Bachmann heavyweight coaches...anyone bite?

[SandyEggoJake]

Anyone with this B'mann P70 thinking of swapping out the  trucks to say the MTL 3 axle / 6 wheel versions, I'll buy these 2 axle / 4 wheels trucks off you. 

[Dave V]

Anyone with this B'mann P70 thinking of swapping out the  trucks to say the MTL 3 axle / 6 wheel versions, I'll buy these 2 axle / 4 wheels trucks off you.

I would be swapping them for PRR 4-wheel 2D-P5 trucks, but I'll have to check my parts inventory to see if I have a set not otherwise committed to other projects.  If I have a set on hand I can send you the Bachmann ones.  No need to exchange currency.

[reinhardtjh]

5 left at MBK, down from 14 this afternoon.

2 left at 11:04PM

[bbussey]

Now we need someone to compare them to the MTL coach!

The MTL coach is a B&O prototype.  Two different animals.

[chicken45]

The MTL coach is a B&O prototype.  Two different animals.

While true, Dave and Doug are cool with it looking "close enough."
Don't worry, I'm not going soft on you guys, remember, I still have those six Lima cars I've yet to finish.
I stalled on this project because of the stripes. Any advice on that? I may start a new thread. Those Microscale decals aren't long enough and you have to always use 2 per car.

[bbussey]

While true, Dave and Doug are cool with it looking "close enough."
Don't worry, I'm not going soft on you guys, remember, I still have those six Lima cars I've yet to finish.
I stalled on this project because of the stripes. Any advice on that? I may start a new thread. Those Microscale decals aren't long enough and you have to always use 2 per car.

You just have to take your time in putting them down. The shorter sections of striping are easier to work with than one long section.

[Dave V]

While true, Dave and Doug are cool with it looking "close enough."

Yes, but that was predicated on not having a true P70.  Like you I was stalled on the Lima car failing miserably on the stripes.  But now that we know Bachmann is a P70, all it needs are new road numbers and trucks.  Striping is already done.

Not sure but I may be out of the market for those MTL coaches.  I do hope MTL does eventually make 2D-P5 trucks but I'm not counting on it.

As for changing the car number (so as not to have duplicates), in my experience Bachmann uses super-thick paint for lettering that requires a belt sander to remove.  Anyone ever remove Bachmann lettering from anything without destroying the paint beneath?

[chicken45]

You just have to take your time in putting them down. The shorter sections of striping are easier to work with than one long section.

Yeah, and the Microsol didn't help either. I've said it a few times before but, damn I love the weathering on those trucks. How many colors did you use on them?

[bbussey]

It works for me. MicroSet first to "wet" the area. MicroSol after the decals are down. One section at a time, then on to the next section of stripes after the previous stripes are fused. The Microscale products are all I use. Sometimes it takes 20 applications, but eventually the decals will respond.

The truck weathering is just a dust wash airbrushed on. Don't remember if I used a commercially available product of mixed my own, but "dust" as a color isn't hard to replicate. The wash was at least 50/50 thinner to paint, if not more thinner. Probably was 70/30. Then, multiple light-spray passes until the desired effect is achieved.

[Mark5]

Interesting that the Lima roof appears to be much more correct. Perhaps the Bachmann car is a "looser" interpretation or maybe a P70 that has been rebuilt somewhat (no windows on the ends for example).

Fun stuff!

[Dave V]

Interesting that the Lima roof appears to be much more correct. Perhaps the Bachmann car is a "looser" interpretation or maybe a P70 that has been rebuilt somewhat (no windows on the ends for example).

Fun stuff!

Right.  the Lima coach represents the as-built P70s.  By the 1930s very few (if any) had windows in the vestibules or those strange "bump-outs" in the clerestory over the vestibules.  I've got a book on Pennsy coaches and it appears very few cars remained looking like the Lima cars past the 1920s.

That said, the Lima car's dimensions are all pretty darn correct.  But, in order to bring them up to a 40s/50s P70, the Limas need new trucks, diaphragms, steps, roof modifications (or replacement), blanked vestibule windows, and new paint to include belt rail and letter board striping.  They also have a very strange deep slot along the belt rail that doesn't seem to match anything I've seen in photos.  So, the mods to the Lima cars are not trivial.  Fortunately, PRR-Parts has a lot of great parts for modifying these.

[jmlaboda]

They also have a very strange deep slot along the belt rail that doesn't seem to match anything I've seen in photos.

Very, very early P70s had a similar slot in the side (hard to say why).  Really hard to find a photo with this but they do exist.

[chicken45]

It works for me. MicroSet first to "wet" the area. MicroSol after the decals are down. One section at a time, then on to the next section of stripes after the previous stripes are fused. The Microscale products are all I use. Sometimes it takes 20 applications, but eventually the decals will respond.

The truck weathering is just a dust wash airbrushed on. Don't remember if I used a commercially available product of mixed my own, but "dust" as a color isn't hard to replicate. The wash was at least 50/50 thinner to paint, if not more thinner. Probably was 70/30. Then, multiple light-spray passes until the desired effect is achieved.

I'm saying the opposite happened. Maybe I got them too wet. Maybe I used used Solvaset, but anyways, it's helpful to know your process. I'll give it another shot. Thanks!
It looks like there is so much depth in your trucks. They just look SO GOOD.

[towl1996]

I'm in the market if MTL comes out with the PRR coach runner pack, and if it has the 2D-5P trucks...No brainer. And @Shipsure  did hint at this possibility. With the correct multiple road numbers, you could have many runner packs. 

[Dave V]

...annnnnnnnd MB Klein is sold out of the Pennsy ones.  They still have 41 B&O cars and 36 AT&SF cars if anyone wants to fire up an airbrush!