Okay, its been a while since I've posted, but I've made some progress. Since Amtrak put diaphragms on their RDCs, the head lights had to be relocated to the roofs. Nick showed me a good place to get that detailed part from (Miniatures by Eric, Part NL9: http://www.miniaturesbyeric.com/itmidx8.htm) I had to drill the light holes and hollow out the piece using fine drill bits to get the plastic light piece to fit in. It still stuck out of the bottom (but that's okay, you'll see why in just a second): Here is the two pieces fitted together: Next I had to drill a whole in the roof of the RDC so the light piece (stuck in the light box) could go down into the car body and "capture" the light from the bulb: The the light transfer and light box where mounted on top of the RDC. Here it is being put into the RDC: <continued on the next post>
After the piece was put in, this is what the light looks like: I have not permanently mounted the light box yet, but this picture gives you a pretty good idea of what its going to look like when all is said and done. I will be doing this for all three units (two sides each, yikes!).
I like all the work you've been doing on this. I wonder if your lightbox work would be adaptable to the light package on a high-nose SP loco, like an old SD9. I suppose anything is possible.
Thanks a lot! You should give it a try, plus there are other parts on that sight that might be even better of a match.
Thanks Nick! I forgot to mention that the light box was actually too long and I had to cut about 1/4 of it off.
Alright, I had some time so I got a little further on the RDC project. The front ends (both ends are fronts right?) of the units needed some attention. As you can see from the photo below, something needs to be done about the original headlight housing and diaphragms need to be added. First, in regards to the head light housing, you will see that there is a cover (kind of like a small overhang) that has slanted ends that goes over the housing. I took a piece of super thin styrene and cut it to fit in this area: After I had cut out the styrene, I glued it over the housing and into the overhang area. I still had to do some additional trimming. I then painted it: This method is good because on the Amtrak units, you can tell (if you know where to look) that this area is modified just like the model above. Next, I modified some diaphragms that I got from Kato's parts store (on-line). I basically cut down the piece over the actual door, but left it arched like the prototype:
Next, I glued the diaphragms over the opening of the doors. They should be flush with the bottom of the piece of styrene described above (top of diaphragm) and the bottom of the car body: Here is what it looks like with the door, windows and plow in place: Now I just need to do all this to five more car ends!
I have completed the Amtrak RDC project: To complete, I finished the car ends as I described in my last post. I then fixed the lights/light boxes to the tops of the cars on the ends. Next I painted the insides of the windows black to simulate tinted windows and I was done. Here are some more shots: RDC1 RDC2 The whole consist (a little out of focus): Thanks to everyone for looking and following me thorughout this project. I know Amtrak isn't always popular, but everybodies comments were greatly appreciated. Chris
