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Post by mttrains on Nov 14, 2014 13:27:36 GMT -5
I can definitely fall into the screw the uncoupling magnet thing....haha..., so I will go online and check them out. If I modeled freight trains then this would not be a problem...  Thanks |
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Post by Amtrak207 on Nov 14, 2014 13:48:37 GMT -5
Hahaa i hear that. About 12-15 people have seen my Amfleets in person and they ALL zoomed in on the tightlock coupler. I was like "check out the interiors, the emergency exit instructions by the cafe window", blah blah. Yet they notice the tightlock (Working on the rest of the interiors now. Later on some light dust weathering on the underbody and even lighter on the roofs, a sealant of Dullcote on the underbody and semigloss for the carbody and we can pretty much wrap up the Amfleet project!) Tom |
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Post by amtrak on Nov 16, 2014 15:27:44 GMT -5
What is the stock number on the Laser Horizon site for the La-Pub car or is it the baggage dorm in the photo, either or what the stock number I would like to purchase one for my Broadway Limited Consist
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Post by Amtrak207 on Nov 16, 2014 19:30:58 GMT -5
Further progress....Wifi on board!  Before  Testing sizes  Drilling CAREFULLY the hole where the wire will go.   Test fitting  WiFi "boards" installed  I am aware of the need for better lighting!  Next up are the "shark fin antennas" UPDATE: I do not like how I did the center antenna, it will be taken off and replaced with something much more realistic, you can plainly see here it is an L-beam and I can't stand it. Tom |
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Post by Amtrak207 on Nov 20, 2014 2:38:29 GMT -5
 pic uploadunweathered and weathered  screen capture toolcloseup *Much better pics are forthcoming in a day or two as the Amfleet series wraps up. All that is left to do is seal the underbodies and final inspection. Tom |
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Post by backshophoss on Nov 20, 2014 3:08:46 GMT -5
Amtk207,if you're a NMRA member,you would get 1st place in contests with these models. :-)
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Post by Amtrak207 on Nov 20, 2014 8:23:33 GMT -5
Thanks Hoss!
Much better photos with better lighting are coming. Each Amfleet car easily took about 2-3 days, and that's working on them 6-8 hrs each time, sometimes more.
The pics don't do the models justice, as I am just snapping them on my iPhone at the bench.
I think my biggest rules are:
1) Don't rush... When you rush you make mistakes. I can usually be found looking at a stock model a few different ways from various angles just planning.
2) Do your homework. Research is made so much easier nowadays thanks to the Internet. RRPICTUREARCHIVES, RAILPICTURES, the Amtrak Photo Archive, as well as countless other sites are invaluable. You want to model Amfleet # 25123? There's going to be at least 20 pictures of it online.
3) TAKE BREAKS.... We all know the feeling of trying to get final touches done, and inevitably it leads to rule #1, you begin to rush and boom... U smeared paint where it wasn't supposed to go, or there is now a big chalk fingerprint on the roof. When you feel yourself getting tired, leave it alone and stop.
4) As far as weathering... as I said, just when you think another swipe of the airbrush, another chalk dusting or another coat of sealant will do.... STOP. That is when you look back and go "crap I overdid it."
This overall was such a rewarding and fun project along with w few bumps along the way. Labor of love! I am thankful that I have such a supportive girlfriend who not only lets me enjoy my hobbies, but wants to take part in them as well. The Amfleets are predominately what I grew up with on the east coast. Countless trips on:
The Silver Star/ Palm/ Meteor
Crescent
Empire Service
Lake Shore Ltd.
Metroliner / Northeast Direct / Regional / Northeast Regional
The Three Rivers and Pennsylvanian (and every other Amfleet route)
These trips hold countless memories for me, from my first Amtrak trip as a kid from Newark to Philly, to my mother's Amtrak ride before she passed, to being on the derailment of the Silver Star in GA back in 2006... Good and bad, I have a deep love for the Amfleets. It has been a pleasure superdetailing them and sharing my progress on this forum. I may have to join the Prototype Modelers meets!
As the Amfleet series comes to a close, thank you to all for not only letting me post and share on this site, but glad that this site is here for all of us to post on. Please stay tuned for much better photos of my Amfleet I and II cars to wrap this series up! I hope that my project has inspired some to go ahead, take the plunge and turn an above shiny stock plastic model into a true replication of the backbone of Amtrak's single level fleet.
Don't worry... the Superliner project will be announced shortly!
Tom
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Post by mttrains on Nov 20, 2014 16:15:41 GMT -5
Amtrak207,
Really Excellent Work!! I wanted to know as well if you worked out a solution for the wifi on antennas on the Amcafe cars? I remember you saying that you weren't crazy about the L beam.
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Post by Amtrak207 on Nov 20, 2014 18:40:06 GMT -5
Thanks! I actually trimmed the bottom of the L beam for a more realistic antenna. The shark fin antennas that are on each end were replicated by carefully cutting styrene strips and carefully trimming them into the shark fin shape with a sharp Xacto knife. Are all four symmetrical to each other? NO!  But they're close enough and once painted honestly you can't tell actually. It is extremely difficult to trim thin styrene that is no bigger than maybe 1-1.5mm long, at least my fingernail got a nice trim ha ha. Overall I am happy with it. Of course now that I scratchbuilt it, Details West will announce an Amfleet WiFi detail part ha ha. Right now, the part is drying and will be completed in a few hours. Next and final project detail will be the addition of the HEP cables and receptacles at the end of the Amfleet I Business Class car. The rear illuminated marker lights will be on hold for a while and probably will be done when I do the rear Superliner I coach for that upcoming project. I also want to extend a big thank you to all of you for your help and encouragement with my Amfleet project. |
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mlrr
Member
Posts: 66 
Primary Railroads: Amtrak, Metro-North, MARC, METRA, New Jersey Transit, VRE
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Post by mlrr on Nov 24, 2014 9:12:05 GMT -5
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Post by Amtrak207 on Nov 24, 2014 13:59:09 GMT -5
I actually can't wait to do this to my other cafè car, looks great as always!
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timberley
Member
Posts: 189
Primary Railroads: VIA Rail Canada, AMT (Montreal)
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Post by timberley on Nov 24, 2014 19:56:58 GMT -5
Agreed, looks fantastic! I'm sure you're HO passengers will enjoy those club seats!
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Post by backshophoss on Nov 25, 2014 2:26:43 GMT -5
Mlrr,Well done,that would be the"Diner" on the Boston section of the Lake Shore Ltd #'s 448/449.
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Post by Amtrak207 on Nov 25, 2014 3:36:46 GMT -5
I hate when 448/449 gets a Horizon Dinette substituted (but as a modeler I love it ha ha.)
I am partial to the Amfleet II's, as far as the A-II food service cars, I liked them a lot better before the Diner-Lite configuration, it was more "cozy and fun", now it just looks like a hospital ER waiting room.
Tom
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Post by mttrains on Nov 25, 2014 7:23:45 GMT -5
Amtrak207, I wanted to ask you who made your decals for the amfleet underbody?
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Thanks 
