Looking for someone to change this GGD 20" combine:
To this AFT tool car:
Email is in my profile.
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Ron, I think it would far easier to start with a baggage car and repaint it, no?
You could likely buy a 6 car set for what that modification would cost.
Pete
Pete,
You are probably correct on the price, and maybe a baggage car might be better except most O scale sized HW baggage cars I have seen are too short. The original AFT tool car was made from an 80' baggage/dorm with most of the windows plated over.
If after talking to someone that can do this, I may not look for a perfect modification (like keep the vestibule and PRR round window). Could even just paint over the windows and it would still be closer to the original than anything else out there.
I already have a lot of money sunk into the rest of the train, a mix of K-Line and Lionel. Since it looks like Lionel is not going to finish the train, I need to look at other options. Getting this tool car is one of the last items I need.
Ron, pretty sure most GGD baggage cars are 21”. Beth at PDT has a few. You could contact her to verify. Also I have round window doors if you need some, taken out of early MTH cars.
Pete
Thank you. I will see what Beth has. Need to check up on my pre-orders anyway.
@CAPPilot posted:Pete,
You are probably correct on the price, and maybe a baggage car might be better except most O scale sized HW baggage cars I have seen are too short. The original AFT tool car was made from an 80' baggage/dorm with most of the windows plated over.
If after talking to someone that can do this, I may not look for a perfect modification (like keep the vestibule and PRR round window). Could even just paint over the windows and it would still be closer to the original than anything else out there.
I already have a lot of money sunk into the rest of the train, a mix of K-Line and Lionel. Since it looks like Lionel is not going to finish the train, I need to look at other options. Getting this tool car is one of the last items I need.
What makes you sure Lionel will not finish the train?
Contact Alan Graziano for your modification of a plastic car.
If you have the car and just want it painted, use Christine Braden cbraden77@comcast.net. She painted heavyweight cars for me into Red, White and Blue cars, see below. 
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I would recommend Carmine Crudele for custom work/painting (carminecrudele@yahoo.com). He makes a lot of one-offs and does excellent paint jobs.
Bryce
I would go with Harry Hieke if you want things added..he's a genius and has modified a lot of my steam engines and diesels to look authentic ...highly recommended!!..great weathering...
@prrhorseshoecurve posted:What makes you sure Lionel will not finish the train?
I am not sure of it, but it looks like they are not going to. I asked why they didn’t do a more accurate entrance car and the response was that it would have required new tooling that would only be good for the AFT. The tooling for the Showcase cars would be unique to the AFT, and there is nothing remotely like them in their catalog. So I think the Showcase cars will never be done.
They do not have tooling for 20” HW cars, so a scale length tool car is not in the offering. I am surprised they have not released an 18” version using a generic HW baggage car.
Now, they could do new tooling for the 85’ flatcar. It was used by many railroads so there is a larger base for it. But have not heard anything from them on doing this. I guess they could use their current longest flatcar but it would be way short.
I plan to use Atlas’ 89’ flatcar. May need that extra inch since the only appropriate vehicles I can find are 1:43 scale.
Anyway, that is why I say it looks like no more cars are coming. I hope they prove me wrong, but I plan to have the complete train well before they finish it.
