| The West Berlin Garden Railroad |
| Lights....Seating ....People intro |
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| If you've done just the original window change over, this change will be pointless and the appearance of your RDC has already been greatly improved with that change. When I replaced the original (painted) windows with the plexiglas windows, you could see inside the car but, because I left in the original white cardboard "V" , mainly to use as a smoke fluid spill catcher, seeing through the car was impossible and, who wants to see the circuit boards anyway? I installed the lights, seating and people because I run the RDC on an elevated line which, is pretty much eye level and, with the recent addition of a Phoenix sound card, the RDC just wouldn't be complete without passengers. |
| The Lights.. |
| Disclaimer: I just want to state that this change is not easy. If you are not comfortable with taking apart your trains, or with electronics, measuring, drilling and re-assembly DO NOT attempt this. It will void your warranty. |
| LEFT are building lights from Model Power. There are 4 of these in a package and the bulbs screw in and are easily replaced.. RIGHT are acrylic rods from Plastruct. There are 2 rods per bag...they will cut to fit the inside roof of the RDC(27") and glued together with CA, |
| I won't explain opening up the RDC. You should know how by now.... |
| <-----Drill a 7/32" hole 1/2' deep in the "cab" end of the rod.. the bulbs are pushed into the rod on both ends (no glue, base removed) The black tape directs the light into the rod. ------> and attached to the inside roof. I used "goo" in the center at the speaker and double sided tape at the ends. |
| <-----Snip off ALL Aristo bulbs and solder the wires from the rod lighting to the place where the first, & last Aristo bulb was. (Aristo bulbs are TOO bright to use) ------> and attached a Model Power light near the speaker on the other side of the ceiling using the middle Aristo bulb position.. |
| THE POD.. |
| Now that the cardboard "V" is gone, you will get light leakage through the vents on the pod. Using the foam core board that I used for the vestibule/bulkhead ends, fashion a piece that slips around the smoke unit to block the leaks. |
| THE FLOOR.. |
| <--------Unplug the smoke unit, speaker and cab ends from the board. Make your measurements and cut the foam board for your flooring -------->and cut out plug holes and a slit for the IC above the DCC port. Push it down on the screws on the board and add a glob of hot glue on each end under the new floor.. |
| People and Seats.. |
| Since standard "G" scale passengers would cost too much and, that they really can't be seen or show any detail through the windows of the RDC, I bought a bag of "Construction Workers" for $1.19 at Nicholas Smith the last time I was there. I picked out a dozen and I gave them a quick painting. (spray paint and a little flesh tone)These guys come with tools (picks, jackhammers etc) and are posed in a bending position...It works for me! |
| <-------Test Seating....The seats are Aristo Craft ART-29700.(yellow box) bag There are 6 benches per bag unless you can get the older "black box" bag..that has 8 benches per bag..22 benches are needed ..1 in each window. The seat ends are removed (height requirement) and glued to the board --------> Ouch! No leg room.. Close up of foam core flooring----> . <-------Help, I'm melting! Standees get the same treatment but, the base is glued to the their trunk..... ------> New seating for Mr. K.L. Speeder. He had a block of wood for a seat before. |
| Passengers are in, CHECK! Lighting works, CHECK! (you did check,right?) Plugs for the cab ends, smoke unit, speaker plug in CHECK!...OK..you are ready to close doctor....but first bundle those wires so they don't show through the windows...we wanna see people NOT wires....Use clear packing tape and tape the wires between the 6th and 7th window...the WIDE area in the middle.....Now,carefully close her up. |
| Final Results.... |
| NO SUN GLASSES NEEDED. This picture was taken with the RDC wired in place with wheels spinning on the tracks since there is no "Motor Off" switch. This is the new car lighting. CLICK on the above picture to see the "Real" George Clark in a "Real" RDC window..Use back button to return to this page after viewing. |
| Back lighted picture of the passengers. |
| Now is also a good time to paint the back of the headlight bulbs in the cabs black..Just 1 coat to cover them..This will reduce the bright lighting in the cab...... |