I am in need of an IHC Smooth Side Streamlined Undecorated Observation Car.
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This car has been advertised at various times in IHC ads in Model Railroader. However, neither the dome nor obeservation body styles are available on the IHC website, or any of the dealers I have searched. I can find coaches, baggage, combines, and diners with no problems.
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Even searching completed auctions on eBay has not found one.
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Was the observation every actually made in Undecorated? Does anyone know where one might be available? This is different from the AHM and Rivarossi streamlined observation cars. It has perfectly smooth sides and a nicely tapered end. I tried the Eastern Car Works kit, but the fit on the observation car is not good.
I don’t recall IHC offering an undecorated version of this car. In case one is not available…have you considered buying a decorated version, paint stripping and repainting it into the road you’re interested in?
One very good plus about IHC passenger cars (along with AHM and Rivarossi units) is that they are a piece of cake to paint strip! No need for messy brake fluid. Soaking the shell in 91% Isopropyl Alcohol (local drug store) or Super Clean (Walmart) and scrubbing with a medium bristle tooth brush does the job nicely.
Here’s a thread posted some years back in which I paint stripped an AHM shell. The factory paint is similar to that of what is on the IHC cars:
Yes, that is the body style I am interested in. I have an undecotaed diner, RPO, and four coaches, but I really want an observation to finishe the train.
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Thank you for the information, I have no idea the paint could be removed so easily. I will probably buy a decorated model off of eBay and give it a shot.
If you need a bit more power Denatured Alcohol works too, any Big Box store. Read the directions on the bottle about the fumes. I’ve switched to Denatured because paint almost jumps off.
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
Right now, Sunday 12:45PM CST, there are several painted IHC cars like that on feebay. If you are having a hard time finding a car you might take advantage of the ones with BIN feature to get your train completed.
These will be the “STRATTON & GILLETTE COMET EXPRESS” train.
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The color scheme is yellow and red with silver and black stripes.
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The IHC train is intended to be temporary until a really nice set of RTR passenger equipment comes along that suirts my fancy. I really do not have much interest in passenger equipment, so that might be never.
Kevin, may I suggest you keep an eye on the Walthers sale pages? They sometimes have fire-sale prices on Walthers Proto cars, which I really like. I just picked up a set of ex-SF Hi-Levels painted Amtrak Phase I, normally $85, on sale for $21-$23 each. Right now there’s not much undec (a couple of Mainline cars, which have truck-mounted couplers and no handrails – not my faves – for $26) but if you check back every couple of weeks, you might luck out.
