also, since the Showcase/MAC 1958 Chevy’s cab may appear small to some observers, I have included another photo comparing it to a more contemporary N scale pickup to the 1958 Apache. 

Shown below is the Showcase/MAC 1958 Chevy Apache parked next to the Woodland Scenics’ pickup (with Hal in the driver’s seat and Duke in the pickup bed) which appears to be based on a grille less 1955-57 Chevy Cameo.  And, the N scale length and width in 1:160 inches of the Woodland Scenics pickup are very close to the 1:1 width and length of the prototype 1955-57 Chevy Cameo.


Here is a link to the Showcase/MAC 1958 Chevy Apache pickups:  https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/madaboutcars/n_scale/J12N.html

Edited to create new links for images.

[cfritschle]

This comparison is for the Ford Econoline passenger van from the "F" E Series Trucks group; the Showcase/MAC ’74 - ‘91 "F" E Series Passenger Van (J22NA).  When my April order from Showcase arrived with five more Showcase/MAC 3D printed models, this one jumped to the front of the line to be painted and photographed.  The reason was personal; in that I logged thousands of miles all over Idaho, both as driver and passenger, in a white 1988 Ford Econoline passenger van for my work.  While I don’t remember exactly how many miles that van had accumulated from when it went into service in June of 1988 to sometime in the late 1990s, when it was determined the van was ready to be disposed of at auction, I do know it was well in excess of 100,000 miles. 

When I measured the model with digital calipers, I was very pleased to find that each dimension measured (length, width, height and wheelbase) came within one scale inch of the prototype’s dimensions!  And while Ford did use the same body sheet metal on the Econoline vans for the 1974 to 1991 model years, the headlights and grille on this model best represent the 1979-81 model years.  However, the only difference between the grille on this model and the grille of the 1982-91 Econoline vans is the addition of the Ford blue oval, which was added in the center of the grille beginning with the 1982 model year.

The comparison photo below shows the Showcase/MAC 1979-81 Ford Econoline passenger van parked next to an Atlas 1997-2004 F-150 pickup.


And this comparison photo shows the Showcase/MAC 1979-81 Ford Econoline passenger van parked between an Atlas 1997-2004 F-150 pickup and a River Point Station (now Atlas) 1992-97 F-250 pickup.


Another feature of this model, besides being nearly perfect 1:160 scale, is the wheels have prototypical looking hubcaps, which create a slight “ridge” between the hubcap and the tire.  This “boundary” helps with painting the hubcaps silver (I used a silver Sharpie followed by a coat of Tamiya TS-80 flat clear) and the tires black, and have the colors staying where they belong. 

Here is the link to the "F" E Series Trucks on Showcase Miniatures’ website: https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/madaboutcars/n_scale/J22N.html

Edited to create new links for images.

[cfritschle]

It has been a while since I have been able to work on the 3D printed Showcase/MAC models.  Around the end of May I had gotten to the measurement stage for my example of the Showcase/MAC '57 "C" Series Cars, specifically the 1957 Chevy 4-door sedan (J10NA).  The published length for the prototype 1957 Chevy was 200 inches.  My calculated overall length of the model using a bumper-to-bumper measurement resulted in the model being 198.56 scale inches.  This measurement indicated the model was a bit undersized.  However, when the 1957 Chevy was compared to the Wiking Malibu, it did not look undersized at all.  Today (July 26) I realized the fins extend beyond the rear bumper, so when I remeasured the length of the model from the front bumper to the end of the tail fin, the calculated overall length was 200.72 scale inches.  Using this length to calculate the scale of the model results in a 1:159.4 scale model.  Generally, I have found that if the calculated scale of a vehicle model falls somewhere between 1:159 scale and 1:161 scale, the model looks appropriate when the goal is to achieve a 1:160 scale scene.  The only downside of having this model is now my 1957 Chevy Bel Air models from Alloy Forms look too small. 

The comparison photo below shows the Showcase/MAC 1957 Chevy One-Fifty parked next to a Wiking 1964-65 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu. 


And this photo shows the Showcase/MAC 1957 Chevy One-Fifty parked between the Wiking Malibu and an Alloy Forms 1957 Chevy Bel Air.


Here is the link to the Showcase/MAC '57 "C" Series Cars:  https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/madaboutcars/n_scale/J10N.html

Edited to create new links for images.

[Mark5]

Thanks Carter - that '57 Chevy looks pretty good!

Do the "MAC" vehicles come with any suggestions for windshields? Or are we on our own for that?

Mark

[cfritschle]

Thanks Carter - that '57 Chevy looks pretty good!

Do the "MAC" vehicles come with any suggestions for windshields? Or are we on our own for that?

Mark

Mark,

Walter Vail did make a vacuum formed windshield for the Ford Econoline. No one seemed to be interested in buying them, so he dropped the windshield from the website.  I haven't tried it yet for Showcase/MAC models, but Microscale Kristal Klear should work well with these models.  Canopy glue has also been suggested, but that was not available at my "local" hobby shop the last time I checked.

I have had some success using Kristal Klear to "improve" the windshields for some of my old Bachmann vehicles.  https://nscalevehicles.org/tips_n_tricks/bachmann_autos1.php

[Mark5]

I'm not so sure that anything like Microscale Kristal Klear would work for the '57 Chevy - check out the glass on this car (my brother had a slew of '55-'57 Chevys that he raced):

https://www.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/21/2017/02/1957-chevy-bel-air-pendelton-left-profile.jpg

Mark

[cfritschle]

Mark,

I agree that it will be difficult to get the windshield and rear window to form correctly using Kristal Klear.  I did ask Walter about 3D printing a window "insert" that could be used as a master mold for vacuum forming a window insert.  He thought the 3D print layers would prevent that from working well.

I have had some success with creating a curved windshield from the clear plastic used for blister packs.  I think the windshield for this Showcase KW T600 came from a Classic Metal Works blister pack.


It was a very time consuming process! 

Edited to create new links for image.

[Mark5]

Thanks Carter! I'm thinking I should start a box for storing "card bubbles" as fodder for windshields. 

[cfritschle]

The next “victim” for the comparison photos is the Showcase/MAC '59 "F" Series.  I chose to order the 1959 Ford F-Series Long Bed (J13NB) but I was a bit surprised when I took it out of its jewel case.  I had forgotten that in the late 1950s the F-350 pickup had a 9-foot bed.  I trip to the bookcase, and a quick look in my favorite Ford reference book yielded a photo of a 1959 F-350 pickup that look just like the Showcase/MAC model.  And much to my surprise I was unable to find an overall length for the 1959 F-350 pickup, but all my sources agreed the wheelbase for the F-350 was 130 inches.  Determining a model’s scale with just the wheelbase measurement is not ideal.  However, I did measure the wheelbase of the Showcase/MAC 1959 Ford F-Series Long Bed, and that measurement resulted in a calculation of 130.72 in 1:160 scale inches, for a calculated scale of the model equal to 1:159.1.  This is very close to 1:160, and well within the margin of error of my ability to measure an N scale model’s wheelbase. 

The comparison photo below shows the Showcase/MAC 1959 Ford long bed pickup parked next to an Atlas 1997-2004 F-150 pickup.


And this comparison photo below shows the Showcase/MAC 1959 Ford long bed pickup parked between an Atlas 1997-2004 F-150 pickup and a River Point Station (now Atlas) 1992-97 F-250 pickup.


I do plan to order a Showcase/MAC '59 F Series Regular Bed (J13NA) and paint it light blue.  I followed a vintage light blue Ford pickup for several miles on my way home about a month ago.  While I never saw the grill, the Idaho classic license plate was “59 FORD.”  So, I think the Showcase/MAC model should be a good match for the prototype.

Edited to create new links for images.

[peteski]

Lack of realistic windshields is what keeps me from buying many otherwise wonderful N scale vehicle models, especially those with compound curve front and rear "glass".  I just can't stomach the empty window openings.  I'm also surprised that all those fastidious modelers wanting accurate scale model vehicles are satisfied with either empty windows, or with one of the liquid "window" solutions. Yuck!

No liquid "glass" solutions come to be even remotely acceptable for me. With 3D models the designer has a perfect opportunity to make a buck for vacu-forming windshields and selling them along with the model, or just including the bucks with the models for modeler to make their own. No vacu-forming machine is even needed - just a simple setup, especially for tiny items like N scale windshields.

I'm really surprised that offering the formed windshields (or just the busks) was not successful for Showcase Miniatures.  I think that at the price point, Showcase should include a window forming buck with every model they sell. Maybe then I would buy some of those very nice models.  I suppose I could make bucks myself, but it is not an easy task, where with existing 3D model it is very easy to design one based on existing model drawing.

[garethashenden]

No liquid "glass" solutions come to be even remotely acceptable for me. With 3D models the designer has a perfect opportunity to make a buck for vacu-forming windshields and selling them along with the model, or just including the bucks with the models for modeler to make their own. No vacu-forming machine is even needed - just a simple setup, especially for tiny items like N scale windshields.

How do you do it? I've always assumed it required specialist equipment and investment.

[peteski]

How do you do it? I've always assumed it required specialist equipment and investment.

I have a vacu-form machine (originally made for making dental mouth inserts - these are sold on eBay or amazon - Micro Mark also has or had them), but no-vacuum thermoforming or smash-molding can be used successfully as long as the buck is a simple shape.

There are examples in this thread https://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/115817-making-windows-clear-styrene-sheet-or-acetate/

Of course for us this will be done on even smaller scale.  I have seen examples where a simple frame was made to hold the soft plastic.  There are likely videos on the YouTubes.