Well, he has rode MCIs for as long as I can remember so it was no surprise when the new one was a new J4500. Not the greatest side picture but you can see that he followed the same Sante Fe paint scheme of the last few buses.
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dalehouston.com%2Fhag%2Fj4500s.jpg&hash=8e9c3568447516781479bc72ec1f73d136707416)
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dalehouston.com%2Fhag%2Fj4500r.jpg&hash=e4bcc49763b5d11dab17fdda9b9443b0c319a69e)
This is the DL3 that it is replacing.
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dalehouston.com%2Fimages%2FHagSC.jpg&hash=f257aea57a667ca8f65798ea88e3fae4525582fd)
And here is a very poor picture of the original Hag Super Chief MC9.
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dalehouston.com%2Fimages%2FSuperchief9.jpg&hash=cd23e4ca83ac6ee716757ddc4899274c4213e9aa)
This thread didn't get a lot of attention but I figured I would post some better pictures just for the MCI fans. Here are two similar pictures to compare the new J4500 with the old (1994) DL3. Personally I think they are both beautiful buses, but I prefer the DL3.
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdalehouston.com%2Fhag%2FhagDL3.jpg&hash=542549a052b9dae70c25a1884d97ecb30ee155f0)
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdalehouston.com%2Fhag%2Fnewbus.jpg&hash=9e34423d22a4d94be2b620455557d9846ffd60ed)
the round porthole type windows are cool any idea where to get some john
Well if it's gotta be an MCI I'd have to take the DL model too! ;D BK ;D
I'm not much into plastic buses!
I have to ask is that a door on the drivers side. If so what models come with that.
I designed my paint scheme on the Santa Fe too. This was back when I had the RTS so I haven't done the mock up on an Eagle yet, but I planned to use portholes as well since they were on the trains. I had never found any portholes through normal bus conversion channels so while we were at the International Workboat Show in New Orleans a few weeks ago I talked to some companies that make windows for boats. They told me it was not a problem and I just needed to send them the size I want and they can make them.
There is not a door on the driver's side but it does look sorta like it in the picture. That is just the normal electrical panel beneath the driver but it has a pretty large door handle, probably to make it consistent with the other side.
One thing that I found odd is that it looks like they just painted over the windows wherever they wanted the bus to look closed in. I guess since the roof is tall enough that it didn't need a raise they saw no need in doing it. This new bus has the glued in flush fitting windows too so it looks fine.
S-man - When you get ready for your portholes try contacting a van conversion supplier - I would expect them to be a lot cheaper than marine fittings, unless you plan on one of those amphibious conversions and need something that can handle waves ;D HTH
Pretty buses. I personally prefer the DL, but that if just me. I think that they are better to work on...But then again, like I have said before, I am a little biased since we have a DL3. I hope the J works out for him.
God bless,
John
Nice buses! That J's windows sure look sweet!
What all do you like about the DL3 more?
I guess I am just old school. It looks more like an MCI to me. The E-J series look like every other modern bus. It is hard to tell them apart going down the interstate. Used to be that if you saw an Eagle going down the road, even at a distance, you knew it was an Eagle. Same with MCI, Prevost, GMC. Now all the new bus styles are so bland and similar that it is hard to tell them apart. Not to mention that the old buses were made out of steel and/or aluminum and the new ones are made out of fiberglass.
This is true. When you see a MC-9.... you KNOW its a 9.