Lionel Doodlebug now has Revenue!

@Soo Line posted:

I put some folks into the new Lionel Doodlebug.  Those seats are narrow!  I found the Lionel people packs seemed to work the best.  As well, I had to choose all women figures because they were narrower than the men figures.  A little filing on the sides of the figures that face the wall was also required.  You really cannot notice this and it looked better than cutting off limbs on that side.   

Looks much better in my opinion.

Dave

Looks good. I have a pack of BEEP people, wonder if they would work also? Now I see why they put the walls up and you can't see through the car.
Would have been a good candidate for window silhouettes.

Bob

Looks good Dave. I did that to my MTH Doodlebug as well.  The seats are narrow, the same as a lot of similar sets, the Red Arrow Trolley comes to mind.

You could go for silhouettes.  The ones in the pics are for use on Postwar Bud Cars.  I believe the Train Tender has them.  They would look fine but the figures give more of a 3D effect IMO.

The white tape comes off.  It is there to protect the glue.

Dave

@Soo Line posted:

You could go for silhouettes.  The ones in the pics are for use on Postwar Bud Cars.  I believe the Train Tender has them.  They would look fine but the figures give more of a 3D effect IMO.

I have worked to eliminate silhouettes from my passenger car fleet, I don't want to go back.

@Soo Line posted:

I put some folks into the new Lionel Doodlebug.  Those seats are narrow!  I found the Lionel people packs seemed to work the best.  As well, I had to choose all women figures because they were narrower than the men figures.  A little filing on the sides of the figures that face the wall was also required.  You really cannot notice this and it looked better than cutting off limbs on that side.   

Looks much better in my opinion.

Dave

Very nice job Larry!!  Looks great!  You've inspired me to do the same with my new Doodlebug ( which I bought new earlier this month from a forum sponsor , however it came to me with bugs doodling in the operating system ) comes back from Lionel. Thanks for sharing your work and for the inspiration!!   May you doodlebug earn it's keep plus a few $$ on your railroad!  

Nice pictures. I cannot tell from the pictures alone, many of us guessed that they made it single motor to make room for the smoke unit. I see the motor mount but it's slightly unclear how and where the smoke unit sits in comparison. I think I see the smoke unit bracket attached to the upper shell, it just about that relationship, is it right where the motor would be, or in front of it?

Also, TMCC antenna on the side of the fake interior?

It's all back together now but I did take this shot of the smoke unit.  The smoke unit sits directly under the smoke exhaust holes on the roof.  A bracket keeps it suspended up to the roof.  Again, 16 OHM resistor.  The antenna is a metal strip fastened to the inside of the fake rear partition.

Dave

Picture of smoke unit which remains attached when you take the shell off.

Anyone order a DoodleBug from the 2024 catalog? What road names?

@Soo Line posted:

Picture of smoke unit which remains attached when you take the shell off.

So the smoke unit sits forward of that internal interior wall, which again, sort of looked to me like it could have retained motors for both trucks, but they just chose not to????

Again, I'm looking at the orientation of the  smoke unit compared to the body mounting posts. Then look at the frame.

Sure does look like a motor would fit?? Just extend that wiring and rout it around the motor. I'm sure they used a dummy truck without gears, I'm just again thinking the design and frame originally supported 2 motors.

I think they figured that the Doodlebug wouldn't be pulling anything but perhaps an extra coach so they saved money by omitting the second motor.  MTH wasn't so cheap and they had two motors, but no smoke unit.

Can't shake the idea of converting one of these to a battery-powered model using one of Northwest Shortline's (NWSL) Stanton powered trucks, thereby completely opening the passenger section.  Even though the model is typically short of most prototype lengths for this style doodlebug, it would be a worthwhile effort...IMHO.

The Stanton drive is far from competing on traction power with traditional OO3R/O2R drive systems.  However, the doodlebug was never intended to be a major hauler of much more than it could carry itself.  I have a Ross/Gargraves layout whose rail cross-section has enabled me to successfully run a dozen or so freight/caboose cars with O2R trucks.  Sure, there's a bit more weeble-wobble as they traverse switch frogs, but, strategically located in a train (i.e., towards the rear of the train) they've never derailed...so far.

One compromise that might need forgiveness is the comparative wheelbase between the MTH/Lionel doodle and the available Stantons.  The model currently measures out to about 8'-3" (from the all-important sideframe journals).  Stanton's closest available O scale option would be an 8'-6" wheelbase.  Not sure how much of a distraction a scale 1-1/2" misalignment of sideframe journals to the Stanton wheel positions would be.

OTOH, it might be worth the (very reasonable, IMHO) price of one to evaluate both power and appearance issues.  If need be, perhaps using a Stanton drive on both trucks might be a further consideration to produce a better hauler.

NWSL's website indicates they also may have O3R wheels.  Not sure of the flange dimensions.  But I would imagine it wouldn't have to be much of an increase over the NMRA RP25 contour to provide an extra measure of tracking on Ross/Gargraves rail, at least.

In any case, it sure would provide some better interior detailing options than presently have to be overcome.

BTW, in my dark-side days (HO), I employed a Stanton drive conversion to an ATSF Hallmark doodlebug model...largely of necessity when the geared truck block froze from the dreaded ZINC ROT!  Took some finagling, for sure, but was VERY successful...especially with the addition of DCC, sound, LED lighting...and a custom paint job!

Hmmmm...  Need to keep an eye out for a suitable MTH 'dummy doodle' (ATSF, preferably).  This might be the time to get adventurous!

KD

@dkdkrd posted:

Hmmmm...  Need to keep an eye out for a suitable MTH 'dummy doodle' (ATSF, preferably).  This might be the time to get adventurous!

Gee, if you're going to do all that work, might as well paint it anyway.