Hello all, On another thread, someone mentioned they would be interested in the progress of my Amtrak RDC kitbash project, so here it is. My project includes 2 RDC-2s and 1 RDC-1. They will be painted in the Phase I livery. I started with two Kato Alaskan RDC-2s and stripped the paint. The next step was to extend the short window (between the last full sized window and baggage door) and add an additional short window on both sides. Amtrak made these modification after they received the units. To do this, I cut a narrow slit from the side of the short window into the plastic near the center (center from top to bottom). I then filed away the remaining plastic till it was the same size as the rest of the window. To make the small window next to my new big window, I drilled a hole in the center of where the window should be, then cut and filed until it was the right size
The finished windows looked like this: After the windows were complete, I shot the two cars with silver. I then masked the smooth area in the window strip and painted it white, along with the end doors. Next I paintet the ends. To the right of the door is red and to the left of the door is blue on both ends. The RDC-1 is not included in any of these pictures because it is in the mail. It will be a lot easier to work with because it doesn't have any window modifications. The next steps will be to decal and do some diaphragm modifications... stay tuned! Here is a shot of the prototype (2 RDC-2s and 1 RDC-1) from Amtrak Photo Archive:
Mark, I used 91% rubbing alcohol to get the lettering off. I would have just kept the silver already put on by Kato, but the models had some discolored areas (I got them used), so I painted silver over the whole thing again. Chris
So what cars are you modeling? On RDC2s there was a great variety of window arrangements so that specific customers had what they needed. Some had more windows, like on the ones you are doing, some had less. Then you have the custome versions, such as the RDC3s built for the CRIP and B&M that had no baggage area and were mail - coach configuration. And the two unique M&StL/C&O RDC4s which had a small coach section behind the baggage compartment. Yep... the RDCs were great machines... the gentle drumming of the engines was rather relaxing, especially with the rocking the cars would make on less that great track. Way better than on a bus!!! Shameless plug... to learn more visit the Budd Rail Diesel Car list @ Yahoo! Groups... just click the drawing below...
Jerry, I am modeling the RDC-1 and 2s... they are the only ones Amtrak had. BTW, I love your website. I have been going to it for years! Chris
"I am modeling the RDC-1 and 2s... they are the only ones Amtrak had." They had more than three... 10 - 20 were ex-PC/NH Budd RDC1s 30 was ex-NP, 31, 32 were ex-NP/WP Budd RDC2s 34 was ex-PC/NYC, 35, 36 were ex-PC/NH Budd RDC2s 40, 41 were ex-NP, 42 was ex-NP/DM&IR, 43 was ex-BN/GN Budd RDC3s 14, 30 and 36 were the longest running, lasting into the early-80s, the cars in the shot you have shared are 32, 33 and 10 (incorrectly listed as "110"). Several others went on to other owners... a tribute to their quality engineering. Amazingly both Tri-Met up in Washington state and VIA Rail Canada are getting a few completely rebuilt for continued use... this despite some cars being over 50-years old. I know some 50 years old that don't look or move as good.
Jerry, I meant that I though Amtrak only had the RDC-1 and RDC-2 models (not just three total RDCs). Its interesting to know that they had a few RDC-3s in there. Thanks for the info! Chris
Tri-Met is Portland, OR. The RDCs they are getting to supplement the WES line service are from the Alaska RR.
I rode AMTRAP's RDCs between Springfield, Massachusetts and New Haven, Connecticut when I was in graduate school at Zoo Mass from 1978-1980. I also rode them in early 1981 when visiting the then GF. I only rode the replacements (SPV-whatevers) once, summer 1981. Did AMTRAP operate RDCs anywhere other than between Springfield and New Haven?
"Did AMTRAP operate RDCs anywhere other than between Springfield and New Haven?" Yes. While most of the Budd cars were assigned to service in Connecticut and Massachusettes a few of the NP cars actually saw service out of Chicago, Illinois on a train that I believe was called the Black Hawk. They were replaced in that service by a F40PH and Amfleet cars in 1978. Operated until Sept 1974 as a three RDC train but one car was destroyed in that month, dropping the cars to two. All appear to have been ex-NP.
I started adding the stripes to the sides of the cars. I am using Microscale decal set 60-423, "Diesel - Phase II Paint Scheme." There are two problems with these stripes. First, they are discontinued (but they still have 163) and old... so they are brittle. To combat this, I used Microscale Liquid Decal Film as was suggested by some members here on Trainboard (thanks guys!). I just took a paint brush and applied a small amount over the entire surface of the decal sheet. It worked like magic! The second problem is that the decals are two wide for the model. On the prototype, the red and blue stripes are the same height as the window and placed between them. The decals, as they come from the factory, would overlap onto the fluting. What I did to overcome this is I cut the decal length wise down the center of the red stripe and down the blue stripe. I then took the red and blue edges and placed them in line with the tops and bottoms of the windows (accordingly). I then took the center piece that had a little red, a thin white strip, and a little blue and placed it between and over the two pieces on top and bottom. This completed the stripe and made it smaller. After using a decal softener, you can't even tell that the decal was ever cut. See below (I still need to trim up the decals over the windows):
I finished decaling the two RDC-2s. After the decaling, I painted the rims of the windows black to help make the windows look that much more flush with the surface of the car (the windows have a black gasket). The RDC-1 arrived and it is now fully painted and ready for decaling. Thankfully, I don't have to do much in the way of window modification for the RDC-1. Also, I organized my Photobucket pictures into folders, so some of the picture links from before are broken. If you want to see the older pictures, you can see them here: http://s422.photobucket.com/albums/pp306/cfquinlan/Modeling Projects - RDC/
