CMMR
Member
I purchased a set of 8 IHC Via Rail passenger cars a few months ago at a local show/swap meet for $75. They looked to be in good condition, and included two coaches (one with interior), one diner, one baggage, one combine, one observation, one vista and a sleeper. With a few modifications, I figured they would be a good set for my yet to be built layout.
My intentions were to add interiors and people to some of the cars, and upgrade the couplers on all of them. I turned to ebay, and found someone selling a set of three interiors (coach, diner and observation), which I bought. I also came across someone in Greece selling seated figures by the hundred for cheap. Sure, the quality isn't great, but I have a lot of seats to fill and they will be inside anyway. After doing a little research, I also came across the Kadee 508 bolster conversion kit for these cars, so I ordered them as well.
This past week, while I am waiting for some parts to finish off my GP9RM conversion, I decided to start on these cars. I took the coach with the interior apart first, and found that the previous owner had added sinkers to the seat recesses of the interior for some extra weight, as well as a plate glued to the floor of the coach itself.
I glued some people to the existing interior and put it aside.
I then removed the weight from the floor, as it caused the interior to sit too high. There were some more sinkers in the floor cavities, which I left. Next I removed the trucks. The first step of the bolster conversion is to remove the wheelset closest to the coupler, then the coupler itself.
Next remove the coupler mounting pin and the crossmember portion of the truck, and file edges smooth.
Next I assembled the 508 kit and filed down the bosses on top as per the instructions.
I then took the coupler assy and test fit it into the truck. I re-installed the wheelset and checked the coupler height against a Kadee gauge. I also checked the amount of projection, as I wanted the cars to couple closer to each other than with the horn/hooks that were originally on it. When I was happy with the alignment I glued it in place instead of screwing it, as there wasn't much meat for the screw to bite into.
Here is a before and after shot of the horn/hook vs Kadee coach spacing. I didn't want them too much closer in case the diaphragms rubbed on corners.
Once I had both trucks done I re-installed them, the completed interior and finally the roof/window assy.
Next I tackled the observation car interior. Here is the kit prior to assembly. The colors are kind of funky, but I think they add a bit to the interior.
The assembled kit...
And with people...
Because this car did not have an interior before the previous owner had glued tire weights to the floor, which I removed, cut up and re-installed into the floor cavities. I then installed the completed interior and roof/window assy.
Here's the diner...
I came across a baggage interior at the LHS a couple of days ago for $5, so have it and the other coach to do. If anyone has a Vista interior kicking around that they aren't using, let me know!
My intentions were to add interiors and people to some of the cars, and upgrade the couplers on all of them. I turned to ebay, and found someone selling a set of three interiors (coach, diner and observation), which I bought. I also came across someone in Greece selling seated figures by the hundred for cheap. Sure, the quality isn't great, but I have a lot of seats to fill and they will be inside anyway. After doing a little research, I also came across the Kadee 508 bolster conversion kit for these cars, so I ordered them as well.
This past week, while I am waiting for some parts to finish off my GP9RM conversion, I decided to start on these cars. I took the coach with the interior apart first, and found that the previous owner had added sinkers to the seat recesses of the interior for some extra weight, as well as a plate glued to the floor of the coach itself.
I glued some people to the existing interior and put it aside.
I then removed the weight from the floor, as it caused the interior to sit too high. There were some more sinkers in the floor cavities, which I left. Next I removed the trucks. The first step of the bolster conversion is to remove the wheelset closest to the coupler, then the coupler itself.
Next remove the coupler mounting pin and the crossmember portion of the truck, and file edges smooth.
Next I assembled the 508 kit and filed down the bosses on top as per the instructions.
I then took the coupler assy and test fit it into the truck. I re-installed the wheelset and checked the coupler height against a Kadee gauge. I also checked the amount of projection, as I wanted the cars to couple closer to each other than with the horn/hooks that were originally on it. When I was happy with the alignment I glued it in place instead of screwing it, as there wasn't much meat for the screw to bite into.
Here is a before and after shot of the horn/hook vs Kadee coach spacing. I didn't want them too much closer in case the diaphragms rubbed on corners.
Once I had both trucks done I re-installed them, the completed interior and finally the roof/window assy.
Next I tackled the observation car interior. Here is the kit prior to assembly. The colors are kind of funky, but I think they add a bit to the interior.
The assembled kit...
And with people...
Because this car did not have an interior before the previous owner had glued tire weights to the floor, which I removed, cut up and re-installed into the floor cavities. I then installed the completed interior and roof/window assy.
Here's the diner...
I came across a baggage interior at the LHS a couple of days ago for $5, so have it and the other coach to do. If anyone has a Vista interior kicking around that they aren't using, let me know!
