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Post by icrr3067 on Mar 30, 2014 20:04:00 GMT -8
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Post by icrr3067 on Mar 30, 2014 20:08:50 GMT -8
One of the first things I did to the model was remove the antenna, and removed the skirting from the car.  IMG_0699[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr For the underframe I took a Walthers diner underframe and swapped it out with the Broadway one. This work to my advantage with less to remove on the Broadway underframe and the water tank on the Walthers underframe is in the right place. All I still have to do to the underframe is add more battery boxes and generators.  IMG_0701[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr IMG_0701[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr |
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Post by drolsen on Mar 31, 2014 2:56:07 GMT -8
Excellent! I'm excited to see this project - I'm in the process of buying one of the BLI Zephyr diners for the same conversion. Not cheap, but it will make for an interesting example of the Heritage fleet. Can't wait to see more!
Dave
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Post by icrr3067 on Apr 5, 2014 5:57:54 GMT -8
Some more work has been done to the diner. The ends are complete. Added the HEP plugs. Changed out the lift bar, modified the diaphragm, and added the box for the marker lights.  IMG_0706[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr  IMG_0707[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr For the side, I covered up the kitchen window with a .002" brass stock and glued right over the window.  IMG_0708[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr The window have been removed and over the weekend the car is going to be sprayed in primer and going to be alclad. |
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Post by mrsocal on Apr 5, 2014 7:28:59 GMT -8
ICRR this is looking to be a great project you got going. Go man, go!!
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Post by drolsen on Apr 5, 2014 11:48:11 GMT -8
Great to see your diner coming along! I received my BLI dinner yesterday (I'm sacrificing the WP "Silver Platter"), which I'm hoping to turn into AMTK 8510. I chose that prototype because the roof vent configuration seems to be unchanged from the original, with the exception of the large vent on the roof, which is plated over and replaced with a smaller one, but that should be easy to replicate. I also found this handy roof shot online, which shows how the locations of the old antenna brackets were plated over: www.flickr.com/photos/29997762@N05/5270331410/sizes/o/in/photostream/I also thought it was interesting that the window closest to the door on the kitchen side has been blanked out too, which is not the case on all of the ex-Zephyr diners: www.hebners.net/amtrak/amtDINER/amt8510L.jpgThe only problem is that I haven't found any photos of 8510 in Phase III paint, which is how I want to do mine. I'd like to have a photo to work off of from the correct time period. Now I just need to find a Walthers diner to give up its underbody for this project. On a side note, I'm actually going to try to strip the plated metal finish off my car to start with a "clean slate." One of the guys on the Yahoo Amtrak Modelers List did this successfully by mixing a solution of salt and vinegar (creating a mild form of hydrochloric acid). He stripped the clear coat off the model first with a conventional paint stripper, removed all the metal parts (e.g. grab irons), and he reported that he had to change out the salt/vinegar solution a few times to complete the process over several days. Dave |
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Post by onequiknova on Apr 5, 2014 12:35:21 GMT -8
This is a cool build. I'm a little curious why you don't just retain and use the factory plating? It looks like the only real modification that would effect the plating is in the window area, and that will be painted anyway.
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Post by icrr3067 on Apr 5, 2014 14:20:58 GMT -8
This is a cool build. I'm a little curious why you don't just retain and use the factory plating? It looks like the only real modification that would effect the plating is in the window area, and that will be painted anyway. There's a few reasons. First the roof, I didn't show it, but there is all the round plates that covers the antenna holders. Also with all the added parts, I wanted everything to look uniform, instead of using platium mist on the added parts. And IMO the zepher car have a little yellow hue and it dose not match the walthers plating. |
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Post by antoniofp45 on Apr 6, 2014 19:36:14 GMT -8
ICRR3067, Super choice for a project and a smart move swapping the underframe! This is going to be a sharp looking unit.  I hope you don't mind my commenting, but I am concerned that you plan to spray primer (basecoat?) directly over the plated finish and then apply Alclad2 over it. Which basecoat are you planning to use? I'm keeping in mind that, while the stock plating from BLI and Walthers is very attractive I've noticed that on some units the plating has a very "slight" textured sealer/clearcoat. This can appear underneath thinnly applied basecoat colors and, afterwards, the Alclad metalizers. So please check your plated finish carefully to make certain it is already very smooth. If it isn't, you can easily knock down the texture by wet-sanding with a gray 3M Scotch pad in horizontal strokes. Please keep us posted on this "Deserves to appear in MRR Magazine" project.  BTW: On a personal note, I enjoyed riding in the prototype Heritage diners on my past Amtrak trips. They're spacious and have the typical comfortable riding qualities we've come to expect from the classic Budds. I wish Amtrak would rebuild the Heritage diners & lounge cars again and continue using them in service. I doubt that the modern replacements will last 50+ years! |
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Post by icrr3067 on Apr 7, 2014 2:41:05 GMT -8
ICRR3067, Super choice for a project and a smart move swapping the underframe! This is going to be a sharp looking unit. I hope you don't mind my commenting, but I am concerned that you plan to spray primer (basecoat?) directly over the plated finish and then apply Alclad2 over it. Which basecoat are you planning to use? I'm keeping in mind that, while the stock plating from BLI and Walthers is very attractive I've noticed that on some units the plating has a very "slight" textured sealer/clearcoat. This can appear underneath thinnly applied basecoat colors and, afterwards, the Alclad metalizers. So please check your plated finish carefully to make certain it is already very smooth. If it isn't, you can easily knock down the texture by wet-sanding with a gray 3M Scotch pad in horizontal strokes. Please keep us posted on this "Deserves to appear in MRR Magazine" project. BTW: On a personal note, I enjoyed riding in the prototype Heritage diners on my past Amtrak trips. They're spacious and have the typical comfortable riding qualities we've come to expect from the classic Budds. I wish Amtrak would rebuild the Heritage diners & lounge cars again and continue using them in service. I doubt that the modern replacements will last 50+ years! Antonio, I used vallejo's primer, and from your postes I'm going your route and using Scalecoat II NYC light grey and then spraying the Alclad. |
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Post by bnsf971 on Apr 7, 2014 3:37:24 GMT -8
Are you planning to make the marker lights function, or are you going to use lenses/jewels?
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Post by icrr3067 on Apr 7, 2014 6:23:00 GMT -8
Are you planning to make the marker lights function, or are you going to use lenses/jewels? On the diner I'm just going to use lenses. But the rear baggage I did install lights using a battery and a hidden micro switch. |
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Post by icrr3067 on Apr 12, 2014 21:28:32 GMT -8
I'm in the prosses of painting the shell of the diner, I did some work on the underframe and the interior. For the underframe like I said before I'm using a Walther's underframe. I repositioned most of the underfame battery boxes and generators. I also had to use two underframes for all the parts.  IMG_0720[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr  IMG_0719[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr For the interior, the Walther's interior was not the right one, and the Broadway interior was not complete. So I spliced two Walther's interiors together.  IMG_0716[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr I also wanted to add some extra detail to the diner so I made plates and flower vases with flowers.  IMG_0717[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr Here are the flowers drying. I made the flowers using brush bristles, and Woodland Scenics flock.  IMG_0718[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr Heres the first vase with the flowers installed:  IMG_0723[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr And the first six tables complete.  IMG_0724[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr |
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Post by antoniofp45 on Apr 13, 2014 6:39:35 GMT -8
Tim, You are doing an excellent job in taking passenger rail modeling up to Notch-8! At first I wondered why you didn't paint the table tops white.....then I realized that if you had done so, the dinner plates would have become virtually invisible. Smart move! The flowers are great touch of prototype style class. www.alternatewars.com/SDNTrashPix/D-Explore-3.jpg It is very enjoyable seeing your progress. |
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Post by mrsocal on Apr 13, 2014 6:54:58 GMT -8
I'll have the 7oz. ribeye with baked patato and a ceazer salad please. Very nice eye for the details.
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Post by mlehman on Apr 13, 2014 6:57:58 GMT -8
At first I thought the vases were going to be lamps, as they look a little like cone-reflector LEDs. But the flowers are way cool, too! |
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Post by icrr3067 on Apr 14, 2014 2:40:49 GMT -8
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Post by drolsen on Apr 14, 2014 4:35:07 GMT -8
Looking good! It sounds like you need a lot of sacrificial Walthers cars to support this project. I've had several undecorated Walthers diners on the shelf for years, only to realize that they come with the original steam heat underbody and won't work for Amtrak projects...
Which flavor of Alclad did you end up using?
Dave
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Post by acelaphillies on Apr 17, 2014 8:00:28 GMT -8
Wow, great work! Those flowers look amazing. What paint/decals do you plan on using for the IVb stripe color?
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Post by icrr3067 on Apr 17, 2014 14:04:55 GMT -8
Looking good! It sounds like you need a lot of sacrificial Walthers cars to support this project. I've had several undecorated Walthers diners on the shelf for years, only to realize that they come with the original steam heat underbody and won't work for Amtrak projects... Which flavor of Alclad did you end up using? Dave I used the Chrome alclad. Wow, great work! Those flowers look amazing. What paint/decals do you plan on using for the IVb stripe color? I'm using the microscale decals 87-971 for the blue stripe. The Amtrak logo and the Italic lettering will be custom decals. |
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Post by icrr3067 on May 4, 2014 20:13:07 GMT -8
Decals have been placed. The only thing missing right now is the dining car word on both sides of the car. Once those are on going to give the car a shot of gloss coat and then weathering it with Polyscale paints. Not going to go too dirty, just the ends underframe and roof. Decals were Microscale for the stripe. Walthers decals were used for the numbers, and the Amtrak logo and Dining Car are custom.  IMG_0763[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr  IMG_0764[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr |
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Post by drolsen on May 5, 2014 6:23:41 GMT -8
That looks beautiful! I know everyone is a fan of a different Amtrak paint scheme, but I really think the Phase IV and IVb schemes look classy. I sometimes regret that I'm modeling 1998 and won't have anything in the contemporary schemes, but I like the Phase III and IV era too. I just uploaded a photo of the former "Silver Bit" that I'd forgotten I took last year: AMTK 8531: drolsen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3827568Can't wait to see the finished project! Dave |
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Post by icrr3067 on Jun 22, 2014 19:53:21 GMT -8
Some updates on the Dining Car. The first picture is just comparing the Alclad to the Walthers plating and I have to say not too shabby.  IMG_0813[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr On the Broadway Limited model they used a green tint on the windows, they are really nice but when Amtrak rebult the diners they went to a smoke black window. So here is the windows I made to put on the model. My plan it to use the Tamiya paint Smoke to blacken the windows.  IMG_0809[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr The first window on.  IMG_0812[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr And now just for fun, the next two pictures show the car on its frame, and a close up of some of the patrons enjoying some dinner.  IMG_0810[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr  IMG_0811[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr |
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Post by antoniofp45 on Jun 23, 2014 10:51:34 GMT -8
What a sweet work of art in the truest sense of the word!
The finish natural metal finish is evenly toned and smooth and the dining car's interior is high on the "Wow!" factor. Just one request, if you don't mind. Take this unit outside in the natural light and take a few photos especially during the late afternoon or very early morning.
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Post by onequiknova on Jun 23, 2014 13:25:04 GMT -8
Looking good. Can you give some details on those window gaskets?
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Post by icrr3067 on Jun 24, 2014 5:19:30 GMT -8
Looking good. Can you give some details on those window gaskets? The window gaskets are kind of easy to make. I used the program Quark to make them. You just take the measurements of the windows and in the program you use the "text" function and you make them the size of your measurements. Also there is a outline option to make the gaskets thicker or thinner and a curve option to round the edges. Using an Alps printer I just print the windows on clear overhead projector sheets and use 5 min epoxy to glue the windows in place. |
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Post by drolsen on Jun 26, 2014 12:50:25 GMT -8
That's really fantastic modeling! I apparently haven't studied these cars enough, because I hadn't thought about the window tinting issue. Not to take anything away from the inventive method you used for making the new windows, but I emailed AMB just out of curiosity to see if they might consider making laser-cut windows for this model. I noticed they make a number of window sets for Walthers passenger cars. I guess that would still leave the issue of representing the window gaskets, but that would help me with the task of making the windows. I'm not sure how I would go about it without an Alps printer.
Thanks a lot for sharing your inspirational work. I acquired a BLI diner and a spare Walthers diner and will eventually start work on my own model.
Dave
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Post by icrr3067 on Jun 29, 2014 13:46:45 GMT -8
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Post by icrr3067 on Jul 6, 2014 16:44:01 GMT -8
Well the 4th of July weekend really helped me out on finishing the dinner. The other side of the window are in and I finished up both ends. AntonioFP45 after I weather up the underframe I will take the car outside and get some shots for you. Also the weekend here in Chicago the sun hasn't cooperated with me.  IMG_0823[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr  IMG_0826[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr  IMG_0827[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr |
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Post by adrian4630 on Jul 22, 2024 10:41:03 GMT -8
One of the first things I did to the model was remove the antenna, and removed the skirting from the car. IMG_0699[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr For the underframe I took a Walthers diner underframe and swapped it out with the Broadway one. This work to my advantage with less to remove on the Broadway underframe and the water tank on the Walthers underframe is in the right place. All I still have to do to the underframe is add more battery boxes and generators. IMG_0701[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr IMG_0701[1] by Timothy N. Alund, on Flickr How did you remove the side skirting? Car looks amazing! |
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