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Trying to model the 844 in HO and all the cars you see with it today.

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  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: St. Louis, MO
  • 941 posts
Posted by river_eagle on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:45 PM

If I were to blow the budget for one car, that would be the one, or Fox River, which is the other Theater inspection car.

When in doubt, rule #1 applies  Central Missouri Railroad Association cmrraclub.com
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Posted by johngriffey18ca1 on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:33 PM

I could just buy this in HO scale:

  • Member since
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  • From: St. Louis, MO
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Posted by river_eagle on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:31 PM
When in doubt, rule #1 applies  Central Missouri Railroad Association cmrraclub.com
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Posted by river_eagle on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:19 PM

Another Quick spotting feature on the power car is that it has a heavyweight(6-wheel) truck on one end, the end where the powerplant is.

and the tool car is longer and shorter than the Athearn one, but it works as a stand-in.

If your willing to bash a bit to change the doors, and do a simple paint job, the  Amtrak smoothsided MHC is a closer match for the toolcar, or just paint and forget the doors, like I did

 

there are three different business cars that run with the train, two are the theatre type and the other is a dome obs.

the tenders have been rebuilt also,

old version

new version, also in first pic

When in doubt, rule #1 applies  Central Missouri Railroad Association cmrraclub.com
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  • From: Indiana
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Posted by Flashwave on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 10:34 PM

johngriffey18ca1

maybe I should put it this way.....how can I improve on the setup I already have?

well, the only thing I know your missing is the Power Car and the Theatre Car, both I mentioned above, Thepower car's fairly easy, if you pick up the afrementioned ACF RPO, a set of side vent detail parts like the ones on the top of this page (I can't tell ya which ones you'd need without seeing them in real life and compared to the ACF)  http://www.toytrainheaven.com/.sc/ms/cat/HO%20Detail%20Parts--Cannon/2 and ne of these http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/229-6640,ad paint them (A Spraypaint is fine)

 The theatre car(that funny looking obsevation with the flat endshouldbe cake too, You need

732-494 Car Ends -- Theatre/Track Inspection Car End

from Train Station Products, and a Walthers car (ou can pop the end wall off) I'm not sure what the ideal car would be, if you were felling bold, you could steal thesides off of http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-10458 and apply them to any Walthers streamliner car, along with the Inspection window end (put it down with the big honkin' windows). I think you could then put the unused streamliner sides on the heavyweight, and have yourself a whole car again.

You might also consider adding in some Sleeping cars, think three or four if the 844 wil pull it, in place of a coach or two, since a lot of the 844's runs are long distance and business related, the execs need a place to sleep. Any of the HO sleepers that look good will do fine. And do you have a dining car i that setup?

Oh, (WARNING, NITPICK AHEAD) and if you can. Please change that whistle out. I dn't think it's possible n DC, but if you have a friend withDCC, have him cycle through the whistles for something a tadbit deeper. right now what you have belogs to a Denver and Rio Grande Western Narrow gauge engine half the size of the 844. I think it's F8 if your using the supplied MRC, but one of the functions will do that, yuo don't need to play with the CVs. One of my pet peeves is Northern steamers with incorrect whistles. The 844 and 4449's whistles are baritones, powerful and moving, and also fairly similar. Listen to the videos of the 844 and to yours and you'll see what I mean. I think the 844 as the same decoder as my Big Boy, and a much closer whistle is on there.

-Morgan

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Posted by johngriffey18ca1 on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 9:03 PM

maybe I should put it this way.....how can I improve on the setup I already have?

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Posted by johngriffey18ca1 on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 9:00 PM

well I can always use the advice of some experienced good people on here.  I am quite a rookie at this model railroading thing.  I had no trains no layout no anything as of 2 months ago.

  • Member since
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  • From: Indiana
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Posted by Flashwave on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 8:38 PM

johngriffey18ca1

this is my set so far:  I have all the rivarossi cars, a kato business car but it's corruagated sides and the box car you suggested.  I also have the UP auxillary tender by overland models.  I think I'm modeling the train to the best of what's available without going to overland models.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t07RnB1ykkk

Uh, yeah, Your doing very well. WHy did you need us again? Big Smile

-Morgan

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Posted by johngriffey18ca1 on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 8:23 PM

this is my set so far:  I have all the rivarossi cars, a kato business car but it's corruagated sides and the box car you suggested.  I also have the UP auxillary tender by overland models.  I think I'm modeling the train to the best of what's available without going to overland models.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t07RnB1ykkk

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • From: Indiana
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Posted by Flashwave on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 6:41 PM

As above, the Boxcar is optional, I believe they have a toolcar baggage that does the same job. That said, I too have been looking, more for the grins and giggles. I found an Athearn kit car that is "discontinued" the sides are rightm but it was a silver top and would need to repaint them a grey. (EDIT: THis one: http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH91388http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH91388)

Which run do you want to model? UP has a HUGE collection of business cars, that alternate which ones traqvel with the 844.

As far as the theatre car, Walthers has the end wall made by Tain Station Products you can add to any Walthers car you think matches, and can probably find the correct side wall panels if you so prefer. You'll want to load up on several baggage cars. If you can find the walthers ones with the interchangeable doors, that's perfect, because the Excursion car doors are frequently open with safety bars across the gap. Otherwise, you'd need to dremel out the doors, or leave them closed. (EDIT) Rivarossi made an almost perfect baggage car for what you need, closed door version. But you'll nitcie the operator is made.

 I know the Rapido baggage is right for at least one of the cars.

EDIT:
A Walthers ACF mail carwould make a great start for the power car/tool car. You'd need to add on a couple of vents and a smoke exhaust to the roof. http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-9051

These might be of use to you as well:

 

-Morgan

  • Member since
    July 2006
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Posted by CAZEPHYR on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 6:25 PM

johngriffey18ca1

I am trying to model the Union Pacific 844 and so far I have the Athearn Genesis 844 DCC with sound.  What other passenger cars do I need to make it look like it does today and what brand/model # if you have the time for each car.  I know I need a box car, any ideas on what make/model box car?  Any advice is appreciated. 

 

I would suggest the best available cars are the Overland special cars for the modern era excursion / business train.  Short of that very expensive option, the last run of the Rivarossi UP set are in service cars for the UP that look fairly good overall, but the excursion/business cars are named and have modifications.  The box car you mentioned is not always used for the excursion service so it is an option depending how you use the train.

There is no easy solution since the Overland cars are $500 each and the Rivarossi sets have been out of production for five years, but that is one way to get started.  The UP sets will probably be run again since they are and were very popular.

CZ

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    June 2009
  • 231 posts
Trying to model the 844 in HO and all the cars you see with it today.
Posted by johngriffey18ca1 on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 6:16 PM

I am trying to model the Union Pacific 844 and so far I have the Athearn Genesis 844 DCC with sound.  What other passenger cars do I need to make it look like it does today and what brand/model # if you have the time for each car.  I know I need a box car, any ideas on what make/model box car?  Any advice is appreciated. 

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