Showcase/MAC N Scale Model Vehicle Comparisons

[sirenwerks]

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

Carter, Does the '59 Ford have door outlines and they just got eaten by color, or are the lines not there? And are those the actual wheels from the kit?

[haasmarc]

And what paint did you use to paint the grill and bumper?

[cfritschle]

Carter, Does the '59 Ford have door outlines and they just got eaten by color, or are the lines not there? And are those the actual wheels from the kit?

Bryan,

The model does have door lines, but they are very thin and shallow, even before painting.  They still show after painting under magnification, and a little weathering might make them more visible.  I was tempted to make the door lines deeper and wider before painting, but I am reluctant to do any modification to the models (other than painting) for the comparison photos.

And yes, the wheels are the ones that came with the model. They attempt to show the axle ends and the lug nuts that would be present on a 1959 F-350 4X4.

[Lemosteam]

Tamiya black panel liner.  Use a very fine tip brush and just touch the groove.  You're welcome.

[cfritschle]

And what paint did you use to paint the grill and bumper?

Marc,

I used a Flysea Chrome Paint Marker with a 0.7 mm tip that I got from Amazon.  This appears to be the same set I purchased, but with a different brand name. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZTD5Z55/ref=sspa_dk_hqp_detail_aax_0?sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9ocXBfc2hhcmVk&th=1

[cfritschle]

Bryan,

Here is a side view of the 1959 Ford pickup.  The lines for the door are visible, but just barely.


I am not sure if there is enough of a groove for Tamyia black panel liner to follow.   

[sirenwerks]

Carter,


Thanks for the follow up.

[haasmarc]

Marc,

I used a Flysea Chrome Paint Marker with a 0.7 mm tip that I got from Amazon.  This appears to be the same set I purchased, but with a different brand name. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DZTD5Z55/ref=sspa_dk_hqp_detail_aax_0?sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9ocXBfc2hhcmVk&th=1

Thanks Carter, the grill and bumper look really good.

[cfritschle]

After a long hiatus, I am attempting to resume the comparison photos starting with the Showcase/MAC 1977 "F" TBird (J16N).  This T-Bird model is the first of the Showcase/MAC models that I have purchased in which the length, width and height essentially match the dimensions of the prototype.  Plus, this is the only Showcase/MAC model I have purchased to date in which the steering wheel looks like a real steering wheel instead of a frisbee.  Another bonus that came with the T-Bird is that the chassis is printed in black, and the detailed wheels are much easier to paint without getting the paint on the tires.  This model is definitely 1:160 scale!  Note: The dark areas on the wheels in the photos are a reflection issue, and are not apparent when the model is viewed in person.

The photo shown below is of the “chassis” of the Showcase/MAC 1977 Ford T-Bird.


The comparison photo below shows the Showcase/MAC 1977 Ford T-Bird parked next to an Atlas 1978-80 Ford Fairmont.


And this photo shows the Showcase/MAC 1977 Ford T-Bird parked between the Atlas 1978-80 Ford Fairmont and a Wiking Chevelle Malibu.


Here is the link to the Showcase/MAC 1977 "F" TBird.  https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/madaboutcars/n_scale/J16N.html

Note:  The "missing" photos from the earlier posts are hosted on Trainboard.  You can click where the photo should be, and the image will appear if you have access to Trainboard.  I may be able to add the images to The Railwire gallery, and replace the photos in this thread that are hosted by Trainboard.  All of the photos are now hosted on The Railwire! 

[cfritschle]

Next is the Showcase/MAC 1966 "D" Series Standard Bed (J9NA), which presented a challenge for me in attempting to find a corresponding prototype for the model.  The length of the “standard bed” offered on this model scales out to be 9-feet, which was an option only for the Dodge D300 (2-wheel drive), or W300 (4-wheel drive), which were what Dodge designated as their 1-ton pickups.  However, the Sweptline beds (equivalent to the Chevy Fleetside) found on this model, were only available in 6.5 feet and 8-feet lengths.  Dodge called the 9-foot beds that were offered on the 1-ton pickups the Utiline, which was the equivalent of the Chevy Step-Side.  The overall scale length of the model is very close to the length of the “published” 228 inches I found by searching the internet.  And the N scale width is within ½-inch of the prototype.  However, one dimension is noticeable different on the model when compared to the prototype.  The distance from the bottom of the pickup’s side windows to the bottom of the pickup’s doors is 38.5 N scale inches on the model and that distance is 32.5-inches on the prototype.

The comparison photo below shows the Showcase/MAC 1966 Dodge standard bed pickup parked next to an Atlas 1997-2004 F-150 pickup.



And this photo below shows the Showcase/MAC 1966 Dodge standard bed pickup parked between an Atlas 1997-2004 F-150 pickup and a River Point Station (now Atlas) 1992-97 F-250 pickup.


Here is the link to the Showcase/MAC 1966 "D" Series trucks:  https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/madaboutcars/n_scale/J9N.html

[cfritschle]

I want to follow the 1966 Dodge pickup comparison photos with another Dodge pickup which had a much more positive comparison.  I purchased the Club Cab short bed pickup as a representative of the Showcase/MAC 1994-2001 "D" Series pickups (JN35C).  However, the Club Cab version was not available until the 1995 model year, and 2500 and 3500 pickups Club Cab pickups continued in production until the 2002 model year.  So, if this pickup represents a 2500 instead of a 1500, it would represent the 1995 to 2002 model years.  This model is a bit perplexing in that the overall length of the model Club Cab pickup with the 6.5-foot bed measures about 9 N scale inches too long according to the published specifications I found. However, the width of the model measured less than 1/8 N scale inch wider than the prototype’s width, so that dimension is essentially 1:160 scale.  And even though the Showcase/MAC Dodge Ram pickup is a little longer than the Atlas Ford F-150 pickup, the two models look like they are both the same scale when parked next to each other, although the cab of the Dodge appears to be a little roomier than the cab of the Ford.  For me, the extra length of this particular N scale pickup model is not an issue because with all of the cab and pickup bed options, the prototype 1994-2001 Dodge Ram pickups ranged from 204.1 to 244.1 inches long, and this model is approximately 233 N scale inches long.

The comparison photo below shows the Showcase/MAC 1995-2001 Dodge Ram Club Cab pickup parked next to an Atlas 1997-2004 F-150 pickup.


And this photo below shows the Showcase/MAC 1994-2001 Dodge Ram Club Cab pickup parked between an Atlas 1997-2004 F-150 pickup and a River Point Station (now Atlas) 1992-97 F-250 pickup.


Here is the link to the Showcase/MAC 1994-2001 "D" Series pickups: https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/madaboutcars/n_scale/J35N.html

[cfritschle]

It is not often that we get three N scale models of a prototype vehicle, but the Showcase/MAC 1948 "F" Series pickup (J17N) one of them.  The model’s scale length measure slightly greater than the prototype, and its scale width is within an inch the prototype.  However, differences are not enough to make it look oversized or undersized compared to most of the other N scale models it is likely to be used with.  As alluded to in the opening sentence, this model represents the same prototype 1948-50 Ford pickup that has been produced by Classic Metal Works and GHQ.  The Classic Metal Works version’s length and width are very close to 1:160 scale, while the GHQ version is little smaller than the CMW model.  However, you could probably use all three pickups on the same layout without a problem as long as they were not parked near each other.
 
The comparison photo below shows the Showcase/MAC 1948-50 Ford pickup parked next to an Atlas 1997-2004 F-150 pickup.


And this comparison photo below shows the Showcase/MAC 1948-50 Ford pickup parked between a Classic Metal Works 1948-50 Ford pickup and a GHQ 1948-50 Ford pickup.


All three models represent the Ford F-1 pickup (1/2-ton) with a 6.5-foot box and 114-inch wheelbase.  The 1948-50 Ford F-2 and F-3 (3/4-ton and 1-ton) pickups had 8-foot boxes and 122-inch wheelbases.  Also, replacing the undersized wheels on the CMW pickup definitely improves its appearance as shown in the NSVA Tips ‘N’ Tricks pages found here:  https://nscalevehicles.org/tips_n_tricks/cmw_die-cast.php
 

Here is the link to the Showcase/MAC 1948 "F" Series pickup.  https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/madaboutcars/n_scale/J17N.html

[cfritschle]

The Ford Ranchero was one of my favorite vehicles when I was a kid, and I liked the 1957 Ranchero, as depicted by Showcase/MAC 1957 "F" Series Ranchero (J25ND) better than any other model year.  However, when I was old enough to buy a pickup, a full-size F-100 seemed a lot more practical than a Ranchero.  The length, width and height dimensions of the Showcase/MAC model are all within a N scale inch of the prototype’s dimensions.  There is one interesting feature of this model, as well the rest of the Showcase/MAC 1957 Fords, and that is a horizontal grille guard between the two vertical bumper guards with a dip or shallow “V” in the middle.  While I did find photos of 1957 Fords with the grille guard, I cannot remember ever actually seeing a 1957 Ford with the grille guard.

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


And this photo shows the Showcase/MAC 1957 Ford Ranchero parked between the Wiking Malibu and a Classic Metal Works 1959 Ford Fairlane.


Here is the link to the Showcase/MAC 1957 "F" Series vehicles.  https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/madaboutcars/n_scale/J25N.html

[cfritschle]

Another favorite vehicle of mine was the original Ford Bronco.  The dimensions of the Showcase/MAC 1966-76 "FB" Series model (J26NA) in N scale inches are all close enough to the prototype’s dimensions that I have no issues when the Bronco is parked near any of my other 1:160 scale vehicle models.  Also, a pickup version of the Bronco was released by Showcase/MAC in January 2026.  While the Bronco wagon was produced through the 1977 model year, the production of the Bronco pickups ended with the 1972 model year.

Note:  I remeasured the Bronco wagon after I submitted my article for the May/June/July 2026 issue of the N Scale Enthusiast Magazine.  I found that the width is not 1.5 N scale inches narrower than the prototype as I stated in the article.  The Bronco’s scale width is spot on!  However, the length and height were still “a few N scale inches greater than the prototype” as stated in the article.  I am finding if the width is spot on, or nearly spot on, the other dimensions can vary a bit without being distracting, and the model most likely will blend in well with other N scale vehicle models.  Oh, and the reason for the re-measurement was that I began to have issues with my approximately 25-year-old digital caliper.  I decided it was time to replace it, which in turn resulted in remeasuring all of my Showcase/MAC models to make sure the dimensions I was “reporting” were as accurate as possible.

The comparison photo below shows the Showcase/MAC 1966-77 Ford Bronco parked next to an Atlas 1997-2004 F-150 pickup.


And this photo below shows the Showcase/MAC 1966-76 Ford Bronco parked between an Atlas 1997-2004 F-150 pickup and a River Point Station (now Atlas) 1992-97 F-250 pickup.


Here is the link to the Showcase/MAC 1966-76 "FB" Series vehicles.  https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/madaboutcars/n_scale/J26N.html

[cfritschle]

The body style of the next Showcase/MAC model we will look at, the 1967-69 "C" Series regular bed pickup (J33NA), is one I am quite familiar with.  My grandfather purchased a new 1972 Chevy Fleetside pickup, and he would let me drive it whenever we went hunting or fishing together.  And, my brother-in-law purchased a used 1970 Chevy Fleetside pickup in the mid-1970s, and I put quite a few miles on it when we were farming together.  The width of the Showcase/MAC model is within ¼ of a N scale inch of the prototype’s width.  However, the length is a little longer in N scale inches than what is published for the prototype.  This can be a least be partially resolved in the fact that a rear bumper was optional for 1967-72 Chevy pickups, and the published overall length appears to be from the front bumper to the end of the frame.  Another possibility is that Chevy offered the Longhorn for the 1968-72 model years.  The Longhorn was designed to haul extra large campers and featured a 133-inch wheelbase and an 8.5-foot-long bed.

While this model is advertised as being appropriate for the 1967-69 model years, the presence of the Chevy “bowtie” badge on the hood above the grille limits the model to the 1969 model year.  I did not even attempt to detail the bowtie with a paint pen or Sharpie because I figured I would only have one chance to get it right.  However, a correctly sized decal would be a great way to further enhance this model. 

The comparison photo below shows the Showcase/MAC 1967-69 Chevy pickup parked next to an Atlas 1997-2004 F-150 pickup. 


And this photo below shows the Showcase/MAC 1967-69 Chevy pickup parked between an Atlas 1997-2004 F-150 pickup and a River Point Station (now Atlas) 1992-97 F-250 pickup.


Here is the link to the Showcase/MAC 1967-69 Chevrolet C-Series vehicles.  https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/madaboutcars/n_scale/J33N.html