#ic2000

Not for the first time, I saw trains in Switzerland with cartoons on the side, with one holding a board: "Magic Ticket - Ticki Park". I'm used to trains being covered in advertising, so I'm thinking "OK, this is advertising for a children's amusement park somewhere in Switzerland, and if they've got carriage-side ads on several trains, they must be big". So I looked it up.

Detail views of the rail carriages — printer ink dots can even been seen in the first four photos.

>> For additional information on this papercraft model, please see:

Background information

Construction tips

I first created this papercraft train model for my own enjoyment, but decided to make it publicly available for free (Creative Commons BY-NC-SA License.) In this post, I will discuss why I made the model, the train which inspired it, and show example train configurations.

If you would rather download the model right away, please visit the papercraft model downloads page.

Why this model was built

As part of travel research before a Switzerland trip, I came across a cool looking train curving through the Swiss countryside in Winter (photo by treinreizigernl on Flickr.) It was a double-decker with continuous black stripes and red accents. I also found a paper model of this train, called the IC 2000, but there were lots of problems with how the model was made — it sort of looked like the actual train, but many details were wrong. I thought about altering the model to make it more realistic, but in the end I decided to make my own from scratch. I did lots of research, made a paper model prototype, made lots of revisions, and produced the final model.

About the IC 2000

The IC 2000 is an electric train which travels between cities in Switzerland, and is operated by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB.) The train has two levels of passenger seating, a restaurant car in the middle, and is driven by the Re 460 engine. What's interesting about the IC 2000 is that it has several different types of rail carriages — some even have cosmetic variations.

The rail carriages are identified by letters:

AD - First Class with Baggage Carriage This carriage has first class seating on both levels, a compartment for large luggage, and an elevator -- for official use only.

A - First Class Carriage This carriage has first class seating on both levels -- the yellow stripe and the number one on the doors signify first class.

BR and WRB - Bistro and Dining Carriages There are several variations of these carriages. The BR version is marked as "Bistro," and has a counter service on the bottom lefel. The WRB is marked "Restaurant / Bistro," has counter service on the bottom, and restaurant tables on the top. There is also a version of the WRB with a Starbucks logo on the side, which has a Starbucks counter and seating. Only certain routes include this specific carriage right now. For more information, please visit the SBB Starbucks page and click the Timetable tab to see its operation schedule.

B - Second Class Carriage This carriage has second class seating on both levels. The number two on the doors signify second class.

Bt - Driving Cab / Family Carriage The front lets the driver operate the train without having to turn it around (it remotely controls the Re 460 engine,) and has two levels of second class seating. The upper deck has a play area for children which is decorated according to a theme: Jungle, Globi (a Swiss comic-book character,) Moon, and Dinosaurs.

For more information about this train, please see the IC 2000 Wikipedia page.

Compositions

There are different configurations (called compositions, or consists) of the IC 2000. Each composition may include certain carriages, or a certain number of a carriage type — all this depends on the distance between city stops, that city's population, expected carriage occupancy, and either weekday or weekend travel.

In general, there are more A and B carriages for distant intercity service trains (noted by IC in the train schedule,) which most likely have a BR or WBR carriage. Regional service trains (noted by R in the train schedule,) are likely to have less A and B carriages — they may also have a BR instead of a WBR carriage. Weekend service is also likely to have less A and B carriages.

More example IC 2000 compositions are provided on the papercraft model downloads page (as a pdf file.)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long did it take you to make this model? I first started on this in early 2013, then designed it on-and-off until late 2014. Most of 2015 was used to make corrections -- which were endless! I made photos of the model in October 2015, and the final files were released during the first few days of November 2015.

How long will it take me to build this? In terms of straight working days and time to let things dry, each carriage can be completed in about three days -- plus or minus a day or so.

How did you make this model? I first gathered lots of study materials: diagrams, photos, video stills, color palettes (FYI: it's RAL classic colors and not Pantone,) and took my own photos. I next used Adobe Illustrator to create the physical model: from the inner frame, to the outer shell with graphics, to the bogies, and to the bumpers. I next printed it all out, cut it up, glued it together, then revised the model countless times.

If you used Adobe Illustrator, how did you create multi-page pdf files? Yes, Illustrator is basically unusable for multi-page documents. In Illustrator, I created a layer for each page. I then saved each layer as its own pdf file, and merged the separate pdf files together.

What printer and paper did you use? The models you see in my IC 2000 photo gallery post were printed from the Adobe Acrobat Reader program to an HP Officejet Pro 8100. Originally, I printed my model on HP Everyday Photo Paper, Matte -- then HP discontinued it in late 2014. So, I then tried out both Canon Matte Photo Paper and Epson Premium Presentation Paper Matte paper. In the IC 2000 photo gallery, you can see both Canon and Epson papers for the models -- both were printed on the HP Officejet Pro 8100.

Dinosaurs! Why didn't you make the version of the driving cab with the dinosaurs?!? Sadly, I couldn't find a high enough resolution image to make that version. Maybe some day...

Your model is not bad, but where's the Re 460 engine? To get the IC 2000 out quickly, I saved the Re 460 for last -- I'm now in the planning stages to make it. There will be several variations, plus an uncolored model for those who want to create their own design.

>> For additional information on this papercraft model, please see:

Photo gallery

Detail photo gallery

Construction tips

Here's a gallery of the completed SBB IC 2000 papercraft models.

>> For additional information on this papercraft model, please see:

Background information

Construction tips

The following are supplies and tips to help you build the model.

Required supplies

inkjet printer with A4 or US letter paper

glue — use the least amount of glue possible, and glue in a ventilated area if it has an oder

craft knife (like an X-Acto knife) — Young children should not handle the craft knife. Please provide supervision for older children who use the craft knife. Even then, use of a steel sewing thimble helps prevent accidents!

scissors — please provide supervision for older children who use scissors.

steel ruler

cutting board

tweezers (slanted head, if possible)

a pencil

patience and time :-)

Optional, but recommended supplies

gell glue (like Elmer's Craft Bond Paper Craft Glue Gell, 4oz.)

A4 or US letter paper This model was designed to be printed and assembled on thicker paper — like: - Canon Matte Photo Paper 170 g/m2 (A4 or 8.5x11inch size) or - Epson Premium Presentation Paper Matte 165 g/m2  (A4 or 8.5x11inch size)

tweezers with long flat edge (like Tamiya Craft Tweezers # 74080)

a second steel ruler (to cut paper while the other ruler holds down drying parts)

a second gell glue container (placed atop a ruler, to help flatten parts as they dry)

a small picture frame hanger nail (to help roll small tubes)

Diane Single Prong Clips — These hair clips are wonderful to keep glued papercraft parts together while they dry!

Prismacolor Premier colored pencils (to color paper edges) - PC 1067, 90% Cool Grey (for rail carriage edges) - PC 949, Silver (for bogie wheels) - PC 923, Scarlet Lake (for the Bt front) - PC 935, Black (for the Bt front black stripe, for bogie box edges) As an alternative, try the Pablo® or Luminance 6901® colored pencils by Caran d'Ache.

Tips

To become more familiar with the assembly process, please read the instruction files before starting the model.

On step 9 (for all model instructions,) flaps are glued to the center of the backs for parts A2 and A3. Use a ruler to find the center, then draw a line with a pencil.

On step 10 (for all model instructions,) the two flaps of part B are glued and folded down to part A. To easily do this, first put a small amount of glue on a thin strip of scrap paper. Next, use the thin strip to glue the underside of each flap. Center part B, then use tweezers with a long flat edge to clamp it to the "roof" of part A (from the open end of A.)

On step 36 (for the Bt model,) add glue to a small strip of scrap paper, then apply the glue from the strip to the indicated blue sides of part A1.

On step 32 (for the Bt model) and step 23 (for all other models,) you may glue the center fold to the bottom if you add glue to a small strip of scrap paper, apply the glue from the strip to the center fold edge, then press the center edge down.

After step 36 (for the Bt model,) and step 27 (for all other models,) you may get the sides to dry flat if you turn the model on its side, put a steel ruler on top, then put one or more glue bottles on the ruler to press it down.

On step 37 (for the Bt model) and step 29 (for all other models,) add glue to a small strip of scrap paper, then apply the glue from the strip to the blue glue areas (marked as #3.)

On steps 49 and 50 (for the Bt model) and step 38 (for all other models,) use a small picture frame hanger nail to help roll the small tubes.

For a more professional look and to hide the white paper edges, use a colored pencil on the edges. If possible, hold the paper with the printed side away from you so accidental slips won't mark the printed side. Please note that glued edges are harder to color, so you may need to color some of the edges before you glue the model parts.

>> For additional information on this papercraft model, please see:

Background information

Photo gallery

Detail photo gallery

Seit dem 21. November 2013 ist er auf dem Schienennetz der SBB zwischen Genève-Aéroport, Fribourg und St. Gallen anzutreffen: Der Starbucks-Wagen der SBB. Grund genug, das neue gastronomische Angebot, das bereits im Vorfeld für Diskussionen sorgte, einem…