Easy Sharpening Up of your Passenger Car Interiors.

[dcfixer]

Great points and suggestions.  I enjoy detailing interiors, too, and think it adds a lot of dynamics and dimension to the cars.  Just adding some color and lighting does so much, even as the cars roll down the track. I remember when I was a kid and looking through the windows, seeing my friends eye on the side looking back at me.  We would spend hours just putting simple lights, chairs and people in the cars so we could have more to look at. Now, so many years later, I find that I still have the same feelings, and get great satisfaction watching people looking around in my detailed cars. It's creates great conversations about railroad passenger service.  I like the Walthers design, cause I can take them apart to re-letter the sides, work on the interiors and add lighting.  Detailed interiors are deffinately worth the effort. I have some pics at  http://uphonation.tripod.com if anybody is interested.

[Charlie]

This thread has gotten me wound up on passenger trains and cars again. I model the NYC primarily and, unless I missed it somehow, there is precious little guidance on interior colors for their cars. Help, someone, please!

I want to model an eight or ten car consist for the UP Challenger excursion train including the 'theater' car or panorama car sometimes put at the rear of the consist. Does anyone know where I can find drawings of it?

My thanks to you Antonio for starting and maintaining this thread and to all who have contributed. Very informative and a classic model of what a 'thread' should be.

 

You have two choices of cars for UP's theater cars. Either Fox River or Idaho. The two cars are very different from each other. The differences are in the windows and ends. Your only real viable option is to spend the money and buy one of the models released by Overland Models. that's what I'll end up having to do.

Ch

[rs2mike]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

I find simulating window shades the most 'bang' for the buck., particularly if one treats each window individually. Some passenger's have them all the way up to see the view, some all the way down to block the sun and sleep, and the rest in between. Time consuming, but cheap.

IHC and all cheap lighting kit's suffer from unrealistic flicker. and flicker free lighting cost's more than the car.

http://www.richmondcontrols.com/

(signed) fellow passeger nut.

  I have tried different methods for sucuring th cardstock to the car body, but none is perfect. I model passenger trains almost exclusively.

Have you tried the product Goop.  It sticks to almost everything and is found at lowes and home depot in the adhesive isle

[BigRusty]

WINDOW SHADE MAKING TECHINIQUE

When I wanted to add window shades to my HO NHRR "American Flyer" coaches I wanted a random appearance, not all shades at the same height. Cutting individual shades for the 22 windows on 16 cars was not an option.

In my cad program, I laid out a 13 inch long set of shades at random heights. I then copied and pasted the design making 6 rows of shades. I printed 4 copies of these on legal paper and stapled them together at the end of each strip for registration purposes. Using a paper cutter, I then cut the shade strips with the four copies stacked together, cutting along the bottom edge of the lowest shades.

Now for the hard part. Using shears, I then cut vertical slits between each shade a little less than the window height. I used decal cutting shears to cut across the bottom of each shade. When I was done, I sheared off the paper strip with the staples in it and I had 13 inch long strips of random height window shades, all the same.

Now for the MAGIC On the first car, I put the shade strip on flush to the left. On the next flush to the right. Then I cut one shade off and repeated the process. Cut a strip in half, whatever.

VOILLA!!! No two windows with the same window shade pattern. 

 

[dcfixer]

I wanted to share a couple of ideas that I think adds dynamics to the Walthers interiors. I cut open some of the doorways. This is effective, especially if you are lighting the car. I cut one of the walls between bedrooms that had a folding partition, and I cut off the tops of a few chairs and sofas and made up some nightime berths. I had to do a little body filling and sanding on some of the walls after the cut chairs/sofas, but it was minor. http://uphonation.com

 

 

[AntonioFP45]

DCFixer,

That is stunning work! I've saved your photo and am using it for reference on my cars.  Thank you for posting this

I never expected for this thread to reach 8 pages!  I wish I could get all of the useful info and photos and create a new Thread to help the guys out that have "Dial-up". 

[dcfixer]

DCFixer,

That is stunning work! I've saved your photo and am using it for reference on my cars.  Thank you for posting this

I never expected for this thread to reach 8 pages!  I wish I could get all of the useful info and photos and create a new Thread to help the guys out that have "Dial-up". 

Thanks, Antonio.  That means a lot. I used http://home.att.net/~pers_home/index.html for the interior color information. Check it out: nice site.  Obviously, all the work someone puts into their interiors doesn't mean much without lighting.  Having to use 10 individual lights inside to get the effects and depth I wanted concerned me about too much current draw.  It would be around 200ma using incadecent, so I used 10 white smt LEDS with series resistors which draw a total of about 20ma. This does require a constant voltage regulator. Mine is at 2.5v. Those so called white leds actually have a blue tint to them, especially at this low current, so I filtered the lights using ordinary, tan masking tape.  The colors come out pretty true under that light.  I'm also going to be doing Walthers UP 6-6-4 and 4-4-2 sleeper interiors in the same manner. Do you or anyone have some color info for those cars - 50s era? Again, thanks.  http://uphonation.com

[AntonioFP45]

Hello Crew,

I found the info on the link belowis by accident while browsing through Ozark's website. 

Amazingly the car is parked in my neck of the woods.  It has been sitting at Tampa Union Station for about 8 years.  This Pullman built streamlined sleeper was originally owned by the Florida East Coast and in its later years was used in Canadian service.   

http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/flordiasunrise.htm

The variety of colors is interesting.  Goes to show that one should not feel guilty for "freelance painting" interiors if a particular railroad interior color scheme can't be found in photos or historical archives. 

 

[AntonioFP45]

Here's another one.  The car is still in existence and supposedly "original".  Looks like white seemed to be the primary wall color.

Northern Pacific observation car: http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/arlingtonclub.htm

There are a lot of clips like this on this Ozark website. 

[SilverSpike]

Antonio,

Saw that Ozark post earlier this morning and I just spent the past couple hours looking at all those pieces of railway history for sale on thier web site.

Man it makes me dream about the posibility of owning some of those locos, diners, or sleepers. Some are not that expensive, but the lower priced ones would require some major renovations.

That kitchen and diner combo passenger sets look real interesing, might make for a neat rail themed restaurant somewhere.   Restaurant industry was my previous profession.... , but I traded that in for the IT field about 8 years ago....and happier now.

Oh, and it is a great source for getting prototype images for modeling interiors and exteriors of passenger and loco units.

I just did get this as a Christmas gift, and looking forward to dressing it up soon for some service on the layout!

Now, back to my dreaming state....

[PHARMD98233]

AntonioFP45.

Wow, what a perfect site for interior photos of passenger cars!!!

http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/

This is a great thread.  Thanks to everyone who contributes.

[AntonioFP45]

DCFixer, Pharm, Spike,

Thank you guys.  I'm very glad that this thread is still useful. 

I'll keep posting info here (I hope others do to!) as long as everyone is o.k with it.  I was concerned that forum members using "Dial-Up" connections might be unhappy with reading through 8 or 9 pages.  I actually tried to go through and delete some of my responses to make this thread a little shorter, but the new format does not allow that.

Merry Christmas!  

 

[AntonioFP45]

Here's one:

Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT)

Streamlined rounded observation car.  Red body with stainless steel fluting on the sides. Used on the Texas Special and Meteor.

Seat color appears to be a medium blue color, similar to the Santa Fe's "Blue Bonnet".

[bogp40]

As this thread progresses, should be saved for a reference guide for passenger interior colors. Thanks, guys, and keep up the good work!

[AntonioFP45]

Dome shot For our Canadian Pacific modelers:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=167876&nseq=117

This one's Union Pacific

 http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=219137&nseq=70

Look at all those rivets!

Amtrak Silver Meteor Diner, today's time.  Looks like an upgraded Heritage Fleet Budd car. 

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=215104&nseq=1

 

Enjoy!

 

[AntonioFP45]

This is in Wikipedia 

Chicago Burlington & Quincy

Observation Car:  Silver Spirit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Lightweight_observation_interior.jpg

 

[dcfixer]

Hi, Antonio.  This is DC.  I just finished the windows and interior walls on my UP Dome Observation Lounge.  Only the lounge furniture left.  I wanted to share this in your great thread on interiors, cause I know there are modelers out there who think interior detailing is waste of time cause "no one's going to see it while it's moving down the rails anyway".  True, maybe you can't make out the pattern in the carpet, every fold in the curtains, grain in the paneling, or legs on a chair, etc., but the colors, general patterns/shapes and dimensions are sensed.  They all add depth and catch the interest of the viewer.   When the model is on still display, a detailed interior becomes the major focus in the viewing experience. I inevitably get ask to slow down or stop the train so people can look inside the cars. Everybody likes to peek around in the cars, but the kids really like to explore them and ask a lot of questions.  I have only 1 ops on my little layout:  I uncouple the locos, pull them off onto a siding where I can cut power to it and power the main rails back on for the interior lights.  I have some opti-visors that people can use.  Reactions and discussions ensue.  It's great, rewarding fun.  I easily have 120 hours into this car, and I'm not done yet.  Was it worth it?  I'd like to hear what others think about that.  Again, thanks, for starting all this, Antonio.

see higher resolution pics here: http://uphonation.com

 

[AntonioFP45]

DCFixer, Thank you for the encouraging and kind comments. 

IMHO, your photos feature outstanding, jaw-dropping work that's second to none!

I'm working to achieve the level of detailing seen in your photos.    I agree with you that HO passenger trains with detailed interiors can become strong "attention getters".  We have a number of passenger train modelers on this forum. It would be great to see more photos of their work.   

Your project merits its own thread.  If you don't mind, please start a new thread featuring your dome observation car and explain some of the steps that you took to detail it.  I'm especially interested in your lighting technique, method of diffusion, and how you achieved the "flouresent lighting" color effect.  I'm going to check out your website more thoroughly. 

Have you considered submitting your photos to MRR magazine? I'm certain that Andy and the crew would be very impressed with your craftsmanship.

[Mr. SP]

Great information on "sharpening up" of passenger cars. In addition to detailing up the interiors of the cars I also add passengers. The addition of passengers also makesthe interior stand out.

I worked as a coach cleaner for Portland Terminal in the days before Amtrak. The colours of the interiors fo passenger cars varied depending on which road owned the car and whether it was a Pullman or coach and so on. Baggage and RPO' usually were a light green or grey. The kitchens were stainless steel. The washrooms were usually painted in a colour that complimented the rest of the car. Sinks & Toilets were china just like in your house. Never saw any steel fixtures anywhere.

Portland was the end of the line for the SP UP GN SP&S and NP trains in the days before Amtrak and all trains were cleaned by Portland Terminal employees.

[dcfixer]

Good morning, Antonio

Thanks for the kind words and further encouragement.  This forum is a new experience for me, and it's really exciting.

We all need the manufacturers to stay in business and keep putting out product, so whatever we can do to perpetuate interest in the hobby is advantageous to us all. I'm more than happy to share my experiences. I'll work on that thread.  I'll also be updating my site with my modeling experiences.

 A little preview just for you:  The lighting is tiny (1-2 mm) surface mount (SMT) white LEDs.  Since the white LED has a considerable blue tint to it, I filtered it with simple, blond masking tape. I found this to give pretty true colors and diffuses the light nicely.  There's 19 LEDs, including the COLA tail sign, in my dome observation car.  That car pulls less than 40ma, and no heat.  Can't do that with incandescent.  I will post more lighting detail and pics in the new thread.

 Have a great day!

DC

[twhite]

Antonio--

What a GREAT post--and what a helpful discussion you've started! 

Just a note--Smitty was right when he said that the Prieser seated figures can be used without any major modifications.  I just recently finished putting together a 1950 "Royal Gorge" using both standard and streamlined equipment from Walthers, IHC and Con-Cor (and scratching an interior for the Con-Cor dome car) and the Prieser figures fit perfectly--even in the Walther's diner, which is a bear to populate because of tight clearances.  The Priesers are 'pricey' (comes out to about $1 per figure in their 36-figure package) but they are also available unpainted for quite a bit less.  I was able to populate the train with about 1-1/2 packages and use the leftovers for my Con-Cor Pioneer Zephyr, so it worked out pretty well all around.  They're VERY indivudual looking passengers--not just the standard stuff--each one seems to have a distinct 'personality', and it makes watching the train go by really interesting. 

Great post.  Thanks for offering it. 

Tom

[Arjay1969]

Antonio,

 This is a fantastic thread!  Thanks for starting and maintaining it.

 

I'm modeling the San Francisco Chief, circa 1969.  I managed to track down the consists on the SFRHMS Website, but the one thing I can't seem to find anywhere (even at the library) are floorplans for some of the sleepers, specifically the Valley Series (6-6-4) and Blue Series (10-3-2).  I have these cars, but both are built from kits.  The Valley sleeper is from American Model Builders sides and an Eastern Car Works core kit (the TSP ones weren't available at the time), and the Blue sleeper is from Union Station Products.  I'd love to have interiors in these, but I want to get them reasonably close to the prototype.  Does anyone know where I can find the floorplans for these?  I'd be very appreciative.

 

One of my next projects will be a decent interior for the Bachmann full dome car (well, it's either that or Brass at this point, and I can't justify the price of brass right now).  I've found good photos of both levels, and have bought the seats.  Some of the details on the lower level will have to be scratchbuilt out of styrene, but that shouldn't be too difficult.  I'll post pictures when I get it started.

 

And finally, I'm goint to go home tonight and start stripping down my Walthers cars and painting the interiors.  You guys have inspired me!  

[dcfixer]

I'm actually taking my Walthers cars apart, down to the individual pieces, popping out the window glass, repainting the inside of the outside pieces, putting my own window glazing in and installing shades and other wall/window dressings.  My Walthers cars are loosely glued, and it's not too bad getting them apart.

http://uphonation.com

 

[csmith9474]

I'm actually taking my Walthers cars apart, down to the individual pieces, popping out the window glass, repainting the inside of the outside pieces, putting my own window glazing in and installing shades and other wall/window dressings.  My Walthers cars are loosely glued, and it's not too bad getting them apart.

http://uphonation.com

 

The Walthers cars are poorly constructed in some regards (although they are still great cars). Some of the parts are just taped together.

[dcfixer]

I'm actually taking my Walthers cars apart, down to the individual pieces, popping out the window glass, repainting the inside of the outside pieces, putting my own window glazing in and installing shades and other wall/window dressings.  My Walthers cars are loosely glued, and it's not too bad getting them apart.

http://uphonation.com/

 

The Walthers cars are poorly constructed in some regards (although they are still great cars). Some of the parts are just taped together.

I'm glad they are.  Makes it a lot easier to take apart.  I agree, they are great cars. I love the electrical pick up and distribution system.  My Walthers cars don't blink when going over the switches, and it's easy to put in lighting.

[jpwc50]

I have painted my passenger car interiors for years & it really does make a difference. I have even gone so far as to paint white headrest covers on the seats and they do stand out through the windows. As far as window shades, I have used masking tape on the inside of the clear plastic at varying heights and they also make the cars look populated. In my diners, lounges and observation cars I am now using aluminum venetian blind sets produced by Plano Model Products. Check these out at www.planeomodelproducts.com they are a little pricey at $8.50 but they look great! And for those  chrome handrails in the corridor windows, I just cut a length of silver heavy duty sewing thread and tape it to the back of the window glass...a very cheap, easy & effective way to gussy up those car interiors.  regards, John

 

[Flashwave]

You know, as this thing grows, might I request a move of info to the front post(s) just to collect it all?

Keep up the great work!

[BigRusty]

There is so much valuable information here, I have been doing a copy and paste job of selected material to a MS Word Document. In fact, I have been doing this for other invaluable threads on this and other forums for years as well. I now have a loose leaf binder as a reference source whenever I need it.

[AntonioFP45]

Again, thanks for the kind words gentleman.

BigRusty, that's a great idea transferring information on to an MS Word Document. 

Flashwave, it was so much easier to move info under the old forum format. This one is much more restrictive.

JPWC, when you can please post photos of your work! Yes, Plano does make some very useful detailing/scratchbuilding materials.

[dcfixer]

Antonio,

 This is a fantastic thread!  Thanks for starting and maintaining it.

 

I'm modeling the San Francisco Chief, circa 1969.  I managed to track down the consists on the SFRHMS Website, but the one thing I can't seem to find anywhere (even at the library) are floorplans for some of the sleepers, specifically the Valley Series (6-6-4) and Blue Series (10-3-2).  I have these cars, but both are built from kits.  The Valley sleeper is from American Model Builders sides and an Eastern Car Works core kit (the TSP ones weren't available at the time), and the Blue sleeper is from Union Station Products.  I'd love to have interiors in these, but I want to get them reasonably close to the prototype.  Does anyone know where I can find the floorplans for these?  I'd be very appreciative.

 

One of my next projects will be a decent interior for the Bachmann full dome car (well, it's either that or Brass at this point, and I can't justify the price of brass right now).  I've found good photos of both levels, and have bought the seats.  Some of the details on the lower level will have to be scratchbuilt out of styrene, but that shouldn't be too difficult.  I'll post pictures when I get it started.

 

And finally, I'm goint to go home tonight and start stripping down my Walthers cars and painting the interiors.  You guys have inspired me!  

 Sorry it took so long to reply.  I fully understand how excited one can get in this hobby.

I have a Walthers Pullman 6-6-4 in UP colors.  I think it's the same floorplan.  Your car may be an ex UP car. I think there's a couple of floor plans.  Try vols 13 & 14 of the Pullman Standard Library by Randall & Anderson, and possibly in vol 7, The Passenger Car Library by Randall.  They're all great references anyway, and worth having in your library.  Your specific car may be in one of the other volumes of the set.  I presently just have those three, so that's all I can talk about.  Did you try the Prototyper's forum?  I've received some good leads from some of them.

 Have fun.

DC