Train of Tomorrow Details: Between cars?

I was wondering the same thing about the cars, having looked in the box for the diaphragms.

Maybe foam cut to the shape of the end of the passenger cars, painted to match?

Jim

The prototype photo shows full width diaphragms painted to match the car. The model has full width diaphragms. They should flex if you push them in. They should also touch but if they did you would likely need 10 foot radius curves. 

Pete

Lee,

Your UP (post TOT) pix shows a full width diaphragm between the cars.

I believe the SP daylight pax cars had the same arrangement.

Note how close the UP cars are coupled together. The UP diaphragm is flexible. Perhaps a canvas material?

The TOT model has full width diaphragms already installed to represent the prototype diaphragm.

Not sure if a vendor offers a flexible O gauge full width diaphragm for your TOT?

Looks like perhaps a scratch building project is in order and another adventure for you to write about.

Good luck.

Bill

Judging by the photo, the TOT cars already have full width diaphragms installed.  They are to butt up against each other.

What you have is the unrealistic gap needed to allow the cars to negotiate model curves which are considerably sharper than the prototype's.

Rusty

As with most prototypical streamline passenger cars that were equipped with full width diaphragms, it is virtually impossible to model them in 3-Rail O Scale. Only the 2-Rail O Scale modelers, with huge curves, seem to be able to model the full width diaphragms correctly on their 2-Rail scale passenger equipment.

My Sunset/3-Rail/GGD Souther Pacific Daylight passenger set has full width diaphragms for the articulated three section diner as well as the articulated chair cars. However, trying to adapt those same full width diaphragms for use between the cars, simply would not work, and I have no curves smaller than 072!

Lee, here is a UP drawing from 1949. The internal diaphragm only sticks out 13 inches from the end of the car when coupled. Then as others have said, there is an external full width diaphragm painted to match the cars.

Car drawing

Thanks, it was simple to remove those I had inserted, and since it does not need to be coupled when on display, to just overlap the couplers and push the cars together.  It certainly looks more like the train in the photos this way.  

The book shows the loco had a small projecting doorway, which is on the model.

Nice suggestion.

The PRR Fleet of Modernism streamlined cars also had full width diaphragms.  we have to remember that prototype curves are way larger than anything in our world.

If anybody produces full width diaphragms,  would love to know!!!!  Kaisner had the one piece cut foam rubber? ones in their kits  they don't age well and keep them away from heat  they melt into nastiness.  I thought that Pullman came out with them at the initial switch from heavyweight to streamline cars. What little I've managed to find the were a pain , dangerous to yard crews and maintenance nightmares. Maybe Hotwater can extrapolate more cause I'm always skeptical of my researching skills. The kadees couple closer than the robster craws, but their is a space even with them. I would assume that the tighter you couple the wider the curve required to avoid derailing. All speculation on my part somebody anybody set me straight. PLEASE.

Lionel has made them. Both the 18" SP Daylight and Empire State Express cars have them. Most likely many more that I am unfamiliar with. They are functional, ie flex but are not painted to match the car bodies which I think is actually correct for the ESE cars. You can buy them as separate sale items but not sure what they will fit. i know they will not fit right on MTH streamliners.

ESE Part

Pete