MOVED: Betterment/Turtle roofs topic from product Discussion

[Lemosteam]

Please continue the betterment discussion here as opposed to my product announcement page.

[Lemosteam]

W.R.T. The ends, I think they have been paneled in from the corner to the vertical buttress beams (terminology?) just behind the diaphragm (green peaches below). The original curved header is still there IMHO.  So all I really have to do is design the roof to the same surface that I already have. So what I have is a arch curve that tapers down to the roof curve of a lightweight car right? I also think that the fill panel under the tapered curve is also warped: straight across at the top curve, bowing out a little to the edge of the curved header.

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[Lemosteam]

My take on the betterment roof, with the curved ends and no overhang above the corners:



I will also make one with the squared end.

Question- should i design filler wedges to go inot the ends where the green area is above?

[Chris333]

For my needs I could etch any panels needed.


Are the diner and coach MTL roof interchangeable?

[Lemosteam]

For my needs I could etch any panels needed.


Are the diner and coach MTL roof interchangeable?

Nope. Locking tabs and ribs are different.  There is nothing really for an etched panel to rest against, no shoulder to glue it to.  It might work for more folks if I designed a wedge to fit in there.

[Chris333]

I can't really figure out what those wedge panels are even for, but I'm at work right now.

[Chris333]

From Modern Railroads may 1951:


Says Erie re-built 35 coaches and 8 diners. Body was streamlined.Clerestory roofs were removed and replaced with flush rounded roofs. Modern air conditioning and air distribution systems were installed. Double sash windows were replaced with large, breather-type double picture windows. Capacity was reduced from 84 to 52 to provide added foot comfort and larger lounges at each end. Trucks were completely rebuilt, new everything. The work was done at the Susquehanna coach shop starting in 1945 as the car were shopped.

[Chris333]

Apparently I have the same photo from another source that is much better 

[Lemosteam]

Sorry I missed this Chris.  Still, I'm not sure where to go with it.  I could design a roof, but I am not prepared to start an entire line of cores and brass sides. Were there ever heavyweight non modernized versions where the roof style would be represented?

[CBQ Fan]

If micro-trains did a single window coach close enough you could do a suburban power car roof for the CB&Q dinky runs with the bilevels. It would take some customization on the side panels but would be a fun little project.

[Chris333]

Oh I'm just dropping info here because I came across it. I still haven't messed with my paired window coach yet. And just learning how to do tripple etchings.

[Maletrain]

Were there ever heavyweight non modernized versions where the roof style would be represented?

Yes, certainly on B&O, at least.  About 1940, the B&O "stream-styled" heavyweight cars for several name trains.  The round roofs were done in either this sloped style or the straight-to-the-end style, but the windows looked the same as on a standard heavyweight. 

On B&O, the fixed steps were also replaced with fold-up steps at that time, but I think other roads stayed with the fixed steps and this roof style.  (Which, from a modeling standpoint, means that it is easier to start with an MTL coach or a Rivarossi coach, respectively, for fixed or fold-up steps.)

Into the 1950s, most of those cars eventually got modernized Thermopane windows.  So, it is a matter of modeling era what fits on any particular layout.