I have 5 Con-Cor Amtrak Phase 4 Passenger Cars, the Sightseeing Lounge is #0001-00843 , I am looking to add interiors and lighting if these are on the market - does anyone know if interiors and lighting are available? or thinking I might be better off biting the bullet and replacing the Con-Cor cars with Walthers recently released Amtrack Phase 4 Passenger Cars that have interiors and lighting kits avaialble - any advice?
I spoke with the Con-Cor folks about this at the Springfield train show last year. They told me they were planning to market passenger car interiors starting in the summer. WHen they did not appear, I asked again, and they said their Chinese manufacturer had gone bankrupt, and they were seeking other manufacturers.
I also asked IHC if they would be bringing back their line of car interiors; they said maybe in late 2010, but I have seen nothing.
Maybe you should e-mail both Con-cor and IHC and ask about interiors. The more inquiries they get, the more likely that they may really get these products into production.
Sysout10
Welcome to the forum! [#welcome][:D]
Here’s a decent option:
http://www.palacecarco.com/proddetail.php?prod=9527
Have you looked into the ‘Easy-Peasy’ lighting systems by Rapido Trains? Dead easy to install & use, & totally self-contained, activated by a magnetic ‘wand’. As their ad copy states ‘no lit cars eating up power in a yard’ or something to that effect. I’m using them in my Bachmann ‘Hogwarts Express’ and my WP & Y overton cars, although they have to be cut down a little to fit the latter, a process Rapido will give you the instructions for if asked.
Thanks G Paine, I will e-mail Con-Cor and IHC
Thanks for the welcome AntonioFP45 and thanks for the info on Palace Car Co - looks like a good option, especially reading about the car weight, as the Con-Cor cars are unweighted and can wobble occasioanllay. while very interested in HO model railroading, have a layout, but still would consider myself a novice - so truly appreciate the advice and info
Thanks bigpianoguy, I did not know about Easy-Peasy, looks like a great option,
AntonioFP45 - thanks for the referral to Palace Car - in looking further on their website they have a kit #9610 that matches exactly the Con-Cor Cars I have - this looks like a great option for upgrading the Con-Cor cars that I have. I thought this forum would be really good to join, and really helpful, this is really great, thanks - also just as an FYI - since I am a novice, I am having a local “expert” upgrading my Bachman Spectrum FP45 Amtrack - pre-DCC loco to DCC with Tsunami - noticed that your comments about Athearn needing to produce a similar Amtrack loco - now that I have upgraded my layout to DCC - the work is only costing me about $25 - (not including the parts - DCC board with sound, speaker, baffle, - which is a “boatload”) - with no experience in doing this, and the loco being pre-DCC ready, I was not comfortable with pursuing myself - hoping this comes out as good as the other Genesis locos with DCC / Tsunami that I have (purchased new with DCC / Tsunami) - I really like the Bachman Spectrum Amtrack FP45 I have - but could not find a newer DCC w Sound loco - so am having the upgrade done. thanks again,
G Paine - FYI one of the replies to my question referred to Palace Car Co - on their website, I found an exact match for an interior to my Con-Cor Amtrack Cars (Palace Car Co Item #9610 - link below) - they only have a coach car interior - but it has the parts to rasie the floor to the upper level which is a great feature to save the work of trying to create pieces to do this, for the diner car, thinking I could modify their coach interior by replacing some seats with diner type seats tables for the diner car - for now just ordered one coach version
AntonioFP45 - have another “challenge” with one of these Con-Cor cars - the trucks have the coupler attached - which is an advantage to provide a wider swing for curves, but the way the way the coupler is attached to the truck is very flimsy - and surprise, surprise - I broke one off, I am using this one car as the last in my consis of 5 cars - but considering how flimsy the coupler attachment is to the trucks, would expect I may have another one break off - also, the truck is mounted to the car bady by a plastic pin not a screw - do you know how I would find a replacement truck with the attached coupler? In replacing, guess I will have to extract the plastic pin and hopefully the replacement truck will have another plastic pin that can be melted a bit on the car body inside to hold in place
Kadee makes a replacement bolster for IHC/Con-Cor/Rivarossi passenger cars. It’s still a truck mounted coupler, but is very solid. I am using it for all my IHC and Rivarossi cars.
#505 Passenger Truck Conversion Bolsters For 6-Wheel Passenger Trucks
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/380-505
#508 Passenger Truck Conversion Bolsters For 4-Wheel Passenger Trucks
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/380-508
It includes a #5 coupler. The only thing you need to check on is if the car has 33" or 36" wheels; there is a slightly different method of setting up the bolster. Once you have done one or two, it’s an easy install just read the instructions carefully.
Also, before you install the interior, you can add weight to the depressions in the car floor. The best is if you have sheet lead, it’s the most dense. An alternative is steel BB shot; just pour some in and set it with Elmers white glue or silicone sealer.
If you do not have one, a digital scale is a good investment. With it, you can get a car to NMRA standard weight without adding too much weight. Micro-Mark has one
http://www.micromark.com/digital-scale-11-lband5kg-capacity,8812.html
They are available from many sources