Double-decker Coaches (Doppelstockwagen)

Given my interest in modern era SBB and ÖBB then double-decker wagons should be an important feature but unfortunately the current range of available models is a little feeble.  Currently the only available variants are the SBB Zürich S-Bahn (Fleischmann & Minitrix!) and in near future (2007) the IC2000 (Hobbytrain) coaches.   No sign at all of the ÖBB City Shuttle coaches alas.  Why one design was produced by two manufacturers but the City Shuttle design not at all is rather strange - I'm sure that someone somewhere had a reason!

That got me thinking, how about conversion of DB double-deckers given that there are plenty available on the market by Fleischmann and Minitrix?  Instead of finding lots of prototype pictures on the internet and carefully comparing them with some fiendish geometrical construction, I cheated - people have done the work already when they designed these coaches for the Traffic screensaver!  Voila:

There is the obvious problem - they're all completely different!  Not even the doors are in the same place, let alone the windows!  There goes that idea...  The least horrific conversion would be DB Green to ÖBB City Shuttle which is what has been tried by other modellers and clubs but I haven't seen anything convincing yet, neglecting the windows, because the paintwork always looks so...well horrific.  Without clean edges between colours and a general clogging of paint in details they always look as bad as the scenery!  The dilemma is caused by the dark green: a thick coat of red or white is needed to cover this, and by being thick it looks ghastly.  Perhaps the solution is to somehow sand the paint off?  This depends on the underlying plastic body colour (we're lost if this is green too...) to a certain extent.

Conclusion

Lobby the manufacturers to make the ÖBB City Shuttle in N scale!  OR  Pay lots to Wabu for one! (Not really an option for non-lottery winners if you want a prototypical length train!)