Hello all,
I'm currently working on modifying a set of Hornby OO scale (as an HO substitute) Mark 4 coaches into VIA's Renaissance coaches. I've done my research, and I know what I need to do in terms of shell modifications, and I've got Rapido's LRC decals on the way to do the lettering/logos/striping. I'm doing a full set of coach cars (1 "VIA 1", the rest comfort class), since I haven't yet figured the best way to model either the service cars or sleeper/diner/baggage cars.Here's my question: What paints would best match the colours on these cars?I need 3 different colours here: 1- The dark blue on the roof and trucks/underbody.2- The light blue/green around the windows between the top and bottom yellow stripes.3- The dark green/blue under the yellow stripe.I'm doing my own scouting as well, but I'd appreciate anybody's input here. I will be sure to post photos on the forum when I eventually finish the cars, maybe even as I progress along, so you guys can have a gander.Thanks.
-Tim
I was able to find this information through a combination of a VIA Rail forum, and some personal experimentation. I have completed one of the cars, and still have 3 more to go. The car is not quite done (I still need to add couplers, marker lights, some other minor details), but it's pretty much there.
Here's my first photo of the (nearly) finished car:
As I finish up the others, I will post them up here too. This will be the only "VIA 1" car, the others will be standard Economy coaches (although I will acknowledge, I haven't changed the interior to make it 100% correct that way :P)
There is the slight issue that the car is out of scale (OO, not HO), and the proportions are not 100% correct, but I'm using it as a "good-enough" stand-in until something else becomes available, or I get more ambitious, in the future.
Cheers!
Hey Tim,
The car is looking good. I see that Rapido Trains is making a LRC coach in VIA Rail and will be released sometime later this year. I don't know if it is the same paint scheme as yours though.
Will
Thanks Will,
I am well aware of the Rapido LRC, and have several coaches (as well as the locomotive) on order.
However, their model is of the LRC coach, built by Bombardier in the 1970s for VIA Rail (with a few delivered to Amtrak for testing). The coaches I am modeling are VIA Rail's Renaissance fleet, coaches that were built by Alstom for the never-introduced Nightstar (overnight Channel tunnel service) in the UK. VIA Rail bought them second hand in 2001, and rebuilt them for Canadian service. The coaches were essentially modified BREL Mk 4 style coaches, so that's why I started with the Hornby car.
If Rapido, or anyone else, would offer a Renaissance car in the future, I would be lined up as a buyer without a doubt. The likelihood of that though is rather slim, hence why I've taken on the task myself.
Still, I'm more excited about the Rapido LRC than I have been for any model that has ever been produced!
(of note though....the decals on my Renaissance coach are actually Rapido LRC decals....a close enough match :P)