Joseph Frank posted:Hello Chris --
That kitbash conversion using an R-12 Body (its sides only) would work. However-- some pointers below ---
(a) -- You will have to REMOVE the lower outside window tracks under the windows --- as the R-15's did not have them.
(b) -- You will have to fill in the rectangular door windows in the R-12 car sides with some thick plastic sheet material -- and file flat the door window "frames" flush with the door skin and the panels inserted into the door windows --- so the the entire skin of each door now looks like one flat steel door panel.
(c) -- Carefully measure and using a round hold drafting template -- draw the 4 circular windows on each pair of doors, and using a drill - CAREFULLY drill out the material to make circular windows
(d) -- Using the R-17 Carbody shell, and CAREFULLY cutting away and removing both carbody side wall panels up to and under the roof line -- and then you must COVER OVER the R-17 ROOF VENTILATORS completely on both sides of the car roof. Look at the Roof of an R-15 car (and my model)
(e) -- then install the R-12 car sides -- after FIRST removing the window outside lower tracks and correcting the door windows per (c)
(d) -- the repaint the now fully kitbashed car -- and when done, install the R-12 INTERIOR SEATING floor and seats section
Just something to consider when you cut apart two different car bodies to create one new car !
My R-15 car was totally scratchbuilt -- which seemed easier to me. But then again, I have been building model subway and EL car carbodies for over 50 years now in both HO and O Scales.!
I really wish MTH would have done the R-15 when I was working with them on the NY subway sets -- it was in the works as a future planned model but would require NEW tooling for the roof and body sides. That's WHY I built my own R-15 - as a sample model for them to work from along with scale plans.
regards - Joe F
What do you think the chances are for mth to go forward with the project now? They did just modify the R36 tooling to make the 33 singles....
