How can I make this into a “diner”? I don’t know where to start!
Doing a search on google images should yield you lots of ideas.
I would start by putting a foundation under it,Maybe some shrubbery and flowers,Sign’s.and of course a parking lot.and some kind of chimney on the roof and maybe an Air conditioner.Plus vents.and tables and chairs and curtains…
Cut some kind of hole in the side for a main entrance door. Steps leading up to it. Diner sign on the roof. Parking lot. Somebody sells a whole diner interior kit for one of their buildings. I forget who though.
Great, great, project, but do remember, almost all diners were originally made from old street cars or trolley cars,so any old photos of diners will seem a little small compared to your project, sounds like a fun project.
http://www.dinercity.com/manufacturers.html
http://search.aol.com/aol/image?query=train%20car%20diners
Not sure if those links help or not.
Rotor
In northern NJ it seems to be a fad to make resturand dining rooms as well as diners from 85’ passenger cars and hot dog stands out of cabeese. For a dining room, add it to the side of a small resturant - LifeLike used to make a Ma’s Place i think. As a stand-alone, a new entry would be required to meet building codes, and at least a vent or two added to the roof. Walthers has Aunt Betty’s diner - a look at the kit will show additions to the original diner to make it a “diner”. Good luck with the project!![:)]
Here is a Dinner i "kit bashed from a old Bachman passenger car and a Life Like E shell…
Cox 47
Hey CNW6000, let me know if you got the pics. Maybe they will give you some ideas. The original Karters Diner was a standard 85’ vista dome from what I can remember. My mother worked there in the late 50’s
Make a cardboard foundation, paint it any color you want. Set the foundation on your train table. Glue the passenger car on the foundation. Then, do whatever you would like!
…and watch as the cardboard warps because of your paint.
David B
I found that diner interior kit if your interested.
http://cgi.ebay.com:80/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120229144527&ih=002&category=11646&emailtemplateid=4456167&sellerid=FpRekKD1aqCwOVLZD4d5Nw==&buyerid=eJGfcJBwsRLjhp8k3ISG6g==&refid=store&ssPageName=ADME:B:SEMK:US:LISTG
You can use non-toxic paint.
You’ve got a lot of good suggestions already. You could also use “cinderblock” supports instead of a full foundation, leaving some open space below.
Cox 47 has a parking lot, which is a great idea. Since you’ve got a larger diner, you could have a larger lot with a number of era-appropriate cars.
Think about the interior, and also lights inside. Miller Engineering (www.microstru.com) makes a number of interesting signs, both static and animated, for the outside of the structure as well.
Paint toxicity has nothing to do with it’s ability to warp paper products. Paper products (including cardboard) warp because they are porous and take on water. The fibers then distort and re-align to foarm a warp.
NewHaven, give it a try. Take some cardboard and do what you have suggested. Paint it, then glue something to it. Let me know what happens.
David B