Showcase Miniatures Power Truck & Plymouth MDT

shortpainter Dec 29, 2020

  1. Bruce Block

    Bruce Block TrainBoard Member

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    Just to add to the discussion I am adding a photo of the ZThek unit alongside my amateurish scratch built speeder shell on a Showcase motor. I appreciate the craftsmanship of work you all post.

    Bruce
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    The speeder is cool!(y)
     
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  3. shortpainter

    shortpainter TrainBoard Member

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    I love that speeder!
     
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  4. Bruce Block

    Bruce Block TrainBoard Member

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    Here is a rear view of the speeder. Notice the large plastic drive gear on the Showcase motor. Might need an apron hiding that, but it comes down within 2mm of rail. I do have some tungsten in the roof to improve running.
    Bruce
     

    Attached Files:

  5. bostonjim

    bostonjim TrainBoard Member

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    Very nice looking speeder. I don't own a SCM motor (yet) and didn't realize how small they are. May I suggest strip styrene with safety stripes to hide the gear? Stony Smith also makes a speeder with separate trailer. Thanks for the idea. Jim
     
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  6. Bruce Block

    Bruce Block TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the feedback. I had the crew at the yard add the safety stripes. They want me to install a stove now that the temperatures here in Pittsburgh have plummeted. They enjoy tooling around in the speeder they built even though it is a bit crude.
    Bruce
     

    Attached Files:

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  7. bostonjim

    bostonjim TrainBoard Member

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    Nice job, Bruce. What gear? Where? I'll be ordering one or two of them. Jim
     
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  8. Chris333

    Chris333 TrainBoard Supporter

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    Here are some similar power trucks from Japan. I have ordered the 9mm ones from them. The frames are 3D printed and very light, but just add weight. If you scroll down you will find 6.5mm gauge chassis. :
    http://www.narrow-garage.com/NarrowGarageE.html
     
  9. shortpainter

    shortpainter TrainBoard Member

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    Nice! I didn’t know those exist. I see they have an excellent variety of wheel bases to choose from. The 8mm motor is a bit too wide. I would switch out the motor just like I did my Searails truck.
     
  10. Chris333

    Chris333 TrainBoard Supporter

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  11. Commodore

    Commodore TrainBoard Member

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    Chris: How loud are they in operation?
     
  12. davejones

    davejones TrainBoard Member

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    Also those motors are only 6v. They do sell the 12v coreless 7mm motors further down the page which shouldn't be too difficult to adapt to their chassis.
     
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  13. Commodore

    Commodore TrainBoard Member

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    Never heard how loud they were. Wanted a shay. Bought Rudy’s brass tank. I know what the Märklin 8800 sounds like.
     
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  14. shortpainter

    shortpainter TrainBoard Member

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    I tried to order a couple of these but they declined my order. They are not shipping to the US due to pandemic restrictions. :(
     
  15. shortpainter

    shortpainter TrainBoard Member

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    I got a brass version of the MDT shell and tested it on the Showcase chassis. Things were going fine until disaster struck while puling the chassis out from the shell. I broke the chassis in half! The plastic arm that holds the motor snapped. I will have to design a bracket that can hold the chassis in place without putting any friction on the motor casing. The good news is that I was able to glue it back together with no loss of performance. I got lucky.

    IMG_3057.jpg
     
  16. shortpainter

    shortpainter TrainBoard Member

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    I made a chassis to prevent the power truck from breaking apart when removing it from the MDT shell. At first, I wanted it to be made of brass but that would cause a short circuit. It will have to be plastic after all. If your interested in more development details, go here: www.thezmaker.com

    I think it turned out pretty nice. To paint it, I used a technique commonly used to paint armor and aircraft. Start with a black under coat then add color on top. This will make it appear to have shadows in the corners and crevices. I've been watching too many modeling channels on youtube... :)
    For more pictures: go here
    MDT-update2.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2021
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  17. John Bartolotto

    John Bartolotto TrainBoard Supporter

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    SWEET!!!
     
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  18. Zscaleplanet

    Zscaleplanet TrainBoard Supporter

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    NICE PAINT WORK! Well done in all regards.
     
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  19. CNE1899

    CNE1899 TrainBoard Member

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    Rudy,
    Great paint job, great little loco! Did you hand paint the Plymouth, or is that a decal?

    Scott
     
  20. Chris333

    Chris333 TrainBoard Supporter

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    Wow crazy!
     

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