Blue Comet 614 Observation Car - need some help

A blue lighting "gel" or blue transperent folder/cover from an office supply house, and blue violet & black markers would likely give you a nice replacement till nicer originals fall into your lap.

Paint/markers and a cut up Qtip or carry-out container if you don't have office supplies nearby (first marker dot then paint on the backside last for light blue/white mix will have a less solid look from the clear side. 

Variations exist in all eras. Some operators made clever adaptions that look stock as well. Yep, that's a Doughboy, paint an airbrush O-ring brown for him.

 I'm no purest. I do try to make my changes reversible and obvious upon inspection not a factory build. I ask others of thier interest before I chop if there is ANY doubt of ease in replacement (some found new homes and I chopped "the swap" or made a couple "thank you bucks")

So, add a light if you'd like; it's yours.  But without cuts or damage if you can (you can ) because you're really just holding it for the next owners

  A light(s) would change the mood of it. I like the look; soft light best. It might catch in the rear markers(?) which is an awesome look imo.

I'm in full agreement with "first, do no harm" and keeping things reversible. I don't want the next owner shaking his head in dismay, saying "What has he done!?" 

This is the drawing I referenced

As you look at the rear cabin bulkhead, you can see the hole for the light. That hole does not exist on mine, so I will snake a wire and light over the bulkhead, perhaps using double-sided tape to attach in the same area as the hole or maybe even to the underside of the roof.

I will give your recommendation for making my own clerestory strip a try as soon as I get some new markers and a couple of bottles of paint - thanks

Well, The reference of yours is for a standard gauge car and you are comparing to an O gauge car.    I don't think any 614's ever have a factory installed light on the rear deck.   There have been people that put led's in the two red lights on the posts as well.  You could do that without cutting anything up.  You could probably also put an led over the rear deck without cutting anything up with a little creativity.  Nice cars either way!

I've also used some scotch tape on the back of existing window material to keep some in place.  That seems to work and doesn't really detract from appearances.  That said, if it is already missing....

Dennis Holler posted:

Well, The reference of yours is for a standard gauge car and you are comparing to an O gauge car.

I've also used some scotch tape on the back of existing window material to keep some in place.  That seems to work and doesn't really detract from appearances.  That said, if it is already missing.... 

 

Standard gauge, eh? Well that certainly explains some things  I totally missed that! I guess I should have noticed that the trucks are 6 wheels each! I did find the 614 Observation car drawing, and it has arrows pointing to the strips, but they are simply "undefined" on the drawing … has no rear light … and has two red marker lamps. I DO think they would look cool with just a bit of light coming out of them...

Scotch tape, as you mentioned - that was Plan B if I couldn't find some new, repro or just used in good condition. But also as you said, tape won't help missing pieces. I think that's where Adriatic's suggestion will come into play …. hmmmm… I wonder if I could scan a good strip (or pieces of a strip), then print on a clear plastic sheet? I'll have to see if I can find plastic sheets that are safe in a color laser printer.

Thanks guys!

The question on the marker lights is did they build it with holes behind the red gels?  With the right led choice and magnet wire (like a coil.. painted vs rubber insulation) you can snake through about anything and hide it easy too. But Id put a TINY piece of tape, even Scotch, on wire or edges to avoid a metal edge removing painted insulation.

I doubt the paint is needed really. More an alternate choice. I thought you may have some on hand. Cheap craft acrylics would be my paint choice though. Easy to thin, mix, apply and clean. Model paints often have less translucency and may curl thin sheets too. (cut long and pin/tack flat, paint, dry, trim ends.

For the multi colored translucent stuff above the windows, I get mine from Mikes Trains and Hobbies in Lompoc California.

Adriatic posted:

The question on the marker lights is did they build it with holes behind the red gels?  With the right led choice and magnet wire (like a coil.. painted vs rubber insulation) you can snake through about anything and hide it easy too. But Id put a TINY piece of tape, even Scotch, on wire or edges to avoid a metal edge removing painted insulation.

I doubt the paint is needed really. More an alternate choice. I thought you may have some on hand. Cheap craft acrylics would be my paint choice though. Easy to thin, mix, apply and clean. Model paints often have less translucency and may curl thin sheets too. (cut long and pin/tack flat, paint, dry, trim ends.

The marker lights - yes, there are holes behind the red gels. And snaking a wire should be easy, but yours is a good suggestion about the tape. I have some black insulated wire wrap wire that should be perfect for the job.

RoyBoy posted:

For the multi colored translucent stuff above the windows, I get mine from Mikes Trains and Hobbies in Lompoc California.

What part number do you order, Roy? In case my new plan 'A' (old plan B) doesn't work out, I may need to order some from MTH. Is it for Standard Gauge, and if so, is it indeed larger than what's needed for O gauge?

My new plan A is mostly done - I removed a good whole strip, and painstakingly straightened it - then I scanned it at 600dpi (best my cheap scanner would do.) I made multiple copies of the image and placed them in a PowerPoint sheet, which now contains 21 full length images. I'll be visiting OfficeMax tomorrow, they can print this in color on a clear  sheet, and all I will have to do at that point is cut 'em out, and cut the holes for the tabs. I'm playing with some passenger strips too, haven't got far on that yet, but here's a sample of both:

The hard part with the 'peeps' strip is getting the horizontal and vertical spacing just right for the existing windows, plus the obvious part of peep size. Should be quite doable with a bit of patience. 

Perhaps if others have done this, they might be willing to share their creations on this forum (or somewhere?) for the benefit of all. I would strongly suspect that what works on my PC and printer might not 'size out' correctly on somebody else's, but at least the basics would be there. Just a thought...

  Adjusting the size percentage is all that should need to be done. Use the far end winows to measure, and match that with the new print. The larger measurement increases accuracy; all points between (and verticals), will line up. If they don't then their software or printer is crap.

How many cars do you have? lol. I thought you were doing one or two cars tops.

  I should have thought of that too though. Graphics, keylining, typesetting, presswork, commercial art, etc. is old hat. But, I haven't even had a printer in near a decade. A good one?; not for longer. The softwares were obsolete too quickly or the inks became hens teeth costing more than the new printers... I don't play that $200 a year game for "homey" use anymore. I havent even used a whole ream of paper in 30years.    I called around to all the folks I know around March this year and nobody I know.... (not too many anymore, but thats a long bad luck story) ...even keeps one anymore. They do it at work like in the 80s-90s. For the same reasons too (well there was one..black ink only). Even my scrapbooking Mom and Sis gave it up. They're a basic item and decades of lack of real universal standards kill it for the little folk. The equivalent of say proprietary recording speeds on a vinyl record needing a special player. A step back vs progress imo. 

Anyhow, It may take a few proofs, but Im sure this will work out for you on the color strips. The figures will depend on the sharpness of your work and the ink pigment count/opacity. Enlarging would weaken edges proportionally, just like zooming on your computer, reducing has the oposite effect. Slight change won't get noticed much. 

  Canopy cement is a very clear glue of types used to make custom model plane canopy windows. A glue that won't craze other plastics. Resembles white glue very closely, but dries clear as glass eventually.

I have not tried to remove it from surfaces once cured though.

Tape works too

Adriatic posted:

How many cars do you have? lol. I thought you were doing one or two cars tops.

I am, but when you ask Office Max to print one page, why not fill it and have a few extras?  I'll probably get rid of some of the clerestories in favor of passenger silhouettes.

Anyhow, It may take a few proofs, but Im sure this will work out for you on the color strips. The figures will depend on the sharpness of your work and the ink pigment count/opacity. Enlarging would weaken edges proportionally, just like zooming on your computer, reducing has the oposite effect. Slight change won't get noticed much. 

No pigments here, just laser printers! Well, maybe they have pigments too.... but no ink jets - they are a true compromise in functionality!

  Canopy cement is a very clear glue of types used to make custom model plane canopy windows. A glue that won't craze other plastics. Resembles white glue very closely, but dries clear as glass eventually.

I have not tried to remove it from surfaces once cured though.

Tape works too

Yep!!! And it's EASILY removable. Tape is my friend!

Good times! Still enjoyin' my trains!

     I've never even looked into the process of lazer printing. I don't know but I would guess light/heat reactive paper or pigments attraction to light bands. Color change automotive paints use magnetic fields to align multi colored prismatic pigment into a grained alignment. I

ts possible a lazer could flip similar individually ???... Wikipedia, here I come

Oh great, more composer fun...that paragraph was fine. Then lowering the keyboard caused the above space and lines and  deleted a few words.."I SUPPOSE IT IS POSSIBLE A LAZER...." is what was there.

Or maybe I do know a lot, but terminology has changed somewhat. Its a color photocopier. Electrostatic toner done in four layers. The things seldom broke down, so I didn't get to play inside much other than paper jams and cartridge changes.  I ran a printing platemaker for two years that is very similar too. It could make a "paper(ish) printing plate" in a flash. 

The funniest part of all this is while I'm lauging at myself and speedreading my Wiki-refresher course I came across an image you should see. Scroll down keeping your eyes to the right. I think You will know it when You see it. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_printing

 I also didnt mean to be discouraging on the figures. I'm "too picky" about printing at times..."a pigment counter"   I was real good, but always too hard on my own work. I just forgot that. Figures willwWill get liturn out great too.

I can't even fight the last line ..I think you can guess that too.

(the composers seems to have a "will" of its own )

First attempt - I'm quite certain my scale is off - darned near look like HO peeps. But it's fun just playing with it while the black paint dries on my caboose LEDs.... Even managed to sneak Sherlock H., Stampy Longnose and a minion in there.

These are printed on plain copier paper, scotch taped in place and very simply backlit with a floor lamp. Might have to reduce the size of the lighting ... 

RoyBoy posted:

For the multi colored translucent stuff above the windows, I get mine from Mikes Trains and Hobbies in Lompoc California.

Got a part number for the clerestory strips? For the frosted windows as well?

Thanks!

George

Jeff Kane (Train tender) has the mottled plastic for the windows.

Chuck Sartor posted:

Jeff Kane (Train tender) has the mottled plastic for the windows.

Thanks Chuck, I spoke with Jeff earlier, he has the frosted window panes, but not the blue mottled clerestory strips - his supplier stopped supplying. 

George,

after searching ,I have 2 pieces of tp-sp00083,that I bought from Jeff,years ago.give me your address will mail to you.my email is in my profile ,if you would rather send me your address. no charge ,they are yours if you still need them.how long are the pieces you need ,want to make sure these are full pieces.

thanks Rich b.

Im glad you posted again. I missed a couple; likely as Google reorganized my inboxes for me because it just wasn't complex enough for such a simple job  And folks complained about MS apathy towards users requests, lol.

 I had no idea who Stampy was so I researched the name. Doing that I saw a name I recognised from playing GTAV with a peticular "gang" that always tried to prospect me to join (cur ra hee) along with a guy I suspect is a GTAV or RockStar dev. going by abusauger. The name, it's Stampy's pal ibalisticsquid, this would be around & before 2015 too.  (watching video of abu pushing some exotic cars through thier paces on some interesting roads, I noticed the road and background in upstate NY was the same as an area of the game.... he avoids my questions about it too, so I think he is a dev. lol..plus he was awesomely good at it too early on)

I can't judge against an original I don't own, but that looks ok to me. If you bother with larger, just don't worry about getting 100% of each to show cleanly framed. Some over-cropping by the window frames should look natural.

What stopped you from printing a mottled one?  Did they not turn out well?

RICH B posted:

George,

after searching ,I have 2 pieces of tp-sp00083,that I bought from Jeff,years ago.give me your address will mail to you.my email is in my profile ,if you would rather send me your address. no charge ,they are yours if you still need them.how long are the pieces you need ,want to make sure these are full pieces.

thanks Rich b.

Thank you so much, Rich. That is VERY generous, and they will not go unused! Email sent!

George

Adriatic posted:

Im glad you posted again. I missed a couple; likely as Google reorganized my inboxes for me because it just wasn't complex enough for such a simple job  And folks complained about MS apathy towards users requests, lol.

 I had no idea who Stampy was so I researched the name. Doing that I saw a name I recognised from playing GTAV with a peticular "gang" that always tried to prospect me to join (cur ra hee) along with a guy I suspect is a GTAV or RockStar dev. going by abusauger. The name, it's Stampy's pal ibalisticsquid, this would be around & before 2015 too.  (watching video of abu pushing some exotic cars through thier paces on some interesting roads, I noticed the road and background in upstate NY was the same as an area of the game.... he avoids my questions about it too, so I think he is a dev. lol..plus he was awesomely good at it too early on)

I can't judge against an original I don't own, but that looks ok to me. If you bother with larger, just don't worry about getting 100% of each to show cleanly framed. Some over-cropping by the window frames should look natural.

What stopped you from printing a mottled one?  Did they not turn out well?

OK, let's break this down.

1. "...Google reorganized my inboxes for me..." I have no idea what you are referring to.

2. Stampy I know. Iballisticsquid I know, in fact my grandson has a wall poster of Stampy and Squid walking together, holding hands. A bit odd I thought, and apparently so did my 9 year old grandson who commented on that very same issue just the other day. But back to my point - abusauger is a name I don't know.

3. People strips - I did enlarge them and they look good - no pics yet.

4. Clerestory strips - they didn't really turn out what he way I was hoping. 

As you can see in this side-by-side view

the strip on the right is my copy, the left is the original. In this type of view, with a solid white backing, they look to be a halfway decent match. But when placed into a car and subjected to backlighting, this next pic is what you really get.

Not only does the backlighting

wash out the colors, but pixelization from trying to blow this up, is quite evident. I guess my scanner simply wasn't up to the task. I'm confident that with the right hardware (camera, scanner, printer, etc.) this could be done, but it probably also requires more skill and finesse than what I bring to the table, so..... thanks for the strips Rich B !!!!!

I use email notifications to keep up with things. Google, or gmail to be specific, is splitting my forum mail among three catagories they predermined to be in my best intrest. I get no choice in the matter it seems. One of the sections hides just off screen, unseen. So unless I just happen to scroll down, I miss that one. And that's where notification for this thread landed, 1of4, those 4 out of hundreds.

     I have had some interesting meet ups in life that ended with a "it's a small world" note. Very short lived this time. I'm not a fan of drawn out public intimacy between any adults either. It made me squirm when I was a kid and still does. The mysteries of farm life weren't ever hidden from me, neither were the animals "with two spirits", I just favor the courtesy of public modesty.

  Not enough pigment. I was afraid of that; but thought the process had improved some by now lol. Multiple passes might help, but I don't know if that's even possible on that equipment. Pigment count is much higher in "printers ink" than liquid ink, toner, and paints.

  I think film might be the way to go outside of a "real" printer (vs a "copy shop"). But your almost more likely to have a local train store nowdays.

It doesn't really need to be a graphics business. A camera shop that deals in film should be able do it or refer you to SOMEONE still using film and a copy camera frame. I read rumor of a rise in hobby and pro film use a year or so back; not much mention of the chemicals for developing on the private side though.