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I have a tip I’d like to share with reference to the articles on this topic in OGR Run 335.  I painted the “wall”, behind the passengers in my MTH B&M Doodlebug, flat black.

This creates the illusion that the interior is darker, adds depth and makes the passengers more visible.  I don’t paint the seats for good glue adhesion, making them more visible, too.

I used Beep People for the project.  They are too wide, but were not difficult to cut in half (head to toe) with a utility knife.  Just don’t tell anyone the same people are on both sides of my Doodlebug!

John

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@Steam Crazy posted:

Walt, the plastic on my Beep People was on the soft side.  I was surprised.  I've cut feet off people, too - to get them to fit in passenger cars - but the Doodlebug seats are so narrow you need to cut the people in half.  This is starting to sound macabre!

John

I was thinking originally that 'soft' was probably involved but didn't want to ask so as to NOT minimize what you did.  thanks for confirming.

walt

Started dissecting my MPC car today. I bought a K-line interior from Trainz (small z.....😀😀). I will have to cut it in pieces to fit. Seats to the rear and I'll kitbash the sleepers to use for the Post Office area.

I'll have to cut the white plastic off of the roof and figure out a way to secure the roof.

LED lighting will follow.

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Bob

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This probably needs to be a new topic, because it does not involve populating a Doodlebug. I'll be watching this project with interest, though. I've been wanting to add interiors to a set of MPC Milwaukee Road baby Madisons I have. I picked up a relatively recent set of Lionel Santa Fe baby Madisons some time ago, which cars (like all the more recent baby Madisons) came with interiors, six wheel diecast trucks and some other updates.

I've initially examined what will be involved in transplanting the interiors. It should be possible, although it will take a little surgery. But they're the right size and have proper seat arrangements, etc. The interior lighting will have to be re-arranged, also.

I'd like to transplant the 6-wheel trucks, too, but that looks like it would be a more significant undertaking that I'm not going to spend the time to attempt. 

@stangtrain posted:

My UP Doodlebug arrived this week along with a pack of Lionel 21” passenger car people. The people (mainly men) needed surgery to make them fit, LOL. Here it is with a full load of paying passengers:



Any idea how these scale in size to Beep People? Looking at yours compared to the Beeps in John's, they appear to be a little smaller.

Bob

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@stangtrain posted:

@RSJB18

Sorry but I don’t have any BEEP People to compare, but even the small Lionel people needed some surgery to sit in the tiny seats of the Doodlebug.

Is it possible for you to measure one? If you can give us head to butt, I can compare to the BEEP's that I have. Happy to share with the group.

The all need surgery to fit regardless.

Bob

@stangtrain

The Beeps are slightly taller.

36" = .75" @ 1:48 scale for reference

I'd say close enough to mix both mfr's figures for greater variety.

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Last edited by RSJB18
@texgeekboy posted:

I never saw, nor even heard of these things until this year.  I gotta admit they're pretty cool.  I'm looking to get a Lionel PRR and will use the advice in this column to populate it.  I really like the way the black painting of the walls looks.

Has anyone had any operational issues with them?

Mine ran great right out of the box. The only issue I had was some clearance problems due to my 027 curves.

@Steam Crazy posted:

I didn’t mention I also added an engineer to my B&M Doodlebug.  I believe he is an Arttista figure.  Foot surgery was needed.  The interior of the cab was maroon, so I painted it with a light “industrial” green to brighten it up.

John



What paint are you using John?

@texgeekboy posted:

I never saw, nor even heard of these things until this year.  I gotta admit they're pretty cool.  I'm looking to get a Lionel PRR and will use the advice in this column to populate it.  I really like the way the black painting of the walls looks.

Has anyone had any operational issues with them?

Purchased in December. No issues at all. It’s my #1 simple and easy go to locomotive with the most run time in 3 months.

Gene

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Bob, I used Model Master FS 34227, pale green paint.  You're probably aware Model Master has been discontinued, but you might find some on Amazon or the Bay.

Pennsyfan, I agree with Bob that diagonal cutters are adequate to amputate feet and legs from Beep People.  Per my original post, I also was able to cut them in half, head to toe, with a utility knife without too much difficulty.  BTW, I still have all my fingers!

John

@Steam Crazy posted:

Bob, I used Model Master FS 34227, pale green paint.  You're probably aware Model Master has been discontinued, but you might find some on Amazon or the Bay.

Pennsyfan, I agree with Bob that diagonal cutters are adequate to amputate feet and legs from Beep People.  Per my original post, I also was able to cut them in half, head to toe, with a utility knife without too much difficulty.  BTW, I still have all my fingers!

John

John, Oh I know diags work on the BEEP  legs and feet. When I was populating my NH&I passenger cars, I did about 70 amputations. They were all piled up when my adult daughter came in. She was very upset; Dad what are you doing? I said I had to cut their legs off so they fit in the cars. Reply was “that’s gross”😝. Here they are waiting to be installed in the cars. IMG_9978
A
ll the posts about the doodle bugs got me going about doing my MTH version. I also have a wooden kit that’s about 80% done for 30 years.

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I ordered my Lionel PRR Doodlebug from Charles Ro on Sunday night after my wife caved in. It arrived in perfect shape Friday afternoon via UPS. It looks and runs great. I ended up controlling it with the iPhone app so that I can use my Cab1-L controller more easily with my TMCC culvert loader and unloader accessories.

I really want to populate the doodlebug and paint the walls black as done by the OP, but I’m going to force myself to put that off. I have 2 current projects I need to finish, and then I’ll be cleaning up my work area and test track in the game room in order to get new carpet upstairs . At that point I hope to put in a 12’x12’ layout.

I have been following along with interest, and I guess I got the Doodlebug bug too.  Pun intended!    A forum member posted an MTH B&O Doodlebug for sale, and we just came to an agreement on it.  I'll be meeting him at an I-80 exit closest to me while he is on his way to York next week, and we will complete the transaction.  So, since I put LED lighting in all my passenger cars, and am collecting unpainted passengers for the set that doesn't already have passengers, I will have to figure out what to do with the Doodlebug.  Now that I am thinking of that, I have an MTH Pittsburgh PCC car that has no passengers or interior.  Oh no, there is always another project that could be added to the list. 

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