Ever since Lionel released the Amtrak NPCU, I've always wanted to have my own Veterans NPCU. I finally found a custom painter who would do it. It's not done yet, but here is progress so far and a prototype photo. More photos to come.
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I thought about the MTH version, but I knew I would have to paint the trucks black and fix the roof in addition to the roll up door. It proved easier for me to fork over the $95. MTH still did make a decent version though.
Both versions are NICE!
Here it is in primer! Making progress.
Whats the name of your custom painter? Now you have me curious lol
Maxrailroad posted:Whats the name of your custom painter? Now you have me curious lol
CJB Custom Painting and Designs. Very fair prices and does a great job. I've seen your Amtrak locomotives on your display wall, quite a collection. If you ever want to add the other Phase III heritage unit (822), new Phase II heritage unit (130), and/or the Phase IV heritage unit (184), she would be happy to paint one for you.
GenesisFan99 posted:Maxrailroad posted:Whats the name of your custom painter? Now you have me curious lol
CJB Custom Painting and Designs. Very fair prices and does a great job. I've seen your Amtrak locomotives on your display wall, quite a collection. If you ever want to add the other Phase III heritage unit (822), new Phase II heritage unit (130), and/or the Phase IV heritage unit (184), she would be happy to paint one for you
Thanks! I’ll have to consider this. It seems like a great idea.
It's coming together!
GenesisFan99 posted:It's coming together!
Awesome stuff!
Who is the painter?
Will Ebbert posted:Who is the painter?
Christine Braden of CJB Custom Painting and Designs.
@T1Titan_ZachF posted:GenesisFan99 posted:It's coming together!
Awesome stuff!
Thank you Zach! I know you and AmtrakNickFilms have been waiting to see this done after I announced it on my YouTube channel. Decals arrive later this week so more progress coming soon.
clem k posted:Hey Pete here is mine, I think yours will turn out better than this stock unit.
Is that a lionel one you got custom painted as well or is that the mth one?
I think you need some phase 4b horizons.....
Yes I do want some 4b Horizons, they are on my want list. This is an MTH in Lash-up mode with the Genesis. I turned the smoke off and zeroed out the prime mover sound. I fixed the ride height of the front of this.
clem k posted:
I don't hear any prime mover sounds from your 90208. How did you do that? Very cool consist, I have 42 as well and I'm slowly building a single level Pacific Surfliner, very similar to your consist.
If you want Phase IVb Horizons (official name is Phase VI), I would suggest just having your Horizons repainted. The same painter who is doing my 90208 will do them for $75 a car. She has the Amtrak Paint Scheme and Logo Branding Guide on hand so colors would be 100% accurate. If you're planning to get the GGD Amfleets in VI, they will be using the Guide for colors as well so no issues with color matching.
Genesisfan99...... I just turned the engine sound off, and turned on the bell, horn, number boards and ditch lights.
Clem
Contact info for CJB ?
Thank you.
Sent you an email Scott. Good luck with your projects!
I'd like the contact info as well. Email is in my profile.
I still have the cars I acquired for the Exhibit Train that need to be painted up as such 
---PCJ
Same here. I have several things needing paint.
Sent both of you an email. RailRide-regarding the exhibit train, what baggage car did you get?
Got to see the real thing today! Yours looks great! Can’t wait to see it done!
Andrew Lawrence posted:Got to see the real thing today! Yours looks great! Can’t wait to see it done!
Thank you! I saw your thread, nice catch. If you didn't know, there's actually 2 Veterans Cabbages. I'm modeling 90208 which I believe got Veterans paint first. 90208 is based in LAX (and has been for most of its life as an NPCU, there's photos of it in SLO in Phase III) for the single-level Pacific Surfliner set and frequently makes appearances. You'll see it a lot this summer as traffic ramps up for the Surfliner. Trains approach 10 cars and more single-level sets run due to more travelers/people using the train to get to the Del Mar Horse Races. The other NPCU I hope to have custom painted is #90278. It's a standard Phase V NPCU that is normally based in SEA/PDX but comes down to LAX for the extra single-level set. In the past, that role was filled by Cascades NPCU #90230, but issues arose with it not having a roll-up door for baggage. This became a serious issue on 700-series trains, which are not limited to LAX-SAN, and operate further north to GTA/SLO.
Amtrak has a total of 4 Veterans units. The first was P42DC #42, followed by ACS-64 #642, and the two NPCUs came shortly after.
Looks like 90221 was reassigned to the Heartland Flyer. Must have been deadheaded from CHI to FTW on the Texas Eagle. Last I saw, it was assigned to all different kinds of CHI-based service, but usually the Hiawatha. Thanks for sharing your photo. You may see an O scale 90221 in the future, eh @Maxrailroad?
We're almost there. This is it! Just needs decals.
GenesisFan99 posted:We're almost there. This is it! Just needs decals.
Dang! That Looks awesome!
@T1Titan_ZachF posted:GenesisFan99 posted:We're almost there. This is it! Just needs decals.
Dang! That Looks awesome!
Thanks Zach! It should be done sometime next week, maybe Wednesday.
Another NPCU begins its transformation. This is maxrailroad's NPCU and will come out similar to mine. Since I live on the west coast I'm doing 90208. This one will be 90221 as 90221 is closer to the east coast.
GenesisFan99 posted:Another NPCU begins its transformation. This is maxrailroad's NPCU and will come out similar to mine. Since I live on the west coast I'm doing 90208. This one will be 90221 as 90221 is closer to the east coast.
How come you got that picture and I didn’t? Lol. The engine is in primer now. The transformation will be soon. Thanks again for the idea!
No problem Max. Feel free to post pics of it when it's done.
2 units side by side.
Decals!!!!
Wow that’s great! Did she send you any pics of mine? I didn’t get an email.
Maxrailroad posted:Wow that’s great! Did she send you any pics of mine? I didn’t get an email.
Thanks Max! No, she didn't send me any photos of yours. It probably will get the blue band and stars next.
And now, the finished product. From Stripes to a Salute, here is the transformation of 90218 into 90208.
That looks super awesome! Can’t wait to see it behind #42!!!
Thanks Zach! I'll have a video up on my channel sometime next week. Christine is really busy so shipping this back isn't the first thing on her list.
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