MTH blue comet passenger car LED conversion phase 1

Chris DOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

well , I finally got my LEDstrips and all the circuit items to start the project. First off, I am going to detail these bland interiors. I intend to paint the seats a different shade than the isles, detail the baths, insert people dress these cars up a bit. then convert the lights. the tough part was the top removal, but with a flathead screw driver, you can pry one end, then slowly run the blade along the sides to pop it off. The seating section pulls right out. Ill clip the wiring and begin the painting process. this will take a bit of time. Ill spray the area a new base color, then hand paint the seats with arm details. then my cheap china ordered seated figures will be planted in the seats. I will have a few attendents standing in the isle to make it look realistic. I might dremel out a door or 2 and have figures standing there, like the conductor. well see how this goes!

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3/17/1510:18 AM

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PingmanOGR Forum Member

Should be a challenging project; looking forward to your progress reports and photos.

Good luck.

3/17/1510:33 AM

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gunrunnerjohnOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

The next set of mine I do I want to do what you're doing, paint the interior before I put them back together. I like that idea.

3/17/151:55 PM

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Bobby OgageOGR Forum Member

My first Rail King coach conversion is shown. I have since completed 4 more cars and a 5th is underway.

So far I found that the Rail King dining car requires a different arrangement of the circuit components. In the diner, I put the choke and bridge under the insert, the capacitor is in the kitchen, the regulator and resistor are under the roof. I split the LED strip by cutting off a segment of 3 LEDs and offset them over the kitchen.

In a combine, you can put the circuit components in the baggage area. The only Rail King passenger cars I have car not done are the domes.

The mistakes I made so far:

> Used wire that is too stiff;

> Overheated a regulator with the soldering iron;

> Forgot to put shrink tubing on the wires and leads before soldering;

> Forgot to clean parting agent off of the roof before adding additional reflective tape;

> Saw my finger prints on the inside of the car windows after I put the car back together. Use rubbing alcohol to clean the windows!

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3/18/158:43 AM

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gunrunnerjohnOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

What figures are you using in those cars?

3/18/159:37 AM

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Chris DOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I have these Chinese made ones I got last year. I don't think I have to Cut off the legs because they seem to fit right on. they are these guys that are leaning back and the ladies are bend a little sideways. they are really cheap. I may detail them also. paint is kind of crappy!

ill post some pics of these later. not sure on the scale. I could measure them

3/18/1510:43 AM

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Chris DOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Im going to spray paint a base color. looking now at some krylon colors at Lowes for plastic. Preping will be a must. I bet the form oils are still there. then ill set up the seat colors. I have some nice stiff brushes. tedious, but when you look inside of them, it will be cool!

Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:

The next set of mine I do I want to do what you're doing, paint the interior before I put them back together. I like that idea.

3/18/1510:45 AM

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gunrunnerjohnOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I like the ones that Bobby Ogage is using, I wonder where he got those.

3/18/1510:51 AM

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Chris DOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

good tips on the wires and shrink tube. did that before. used liquid tape on mine and that worked well in the tight areas. just needs to dry a day well. Originally Posted by Bobby Ogage:

My first Rail King coach conversion is shown. I have since completed 4 more cars and a 5th is underway.

In a combine, you can put the circuit components in the baggage area. The only Rail King passenger cars I have car not done are the domes.

The mistakes I made so far:

> Used wire that is too stiff;

> Overheated a regulator with the soldering iron;

> Forgot to put shrink tubing on the wires and leads before soldering;

> Forgot to clean parting agent off of the roof before adding additional reflective tape;

> Saw my finger prints on the inside of the car windows after I put the car back together. Use rubbing alcohol to clean the windows!

3/18/1510:56 AM

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Bobby OgageOGR Forum Member

John,

These are the Chinese figures you can buy on eBay. I cut them off at the waist to seat them. I also use figures on size smaller than O-gauge because they look good in dome cars.