Diesel Interiors

P&D interiors are not compatible with vertical can motors.  They can only be used in Lionel dummy units, trimming to fit.  I've used the P&D interiors in F units and E units and I would think that they could easily be modified for Alco cab units.  But again, only in dummy A units.  

I have also had some luck with adding detail to Lionel interiors.  I mostly model Santa Fe diesels, although I have some other roads.  In studying Santa Fe interiors (F, E, PA, but not hood units like Geeps, etc) I learned that Santa Fe painted their interiors gray.  Lionel has used red on F's and PA's and silver on the E6 they once did.  I looked at the Atlas F's I have and Atlas painted their interiors black.  I then started looking at prototype photos and for the most part you can't tell the color of the interior and they usually look black.  I mention this because one of the annoying things about the china drives is that the can motor is located in the diesel cab and the interiors all have plastic hiding the motor.  It is not as evident in Atlas engines because they used black for the interior.  If you try to detail a Lionel interior, you can paint some of the parts of the cab, like the speed recorder, control stand, etc and it will stand out a bit with a black interior.

A couple of other things I did were to add sun visors (they come in the P&D kits, but are easily modeled) and removed the Lionel cab lighting and installed mini LED's on the roof where they were located on the prototype, which is roughly between the engineers head and the cab window.  (You would have to verify that because I posting this from memory.)

I'm surprised Lionel doesn't have interiors available any more.  I love the P&D interiors but if you have a lot of engines to do, it gets costly.  For me, having a few for show is probably good enough.  The drives on later Standard O diesels are easily moved between units.  For the F units that have P&D interiors, I moved the motors to the B units.

The computer on which I had pictures stored on is down.  I hope to salvage the hard drive, but I don't have anything to show.

Marker,

Thanks for the answers and tips.  Presently I'm thinking about adding interiors to the A unit dummies and running the powered unit last.  I like the LED overhead interior light information.  That is a great idea.

The interior color I remember from the geeps I've been in is a light green color or a whitish green color.  I have painted a Lionel F3 interior that color and it looked good.  Can't remember the color name, but I do remember it was Testors Model Master paint.  I have checked the Model Master color chart and don't see the color.

I'll check with Lionel and North Lima about the interiors for the Lionel F3's.  Thank you again for your help with this.

Erie Bob

Get two powered units, take out the front motor in each and install interior kits. Still have the same total number of motors as a powered/dummy plus interiors  

Personally I would rather have the interior than the extra motor.

I put figures in my RS3 with a printed control background.

Get two powered units, take out the front motor in each and install interior kits. Still have the same total number of motors as a powered/dummy plus interiors 

That was one of the first things I tried.  I was going to do single motor A's and dual motored B's for an A-B-B-A set.  I don't know what the problem was but it didn't work with TMCC electronics.  The units would not run in synch.  I've tried it with more than F units.  If anyone gets it to work or knows why, please post!

The interior color I remember from the geeps I've been in is a light green color or a whitish green color.  I have painted a Lionel F3 interior that color and it looked good

That is a great color and accurate.  The gray was Santa Fe other roads did use that green and I like it better.

Bob Sobol is a modeling genius, take a look at this: 

http://bobsobol.smugmug.com/Tr...520335&k=rwvh5Cb

Bob did his interior using a P&D F unit.  It didn't have a China drive, it had a horizontal motor.

Search around the website for great ideas.

Nice work Don!

Thanks for all the feedback. 

Don, that's a great idea printing the background.  Where did you find such items to print and in color?  Looks great on hood units but I think it might be a little more difficult with covered wagons.  The the RS unit, especially the colors.

Johnathan, moving motors is a possibility I did think about.  I might try that on the locomotives I can swap the motors on.  I know it can be done on MTH and Williams.  I agree on the interior adding depth to a locomotive and if relocating the motor is the solution, so be it.

Marker, I'm glad I bought two bottles of the Model Master paint as I don't believe that color is manufactured anymore.  May have to get Home Depot or Lowe's to custom mix the color.  The interior picture of the F unit using the P&D interior is fabulous.  That picture makes relocating a motor well worth it.  I like your idea of painting the can motor shield black.  I may do that to my low hood units.

I have many Weaver horizontal Ultra Line GP-38s that I also want to install interiors in.  I wonder if a modified F unit interior would work in them, or has anyone installed an interior in one.  Would like to know and see pics if you have.

Thanks again for all the feedback.  Look forward to more comments.

Good Luck Bob!  

Please post the results.  It's fun to ponder and we may all learn something.  

P&D has a great interior kit for F units.  Wonder if anyone has tried adapting them to FA or PA units. 

Don't waste your time. Not only is it complex but you will have the wrong controls. You are better off surfing the Lionel Parts department for interiors and/or using PSC/ Keil line interiors. BTW, Keil Line's Rs interiors are good but be carefull of the soft while metal castings. The Keil line interiors only work in dummy RS units.

Keep in mind with vertical motors in the cabs, its tough to find/ build cab interiors. Here ia a pic of the P&D cab interior in a Single motor Willimas F unit...

The interior color I remember from the geeps I've been in is a light green color or a whitish green color.  I have painted a Lionel F3 interior that color and it looked good.  Can't remember the color name, but I do remember it was Testors Model Master paint.  I have checked the Model Master color chart and don't see the color. 

I believe Walmart has their "rattle cans" in that [puke green"] color. You should stop by and check out their paint department.

I have many Weaver horizontal Ultra Line GP-38s that I also want to install interiors in.  I wonder if a modified F unit interior would work in them, or has anyone installed an interior in one. 

the GP 38 used a newer AAR type of control stand. Below find the PSC parts list for a typical GP/SD cab interior:

Also note these 1:32 model car guages are great for detailing guages/Barco Speed Recorder in the cab!

Anotehr option for the Weaver GP 38 is this Lionel PA cab interior. looking at it it's NOT a Pa cab interior but a good GP cab interior!

DMASSO,

RE: I put figures in my RS3 with a printed control background.

What's your source of printed control backgrounds? Website?

Copter 

these might work

more

PRRHORSESHOECURVE, Where did you get the drawings?

Gene Anstine

The EMD drawings are found in the back of an out of print book:

Our GM Scrapbook by Kalmbach publishing.

Another book with some great first and second Generation drawings that I highly recommend is  LOCO1 The Diesel by Carstens... Also out of print.

FYI for current Weaver Diesel locos with the Vertical Drives, there is not much room since Weaver either continues the hood wall through the cab on high hood units or molds in the motor shield as in cab units. you barely have enough room for an engineer and a seat. The photo idea posted above would work great in those instances.

Thanks, I will keep an eye out for those books.

I only use the horizontal drive so I'm good.

Gene Anstine