SUPERLINER SLEEPER

Oh, I can't wait to see this project progress!

I spent a few days on sleepers on the Capitol Limited and Empire Builder trains on the cross-country trip with my wife and some friends in 2015, the only time I ever took a long-haul Amtrak train before. It was such a great trip (didn't get delayed anywhere along the way or have service issues).

The one on the left in this shot is one we rode. Right now, I can't recall if this was the Capitol Limited or Empire Builder car. I only recall this shot was taken in Chicago so it could have been either:

There are times when I've thought of getting my hands on a good HO scale version to number for 'our' car and put under glass...

Very exciting, JP.

bonne nuit

If you ask him nicely, maybe JP will make you one in O, Lee. 

So talented JPV! Inspiration! 

Thanks to you all for your kind comments! 

Continuation....

As I said yesterday, I began to do some pieces for this car: first, the hallway partition and the bedroom doors of the upper level; I planned to do this partition in one 0,5 mm styrene sheet but, looking at photos carefully, I noticed that the doors were sliding inside her. So I changed my way, doing this in two 0,25 mm sheets and rigidity strips inside allowing the doors to be inserted in between.

Here are the steps: cutting of the sheets and then gluing 1,5 x 2 mm strips and assembly of each partition

The assembly is done; next, I drew in SKETCHUP the "wood" wall cover (!) and print it on self adhesive paper and cut it to dimensions.

Now the doors: they are made of five layers:

from the hallway side to the bedroom side:

1 - self adhesive paper with blue color

2 - 0,25 mm styrene

3 - 0,25 mm transparent sheet for window

4 - 0,25 mm styrene

5 - self adhesive paper with beige color

They are after inserted into the partition; I thought to glue the internal strips in a precise place avoiding me to let some doors half open!

To be continued....

Now, it's time for the luggage racks of the coach car! I'm a very busy retired person!!! 

jpv in France

Some other pieces I've done at this day, mainly floors (not too hard but I begin slowly ):

These are made with 3D printer for more accuracy; it's a main piece in the car chassis: place for coupler, electrical swich, bolt for shell ends and truck pivot.

The two other pieces are the end partitions of the lower level; you can find all these pieces on the 3D drawings I posted 2 days ago.

And now, some 3D drawings of the interior design; I think I posted some of them on the other thread....but here, they are at the right place!

First, the bedrooms:

Then the roomettes:

And just for fun with sun and shadow...

See you soon

jpv in France

I discovered yesterday that the Deluxe Sleeper was part of Superliner II series; then it can't have the MD 76 truck like the coach car but a GSI-G70! So I have began the design of this truck on SKETCHUP with only some photo, a drawing and one dimension, lenght between axles! I know that one can find also these trucks under Horizon cars that Atlas made but they are certainly hard to find....So, I have chosen to build them!

Here is the real one:

and the only drawing I found:

I began first to do a 2D drawing to work on:

And when I was satisfied, beginning of the 3D drawings:

Not yet finished; lacks the upper bolster part to do (big one!); I worked on all day long and now I stop! my two remaining neurons are out of order 

jpv in France

And here I was thinking that you just whipped it up in a few minutes each time, JP. 

It's nice to find that you are human like the rest of us. 

It looks good.  Well worth the effort.  We have to suffer for our art . . .

A humanoid who makes 3D drawings and cuts styrene! 

So, here is the completed truck  with the bolster:

I will not do that every day!

Good night

jpv in France

I am truly  impressed with how quickly you create these concept drawings. Amazing.

Thanks, Chris!

Two years ago, I began to learn SKETCHUP. It has been easier than I thought! now I can make some hard work with, but I have tried to use other softwares: I didn't understand anything, too complex for me! so I kept on learning on the same I had begun and it's very funny to discover another trick every day you work on! and the free version is enough to do what I show on the forum!

jpv

I installed Sketchup a while ago but have not started using it. Time to get on my horse!

Well Chris, it's a good idea! try it, it's easy, even funny! the software, not the horse! 

jpv in France

Jpv,

my builds are cave man stuff compared to this. Very nice job so far.

alan graziano

Thanks, Alan! but I'm just an amateur; I only hope that this second one will be better than the first!

I would also like to congratulate you for all the buildings you have done and shared on this forum! 

Our hobby is rich across the borders!

jpv in France

jvp, your work is inspirational and that is an under statement. Thank you for sharing your modeling and the use of new technology in our modeling world. As far as I'm concerned your among the BEST at custom building, keep up the great work.

Best Regards; Gene

Thank you Gene; you know, I'm a modest person and I'm very touched by your words . It's a pleasure to share on this forum.

jpv in France

Your Superliner work all around is outstanding.  I wish I had the time and ability to produce what you are doing.  Having ridden these cars since 1989, it is a train that I would like to have on my layout one day even if it isn't close to the time period or region I model in 2 rail.  Thanks for sharing your process.

jpv69 posted:

Thanks, Alan! but I'm just an amateur; 

I disagree. Your work is very professional.

Originally posted by Allan G:

Jpv,

my builds are cave man stuff compared to this. Very nice job so far.

alan graziano

Don't worry Allan, I will getcha there! 

Thanks to you all, gentlemen! I'm  !

Some other important details: the floor coverings; I have them drawn with SKETCHUP textures and fitted to the right dimensions of the floors, then printed on self adhesive paper. On these drawings, some parts remains in white color: it's the exact place for the partitions; by this way I avoid me to take measurements on a blue color to put them in place! easier for me and less tiring for my eyes!!!

Upper level:

Lower level:

It's not very large, but I hope you can enlarge these drawings.

It remains to stick them on the floors and add some partitions: the work for tomorrow!

jpv in France

Now the partitions on the upper level are done:

I wanted to start the lower level partitions but the ink cartridges are empty and tomorrow, it's sunday and.... sunday's closed!!!

So, happy sunday to all!

jpv in France

It's Sunday here already, JP.

Happy Sunday from Oz. 

Progress on the interior design:

Lack some partitions and roomettes doors for the lower level but they will be fitted tomorrow.

I take my time to have a result as good as possible and I noticed that the fitting accuracy is better than for the first one; so don't be afraid of my slowness.....

Thank you!

jpv in France

jpv; I don't think slowness is an adjective that describes your work. amazing progress!

These pics might help a little with the trucks

So beautiful 

Thanks for all, gentlemen! 

These photos are a very good help for me; I had not such details; now I know and understand how the bolster works; I will look at  my 3D drawing if I made something wrong; thanks!

See you soon

jpv in France

Thanks to RDUNNIII's photos, I was able to draw the axles boxes; thanks to him once more!!! 

I can now fix them inside the trucks; normally, all is right.......

Happy week end to all!

jpv in France

The axle boxes are now inserted into the trucks:

I also modified some details on the bolster to have an easier rotation of the truck.

And I also received the figurines: a friend of mine ordered them for me on ebay 50 seated and 100 standing up:

25€ for 150 figurines! it's fine! now, they have to invade the coach car!

jpv in France

The figurines look good, JP.

I'll have to have a look on ebay.

Yes, Max, it's worth it!

jp

Hello all,

To much stuff inside the apartment and outside on the terrace for to work on this car! more, I was waiting for some 3D parts and they arrive today!

Here are all the components for the bedrooms and roomettes:

Now it remains to paint all these things and install inside the sleeper!

Once done, I will have to stop the building of this car for a while; the reason: I made several attempts in cutting off the window places on the faces and the result is not what I expected and I don't want to do the same errors I made on the coach car; so, I will certainly buy a cutting plotter (Silhouette CAMEO 3). But this thing is not free!!! around 320/350€ here in France.

No need to say that I will have to save money month after month to have it!

But there is other things to do! my well cars for exemple; they are waiting that I take care of them!

I will take photos of each part and show you in another post how they will be fitted inside the rooms.

jpv in France

Here are the components inside the rooms (not yet painted: too much wind on the terrace today!)

For the roomette:

and for the bedroom:

Same elements for family and handicap bedrooms. Some rooms will be fitted in night configuration by cutting the seats and replacing them correctly for a good night!

The upper beds will be done after.

jpv in France

All the seats are now painted; just lacks the upper corner part to be in gloss gray; but I let them dry!

jpv in France

And the bar is yet raised again...

jpv, you continue to impress!

Thanks for your comments! 

This work takes me a lot of time, but I prefer to go slowly! and to share it with you is gratifying, really!

jpv in France

amazing the ammount of details you are bringing in this car

any reason you are going for the cameo?

i have the curio, must say it does the job but it is not so accurate as i was hoping for.

the curio has a poor way off putting down the cutting mat, i have made some adjustment

i can cut styreen 0,5mm with it but sometimes it's getting stuck and i have to start all over.

looking forward how your experience are about the cameo 3 

Cor