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Union Station Products Amtrak California Car Kits

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  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: North Aurora, IL
  • 471 posts
Posted by ho modern modeler on Thursday, September 16, 2010 1:53 PM

First 3 shots are my current project combining badly painted Con-Cor Superliners, Union Station Products Amtrak Surfliner Side kits and absolutely wonderful Palace Car interiors. 1: Cab/Baggabe, 2:Cafe and 3: my scratch/cut/chop Cafe interior (Now they make one you can order). Shots 4-6 are the California cars I built from USP kits w/o interiors in 2006-7. Sorry for the delay...

Let me take this opportunity to RAVE about the updated Forum-easy-peasy photo posting!!

Mine doesn't move.......it's at the station!!!

 

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • 380 posts
Posted by BNSF4ever on Thursday, August 12, 2010 7:25 PM
Great look forward to seeing them!
  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: North Aurora, IL
  • 471 posts
Posted by ho modern modeler on Thursday, August 5, 2010 1:46 AM

I used Testor's Stainless Steel and Floquil Engine Black and Dark Blue 60/40 mix for the bottom and straight Engine Black for the top. The TSP shells are from Santa Fe High-Level cars and are totally ribbed on the roof. The Cali and Surf cars have smooth roofs with maybe a crease down the center. I didn't use interiors on the first 5, and painted the inside of the glazing with a goofy tinted glass color which turned out ok but the plastic removeable coating "seeped" on the outside. Give me a few days and I'll throw some photos on here....

Mine doesn't move.......it's at the station!!!

 

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • 380 posts
Posted by BNSF4ever on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 2:36 PM
Thanks for replying. I'd sure love to learn more about your California Cars. In particular, what paint did you use for them? How were the roofs wrong? Were they difficult to assemble? I have a OMI brass set of Surfliners but I sure do regret not ever getting a set of the Amtrak California cars.
  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: North Aurora, IL
  • 471 posts
Posted by ho modern modeler on Tuesday, August 3, 2010 6:08 PM

I've built 5 Cali cars from their kits (only missing end door windows-not supplied) and I am currently using their Surfliner Side kits on a Con-Cor Superliner retro-fit Cab/Baggage and Cafe cars (2 coach and Biz Class when I pay off the engagement ring) . This time I'm using the Palace Car interiors made for these kits, which are quite amazing. I will try to post some pics soon.

The detail on the USP sides is awesome and looks great when painted. The TSP core kits provided give you the wrong roof but everything fits just right. You now have to supply grabs and other details which were provided when I bought them. Since no one sans Brass has released these (again-the Walthers replicate Superliner wreck re-builds with single doors) they can be built into a sharp model of these cars with mid to high level modeling skills.

Mine doesn't move.......it's at the station!!!

 

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • 380 posts
Union Station Products Amtrak California Car Kits
Posted by BNSF4ever on Tuesday, August 3, 2010 5:21 PM
Hi Has anyone purchased the Union Station Products Amtrak California car kits? If so, how did you find building them? I am tempted to buy one to try it out but would prefer hearing more feedback about how well made they are.

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