Traxx HLE 29 - part 7

 

Worked on the other side

Unfortunately, after drying, the decal shrunk somehow ... Probably too much Ammo Fix #2

Let's start again, glad I have more decals ...

Clean again

Just a drop of Ammo Fix #2

Much better!

 

Next step the two fronts!

 

Traxx HLE 29 - part 6

 After painting, decals ...

 

Very happy with this repaint job!

Masking the windows before the gloss coat

After the gloss coat is dry, we can put the decals

Still wet with the Decal Fixer

And now dry. Not perfect, but okay for a second decal experience.

 

Traxx HLE 29 - part 5

 After masking, painting ...

 

This is the first coat and I didn't like it because of some dust or something similar

Interestingly under a certain angle, you can still see the old numbers AFTER the paint ...

Once fully dry, I did a quick sanding with a 5000 paper for a second coat

This is the second coat - very wet, needs to dry!

Once fully cured!

It looks pretty nice - only a couple of small defects!

The aftermath ...

 

Traxx HLE 29 - part 4

Well, I found the miracle product for removing the numbers: I tried the "Solution Anti Adhésif - GILBERT" on a cotton swab, not to much, then use the other side that is dry to rub and slowly remove the numbers.

 

That's the side with my first attempt with sandpaper

That's before

That's after, very clean!

That's after on the other side, very clean, and we see a bit of shine with the light

But it looks very good without direct light

 

The other task is now to repaint the side with the sandpaper "mistake". First step is masking:

 

I bought Tamiya Spray Lacquer TS-83 Metallic Silver. We shall see ...

 

 

Removing markings

In my previous post, I followed the instructions from a video suggesting using this product: Walthers 904-470 - Solvaset Decal Setting Solvent

Walthers 904-470 - Solvaset Decal Setting Solvent

It didn't exactly work on my model, but I trust it can work on other models, maybe more US models. In any case, I continue my research and I wanted to list here some of the other methods or products that have been mentioned.

Abrasives

I already have sandpapers of various grit - 5000 seemed like a good starting point. In addition, it's been mentioned that we could use a wooden toothpick and water! 

 

Chemicals 

Besides the product from Walthers above, here are a few others:

 

Solution Anti Adhésif - GILBERT

P5142 Décapant universel - AMF87

DLE-90 Print and Varnish Remover - LUX-MODELLBAU

Décapant Sol Liquide - GLANZER

I bought the Solution Anti Adhésif from GILBERT while in France and I ordered some DLE-90 to try as well.

 

Traxx HLE 29 - part 3

Picking up this project again ...

 

The designer of my custom decals suggested this technique to remove marking:

I followed those instructions: once for 12 minutes and once more for another 12 minutes but no luck.

 

So I went back to the sanding technique with 5000 sand paper and water:

 

Sadly, it did remove some of the metallic paint ....

 

So, I'm left with repainting the sides and I believe I will also paint the red nose over the markings. This is stock pictures to show the colors:

 

I was able to remove the roof, so masking should be fairly easy. Now I need to find the right colors either in spray cans or for the airbrush ...

 

Stendhal and Fourgon MC76 - part 2

 

I was lucky to find a book dedicated to EuroCity train formations in Italy between 1987 and 2024: 

 

https://shop.ferrovie.it/ultimi-arrivi-ferrovieit/1328-le-composizioni-dei-treni-eurocity-in-italia-1987-2024

 

And there's a full page about the EuroCity 216/217 "Stendhal" Paris - Milan:

 

 I won't replicate the formations here since I just did it in Airtable, but it would require:

• 3 baggage cars Dd2s logo nouille
• 1 baggage cars Dd2s logo casquette

However, it seems that LS Models has planned about the logo nouille in Dd2s and the logo casquette is only available in Dd2 ...

 

Stendhal and Fourgon MC76 - part 1

 

Not long ago I purchased two sets from ACME and I've been told that they were used for the EuroCity 216/217 "Stendhal" Paris - Milan. I was also told that this formation requires the famous baggage car MC76.

 

ACME 55324

ACME 55323

 

Roco released the MC76 a long time ago, but LS Models just announced that they will release them soon:

https://www.news.lsmodels.eu/mailing/pdf/Folder%20LS%20Models%202025%20V10.pdf

 

The questions are now: which baggage car to choose - Dd2s or Dd2, and which version of the SNCF logo. Here's some information regarding the difference between Dd2s and Dd2:

Les fourgons MC76 ont été construits dans le cadre du programme de renouvellement du parc « grande ligne » mené par la SNCF au cours de la seconde moitié des années 70. Celui-ci avait permis de disposer d’un nombre significatif de voitures voyageurs munies d’un local fourgon (B6Dd2, B6Du et B6Dux) qui pouvaient couvrir les besoins de nombreuses relations. Il était toutefois apparu utile de renouveler et d’enrichir également le parc de fourgons aptes à 160km/h, jusqu’ici essentiellement limité aux Dd4s du programme DEV. Les MC76 devaient répondre à un double besoin :

• L’acheminement des bagages et de la presse au sein des rapides et express nationaux ou internationaux (et notamment ceux composés des nouvelles voitures « corail »).
• Les trains postaux et de messagerie.

Les nouveaux fourgons furent donc construits sous deux formes différentes :

• 80 fourgons Dd2s, disposant d’un couloir latéral autorisant l’intercirculation des voyageurs, et destinés plus particulièrement à l’intégration dans les rames rapides et express. Ils sortirent d’usine en 1977 et 1978.
• 160 fourgons Dd2, ne disposant pas de couloir latéral, et donc ne permettant qu’une intercirculation de service. Ils étaient plus particulièrement destinés aux trains postaux et de messagerie. Ils sortirent d’usine entre 1978 et 1980.

Les deux types étaient très similaires dans leur aspect extérieur, et comportaient de nombreux équipements communs. C’était notamment le cas du local de service et du WC présents à l’une des extrémités du wagon, de même que des équipements électriques et de sécurité par exemple. Tous les fourgons étaient aptes au régime international « RIC ». Compte-tenu de leur usage moins noble, les premiers Dd2 reçurent cependant la livrée « 160 » verte et gris ciment, alors que les Dd2s avaient tous reçu d’origine la toute nouvelle livrée « corail ». 

 

 

https://www.trains-europe.fr/sncf/voitures/fourgons.htm

  

Now we need to find some train formations!

 

Closed for winter

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/160355985@N03/30627638287/

Traxx HLE 29 - part 2

I received the custom decals from Precision Design Co. several weeks ago and they look great. The designer suggested two designs: one from measurements made on the Piko model and one from the measurements made from pictures of the prototypical engine. It seems Piko used a thinner font:

 

 

Ferieekspressen "København - Hamburg - Venezia SL" - part 3

 And finally, here's the video:

Traxx HLE 29 - part 1

I managed to find a cheaper Piko 59950-2. I need to repair a few things, but will also need to change the number to 2902, 2903, 2904, or 2905 with some decals.

In this post, I'm marking a few interesting links.

https://ferrovia.be/Trains_Materiel_Traction_Electrique_Europe_E_186.php

https://railcolornews.com/data-bombardier-traxx-ms2e-alpha-trains/

https://www.elektrolokarchiv.de/index.php?nav=1405128&lang=1

The last site provides a list of all Traxx for Alpha Trains and specifically here all 5 HLE 29:

• Bombardier    34478    2009    TRAXX F140 MS    HLE 2901    E 186 346-3       
• Bombardier    34483    2009    TRAXX F140 MS    HLE 2902    E 186 347-1     
• Bombardier    34487    2009    TRAXX F140 MS    HLE 2903    E 186 348-9
• Bombardier    34484    2009    TRAXX F140 MS    HLE 2904    E 186 349-7
• Bombardier    34481    2009    TRAXX F140 MS    HLE 2905    E 186 350-5

 

New engines