DalaGStanator's Customs, Mods and Experiments

To fix the stability issue and reduce derailments, the bogie frames have been widened to match the tops and all flanges were broadened with one extra layer (though some became wider than others). One or both coaches can still derail due to one bogie not "catching up", but at least they don't tip over anymore. When they proved to be stable enough, I trimmed the new axles but left enough to keep them from slipping out.



After that, it was time to glue the doors to the end walls. Like on my K6 phone box, the doors are "hinged" by gluing to one side only. Pressing them into the walls will keep them shut fairly well, but they can't really stay open. I might reglue them on the outsides, even though I've seen interior photos that show they hinge inwards. Unlike the windows, they won't really need plastic glass and the hollow windows look fine to me.



The seats were initially made of two squares each with one folded up, which made them look more realistic but too long compared to the windows. I then changed my mind and glued the backrests on top for back-to-back seating. Matchsticks were added underneath to raise them by under 1cm. Some real US cars have one row of seats facing one way and one facing the other, but it seems more common to have both facing both directions. To cover up the bogie pins and raise the seats further, large floor sections were added where the windows start. Only one door on each car has enough room to fully open, hence why they'll have to be moved out.

I'll have to rewire the loco's tender again since the capacitor no longer works, it can now turn on when the switch is off and the motor is now prone to voltage drops. Until then, I'll add the end rails and clerestory roofs and paint the cars somewhat like these: