O scale Diving Bell???

[Brutus]

Apparently with all the flatcars and loads that have been made, nobody ever made a flatcar with a diving bell?

Anybody have any idea where I could find a O scale diving bell model, or materials to make one?  I've got David's link to Alumilite, but I would still need suitable sized portholes and stuff....

Thanks for any help!

[jefelectric]

Jim, Here is a model for sale on ebay.  To large for O gauge but may give you some ideas.  How about model ship suppliers for hatches and portholes.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Seaview-Diving-Bell-Desktop-Wood-Model_W0QQitemZ270025423548QQihZ017QQcategoryZ153QQcmdZViewItem

[chuck]

This wouldn't be hard to scratchbuild.  You can lop off the tops of pill bottle caps (collar and cap) for viewports and access hatchs and probably get a away with one of those hamster habitat pieces for the main bell.  Mock up a compressor for the air supply system and you'll have a nice flat car load.

[cnw1995]

What a cool idea - something neat to build. I'd add a mermaid!

[Brutus]

John - thx! I emailed that guy and he is looking to see if he can find data for a 1930's to 1940's style (round) diving bell in 1:48.  A hamster ball would be way too big really - these things were pretty small in the early days and aren't much bigger now - about 8 to 10 feet in diameter in the olden days with 3 portholes on the front, two angled out on either side of a center viewport - the outside ones were for lighting, I think.

I was thinking of finding a 2 to 2.5 inch round wooden ball and starting there - maybe adding some portholes from a boat modeling supplier or something, but I haven't been able to find anything like that.

John - if you look at all the stuff that guy models, it's amazingly cool!  Everying from the Seaview Submarine from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea to modern aircraft and even helicopters.

[Brutus]

I was trying to figure out how to have it light up - maybe buy an older floodlight flat car and modify it to put a hollow shell diving bell on it?  If I cast it out of clear material and them painted the non-porthole surface area, it should work?  But would have to be hollowed out some from the bottom.  Then put a bulb under it, hidden by the "landing gear" at the bottom, and power from the car pickups....?  I'm pretty new to this stuff really and I'm way over my head already!

A mermaid would be cool!