Opinions needed. How far do you guys go, In populating your passenger cars? I am currently painting about 350 seated passengers that I had planned on populating 3 full Passenger trains, only to find out the trains caried that many per trip between Chicago and Minneapolis , twice a day. So for 2 more trains , is another 700 figurines , and I am going blind, painting these up the past 3 days. So how many are you adding to your coaches and parlor cars?
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Depends on your time period and how accurate you want to be. As plane travel took off and train travel declined in the 50's and 60's load factors varied. Also great variations by train route and region. In the end, like everything else on your railroad it's personal opinion. I go with about half full in a normal car but fill up domes where I know people would gravitate and are easily seen.
I added benches (2 people width), 2 per row, and passengers to 4 Lionel SF Passenger cars that had silhouettes . I don't recall the exact number of rows per car, but for full passenger cars (not observation or dining) I probably had 15 rows. I only did 1 or 2 benches per car with 2 people on a bench. I had about 1 out of 6 benches empty. However, as @Dougklink pointe out, I have the observation area pretty full. All of the people I added have no feet and some are cut at the knee in order to put them lower in the bench. For me, the seating was perfect.
Unless they are going to be getting up and out/in at station stops, I don't worry about the people in my passenger trains.
@Dave Koehler posted:Opinions needed. How far do you guys go, In populating your passenger cars? I am currently painting about 350 seated passengers that I had planned on populating 3 full Passenger trains, only to find out the trains caried that many per trip between Chicago and Minneapolis , twice a day. So for 2 more trains , is another 700 figurines , and I am going blind, painting these up the past 3 days. So how many are you adding to your coaches and parlor cars?
who makes your passengers ? I have used circus craft in the past. Not sure that they are available any more.
One thing that I have found out is that most O scale people do NOT fit most O scale seats, they are a bit too wide so I would use S scale folks. Inside the car, no one is really going to notice. Besides real people come in a lot of sizes!
@PRRMP54 posted:One thing that I have found out is that most O scale people do NOT fit most O scale seats, they are a bit too wide so I would use S scale folks. Inside the car, no one is really going to notice. Besides real people come in a lot of sizes!
I do the mix but usually use the s scale people as teens or children
@texgeekboy posted:I added benches (2 people width), 2 per row, and passengers to 4 Lionel SF Passenger cars that had silhouettes . I don't recall the exact number of rows per car, but for full passenger cars (not observation or dining) I probably had 15 rows. I only did 1 or 2 benches per car with 2 people on a bench. I had about 1 out of 6 benches empty. However, as @Dougklink pointe out, I have the observation area pretty full. All of the people I added have no feet and some are cut at the knee in order to put them lower in the bench. For me, the seating was perfect.
Yeah, I'm running scale 80' cars , coaches have mostly 26 double seats per car or 52 passengers per car not including lounges
@David Eisinger posted:who makes your passengers ? I have used circus craft in the past. Not sure that they are available any more.
To keep weight down, I have been using cheap Plastic (made in china) unpainted seated figures , for diners and beavertails I have used much better cast figures.
@Dougklink posted:Depends on your time period and how accurate you want to be. As plane travel took off and train travel declined in the 50's and 60's load factors varied. Also great variations by train route and region. In the end, like everything else on your railroad it's personal opinion. I go with about half full in a normal car but fill up domes where I know people would gravitate and are easily seen.
I model from the Mid 30's to about 40/41, During the period Hiawatha service between Chicago and Minneapolis and were usually full, even with additional coaches
@Dave Koehler posted:I do the mix but usually use the s scale people as teens or children
Where do you find reasonably priced S-scale figures?
@PRRMP54 posted:One thing that I have found out is that most O scale people do NOT fit most O scale seats, they are a bit too wide so I would use S scale folks. Inside the car, no one is really going to notice. Besides real people come in a lot of sizes!
I've never found S-scale figures for any reasonable price!
My cars were only 15 inches, yours is over 20 I guess. Nice.
I "second the motion" about placing S scale figures in O-scale passenger cars -- in my case, I placed the Made-in-China figures inside a set of Golden State coaches with RI, SP, and PRR nameplates on the cars. I cut the figures at the knees to fit in the seats. I randomly put the figures at seats at the windows with the thought that most passengers would select a seat with a view. I half-filled the cars with passengers as a reality check to match the decline of the Ri in the 1970s - leading to the RI bankruptcy declaration in 1975. The RI ceased operations in March, 1980 -- the end of a "Mighty Fine Line."
My modest collection of RI trains is now on display in my train room. Because my layout is limited to O42 track and switches, I can't run most of the RI trains that require larger-radius curves. However, they are impressive "shelf queens."
Mike Mottler LCCA 12394
@gunrunnerjohn posted:Where do you find reasonably priced S-scale figures?
That's what I'd like to know as well! Or any priced S-scale figures, for that matter. Haven't been able to find any at all.
@breezinup posted:That's what I'd like to know as well! Or any priced S-scale figures, for that matter. Haven't been able to find any at all.
Some:
Aspen Modeling Company
Arttista (yes, they make S scale figures)
Modelu (3D printed and lots more than figures in all sorts of scales)
@gunrunnerjohn posted:I've never found S-scale figures for any reasonable price!
E-bay , they are not great , the most I paid was 12.00 for 100 figures
Here is a thread discussing this subject in detail.
I started filling my cars about 20-25%, but they look too empty. Now I aim for 1/3. While I enjoy painting figures, I may need to paint 1500 figures to fill all my passenger cars. (more likely, I'll sell some cars before I get around to them)
Placement of most figures by windows sitting singly with a few couples scattered makes it look like you have more passengers.
This car has 64 seats, 18 passengers and 2 conductors. The outside view is here:
I also added window shades in the down position at some empty rows to help with the illusion.
Bob
@mwb posted:Some:
Aspen Modeling Company
Arttista (yes, they make S scale figures)
Modelu (3D printed and lots more than figures in all sorts of scales)
Doesn't look like Aspen makes passenger train figures. Arttista pretty much limited to individual figures at about $9 each. Modelu you have order from England, only available in packs of 5 or 6, about $4-5 per figure, and those are unpainted. So effectively, there are no S scale passenger train figure sets available that I can see.
Dave, where did you see them on Ebay?
What are folks using to populate 15" cars, and for Baby Madisons?
@gunrunnerjohn posted:I've never found S-scale figures for any reasonable price!
MTH passenger figures are actually S scale. Painted figures come out to about $3 each, which is a bit much to populate a train, but they are nice to use in the top level of dome cars. Unpainted figures come in 120 packs for $30 (30-11043) with about 80 seated and 40 standing. Tedious to paint, but they almost always fit with no surgery.
Atlas O may have bought some MTH figure tooling or the rights to use it. Atlas PN 3009951 is the same as MTH PN 30-11067. Atlas PN 3009952 is the same as MTH PN 30-11068. There is also Atlas 3009950 and most likely others.
@RRDOC posted:This car has 64 seats, 18 passengers and 2 conductors.
Bob
And 21 sacks of mail? 
@Lehigh74 posted:MTH passenger figures are actually S scale. Painted figures come out to about $3 each, which is a bit much to populate a train, but they are nice to use in the top level of dome cars. Unpainted figures come in 120 packs for $30 (30-11043) with about 80 seated and 40 standing. Tedious to paint, but they almost always fit with no surgery.
Atlas O may have bought some MTH figure tooling or the rights to use it. Atlas PN 3009951 is the same as MTH PN 30-11067. Atlas PN 3009952 is the same as MTH PN 30-11068. There is also Atlas 3009950 and most likely others.
I also have about a 100 cast metal figure s that were originally Walthers and are now being produce under The company that took over their detail parts. they are also S scale sized and match up size wise to MTH
@RRDOC posted:Here is a thread discussing this subject in detail.
I started filling my cars about 20-25%, but they look too empty. Now I aim for 1/3. While I enjoy painting figures, I may need to paint 1500 figures to fill all my passenger cars. (more likely, I'll sell some cars before I get around to them)
Placement of most figures by windows sitting singly with a few couples scattered makes it look like you have more passengers.
This car has 64 seats, 18 passengers and 2 conductors. The outside view is here:
I also added window shades in the down position at some empty rows to help with the illusion.
Bob
is that a plastic insert or individual seats
seems I broke the law,, and the e bay links showing the type of figure i was using were removed. The long arms of the law strike again
+1 on @Dave Koehler's question. Also, how did you do the window shades?
My main gripe re the general hoi polloi of available ridership is that the vast majority are facing straight forward!
Now, I don't know about you, but this face-forwardness is for the 1:48 airlines hobby...especially center+aisle seats! When I travel by train, it's to be able to see the scenery, the towns, the vistas, the amber waves of grain and purple mountain majesties! In fact, if they're going to ride on MY layout, I'd appreciate it if they'd take a gander at the 1:48 scenery, buildings, industries, hustle/bustle (read: stagnationl) of the town/city folk!
Stare straight ahead oblivious to all that time-consuming, back-breaking enjoyment I put into it???...ingrates!!!
So, sure, I understand that it's easier to create the molds for a symmetric pose. And commuter-folk are understandably bored of their passing views, but if you're riding the Super Chief, the Sunset Limited, the Senator, The Capitol Limited, the 20th Century, the California Zephyr, etc,, etc., etc., on my rails, I'd appreciate having the riders look out the window!! OK, maybe it's just my preference, and no one else's!
And, true, the tunnel experiences...1X's, plywood, paper strips/mache, plaster stalactites dripping from chicken wire screening lining the continental divides, and an occasional glimpse of the arachnida class scampering about...are from ugly to horrifying, besides dark and foreboding.
Ah, well. Aside from all that, I would agree that the MTH-sized figures are easiest to install, look...reasonable...when painted with a shaking hand. I've been tempted to try a pack or two of the GGD figures...anyone have experience therewith as re size, poses, installability (?). Oh, and re 'installability' for seated folk?...I find a few strokes with a flat b____d file on their derrieres gets them in a better window position...to stare straight ahead!!!
.
"Are we there yet?"
KD
Most of the passenger trains I build model specific prototype schedules from the post-war period. Usually the "end-of -life" versions down to one or two coaches, maybe a buffet or diner or maybe not at all , likewise sleepers. MR used to refer to some of these as "pike-sized consists"and the operating value that size provides when dealing with layout space limitations.
Trains like the 1955-6 version of the T&NO Sunbeam, 1950 version of the CGW Mill Cities Ltd, late 60's L&N Georgian, SAL Silver Comet, PC Admiral. Heavy on the head-end and light on the "revenue" cars, hence not a lot of passengers to worry about, just a few here and there, enough to look like they did in the photos before they were discontinued. Regarding the actual "passengers' I go for those inexpensive pre-painted sets on bubble cards from the PRC offered on Ebay. I add hats and alter some the colors of the clothes to more subtle shades. Doesn't take a lot to "sell" the appearance. As mentioned earlier in the string adding random alternate heights of the window shades looks realistic too. I like the S scale suggestion too, I'll try that for sure. Another opinion, the older painter white metal figures are nice but often too heavy if used "en-masse" and can break loose over time.
Not into overdoing interior details (like the bathroom fixtures behind the frosted glass) but if you're lighting the interiors of your cars they should have some passengers as it really adds a lot to the overall appearance of the train.
@texgeekboy posted:+1 on @Dave Koehler's question. Also, how did you do the window shades?
good point, after going back through the books, you do indeed see window shades
@atlpete posted:Most of the passenger trains I build model specific prototype schedules from the post-war period. Usually the "end-of -life" versions down to one or two coaches, maybe a buffet or diner or maybe not at all , likewise sleepers. MR used to refer to some of these as "pike-sized consists"and the operating value that size provides when dealing with layout space limitations.
Trains like the 1955-6 version of the T&NO Sunbeam, 1950 version of the CGW Mill Cities Ltd, late 60's L&N Georgian, SAL Silver Comet, PC Admiral. Heavy on the head-end and light on the "revenue" cars, hence not a lot of passengers to worry about, just a few here and there, enough to look like they did in the photos before they were discontinued. Regarding the actual "passengers' I go for those inexpensive pre-painted sets on bubble cards from the PRC offered on Ebay. I add hats and alter some the colors of the clothes to more subtle shades. Doesn't take a lot to "sell" the appearance. As mentioned earlier in the string adding random alternate heights of the window shades looks realistic too. I like the S scale suggestion too, I'll try that for sure. Another opinion, the older painter white metal figures are nice but often too heavy if used "en-masse" and can break loose over time.
Not into overdoing interior details (like the bathroom fixtures behind the frosted glass) but if you're lighting the interiors of your cars they should have some passengers as it really adds a lot to the overall appearance of the train.
I am glad you mentioned hats . up until the early 60's when travailing , or even just going down town, men and women all dressed in their finest, for women a hat or scarf and for men always a shirt and tie, quite often a suite as well as a hat
@mwb posted:A little applied amateur surgery might be an appropriate solution,
yup after reading the comment I ordered another 70 figures with actual detailed faces that I can turn towards the widows they are seated at
@dkdkrd posted:My main gripe re the general hoi polloi of available ridership is that the vast majority are facing straightforward!
Ah, well. Aside from all that, I would agree that the MTH-sized figures are easiest to install, look...reasonable...when painted with a shaking hand. I've been tempted to try a pack or two of the GGD figures...anyone have experience therewith as re size, poses, installability (?). Oh, and re 'installability' for seated folk?...I find a few strokes with a flat b____d file on their derrieres gets them in a better window position...to stare straight ahead!!!
KD
The MTH 120-piece unpainted set has about 30 out of 80 seated passengers looking to the side. Take a look at MTH 30-11016 or Atlas O 3009950 for an example. The 120-piece set has the same figures times 10.
For a bit of variety, there is also the Bachmann 33165 waist up figure set with a few looking to the side and a few reading newspapers.
For the GGD little people seated figures, I perform surgery to make them sit up straight and fit in the seats.
@texgeekboy posted:+1 on @Dave Koehler's question. Also, how did you do the window shades?
I bought light blue tinted paper in the scrapbook section of Joanne's and cut 1/2" strips. Then I cut the strips into pieces 1 to 4 windows wide and taped them in place to the inside of the window glass at different heights using double sided crafter's tape (roller dispenser). The biggest challenge was getting them level.
Bob
@dkdkrd posted:My main gripe re the general hoi polloi of available ridership is that the vast majority are facing straightforward!
Wow. You just gave me a "Duh" moment. Why do all my carefully painted passengers still look like lifeless robots? Because they are not looking out the windows.
There will be a mass of head amputations and re-attachments in my future modeling endeavors!
Bob
Some kind of printed 3D strip that could be applied over the windows...
ECI
Great information !!!
Thank you to all posters !!!
cB&Q Bill
@mwb posted:A little applied amateur surgery might be an appropriate solution,
You mean Hawkeye's "meatball" surgery!?!?!?!?
Yeah, I've done a lot of that in 1:48, actually. However, after a while the yelling and screaming gets to you. I mean, it's not the best approach for "customer relations" on your railroad, is it?
One of my earliest efforts in anatomical mayhem was cutting the head to re-position it and chopping the legs at the knees on one chap. It was a plastic figure of some sort of polymer that resisted my first choice of reconstructive bonding. Well, some time later as the coach flashed by I noticed he had, shall we say, 'nodded off'...his head was in his lap. I gave him a quick orange-and-Blue Cross warranty job with CA, touched up the wound with some 'skin graft' paint, and promised him a smoother (i.e., No more taking the O72 curves at Notch 8) lifetime ride...gratis.
Lehigh...I've done about 360 of that 10x12-member gang...another 120 await a steadier hand (I'm on a medications vino-break for a few weeks). The 30 you mentioned...1 guy, 2 gals...all are looking to the left. Sounds like an excuse for the yard crew to spend more time Y-ing a bunch of cars in making up the train for the next trip! Or, maybe its time for some shades?...fully drawn to block out the 'sun' on the right side?
"Are we there yet?"
KD
@dkdkrd posted:You mean Hawkeye's "meatball" surgery!?!?!?!?
Yeah, I've done a lot of that in 1:48, actually. However, after a while the yelling and screaming gets to you. I mean, it's not the best approach for "customer relations" on your railroad, is it?
@Dave Koehler posted:E-bay , they are not great , the most I paid was 12.00 for 100 figures
@Dave Koehler posted:yup after reading the comment I ordered another 70 figures with actual detailed faces that I can turn towards the widows they are seated at
What scale are those that you got on Ebay? Where did you just order the 70 figures from? Thanks.
I am going to take a contrary position. During the day when passengers are most likely going to be observing the scenery it is hard to see into the coaches. It doesn't matter where most of the passengers are looking, because from outside the car they are darkened blobs. In the evening where interior car lights make the passengers more visible outside the car it becomes much harder to observe the scenery. A few faces pressed up against the windows may add visual appeal but for the typical coach people looking forward should be fine.
If you are going to have them in poses other than looking forward then you would want people looking at each other and people reading the newspaper.
For dome and lounge cars I think there would be a greater advantage for more diverse set of passenger poses.
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