Revitalized Aristo-Craft Aluminum Passenger Dome (w Lighted Dome)

[AJtheTeacher]

Hello Fellow G Scale Enthusiasts!

A few months ago I traded some HO trains (And a little cash) and brought home 3 Aristo-Craft aluminum passenger cars. They had a REALLY bad Milwaukee Road paint job on them. I had already finished the observation a few months ago but wanted a Santa Fe Vista Dome for my collection. I disassembled the vista dome and have spent HOURS using aircraft stripper on the shell and Easy Off oven cleaner to strip the plastic parts. I am fortunate because my plastic parts are nickel plated.

I re-assembled everything and talked myself into adding LED lighting into the dome. I used 2 white LED's but I think that I will go back and replace them with green LED's. In hindsight it probably would have been easier to purchase a used vista dome and just re-label it for Santa Fe.

Enjoy your trains! AJ the Teacher

 

[Paul M]

In hindsight it probably would have been easier to purchase a used vista dome and just re-label it for Santa Fe.

But not as much fun

 

[PhilP]

Cracking job!
Very impressive, but I have no idea what the prototype would have looked like, at night?
Rule 8..

 

[AJtheTeacher]

Cracking job!
Very impressive, but I have no idea what the prototype would have looked like, at night?
Rule 8..

Thank you PhilP! I have no idea what the protoype would look like either. But I am pretty sure that in the pictures of the Santa Fe vista dome that I saw that the SANTA FE graphics were centered under the vista dome not the car itself. I debated should I center them like Aristo-Craft did (which appears to be incorrect) or do it properly. At this time, I chose to letter it like the Aristo-Craft factory cars. I will endeavor to see if I can locate a nightime vista dome picture. Thanks AJ the Teacher

 

[Greg Elmassian]

The main windows indeed often had a greenish tint. Never seen the real dome lighted at night.

The USA Trains is a pretty faithful copy:



Greg

 

[Southwestforests]

I have no idea what the protoype would look like either. But I am pretty sure that in the pictures of the Santa Fe vista dome that I saw that the SANTA FE graphics were centered under the vista dome not the car itself.

Have a look here at cars ATSF 500 to 505, http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsList.aspx?id=ATSF&cid=7
Some pics are back in the ATSF days some are contemporary.

See also here: The Super Chief Pleasure Domes |
Includes photo of one dome interior showing fluorescent tubes along sides of dome top center strip.

See also: Railfan.net ABPR Image MKT106_100_SF500_atHouston_April85.jpg

See also: Railfan.net Forums - 'Passenger Trains' Photo - '30-A_classic_dome_car.jpg'

 

[Southwestforests]

Never seen the real dome lighted at night.

My experiences with passenger cars are that if the car interior lights are on you will not be seeing anything outside except streetlamps and headlights.

 

[Southwestforests]

The main windows indeed often had a greenish tint.

Here's a handy illustration of that.
Oh, and a modeling note, as well as tinting the side windows, painting the dome's clear plastic with a bit of thinned Tamiya transparent green acrylic model paint with a bit of transparent blue added is a way to represent that if dome window plastic is not already tinted. Airbrushing interior of clear part is preferred method for a smooth coat but hairy sticks can be used if you have sufficient skill there.

Dome Crossing

Dome Crossing Taken circa 1993. Location unknown

www.rrpicturearchives.net

 

[PhilP]

Wow. Thanks for the links..

Looking at the car on the 'abandoned' section of track:
The opening in the end of the car seems huge? - I assume you could easily stand, in both the dome, and to pass underneath it, so allowing 7 feet (floor to ceiling) x2, plus structure of the car, I am a little surprised the opening is that tall?

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Which picture exactly? Please re-post the link... nothing looked unusual to me, I've ridden in these cars.

 

[PhilP]

Which picture exactly? Please re-post the link... nothing looked unusual to me, I've ridden in these cars.

This one:

Railfan.net ABPR Image MKT106_100_SF500_atHouston_April85.jpg

It may just be a perspective-thing, but the opening in the end of the car seems very 'tall'?
Perhaps, the lower-deck internal roof is lower, where the upper lounge is?

I will have to try to find a side elevation drawing, showing the internal layout.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Not abandoned, notice other cars connected to it, and no one would leave it over a switch. Your only clue was the abandonment track.

OK, so the opening on the SIDE of the car near the kitchen/galley seems big? That's the only door you can see except a bit of a side view of the end doors.

Maybe you are mistaking the diaphram and it's frame for a door?

 

[PhilP]

Sorry Greg, my bad, wrong link posted (it was late). - I have corrected the link.

 

[Greg Elmassian]

Ahh... it does look sort of tall, but the diaphragm has been removed, so hard to see what the resultant "human opening" dimensions are.

I think you will find the height of the area to support the diaphram is very tall, compared to the door itself, which is not tiny either.

 

[Southwestforests]

but the opening in the end of the car seems very 'tall'?

Given the car's entire exterior width was right at 10 feet plus an inch or two the end doors are not going to be proportioned with a width like a sliding door to a patio at home. A Walmart shopping cart is probably too wide to go through the end doors.
Also ..
Since the overall height of the car from railhead to rooftop has to be less than around 15 to 16 feet the car floor was stepped down under the dome to allow for a hallway under one side of the dome and to make usable compartments under the remaining width of the dome area.

 

[PhilP]

Thanks..
That makes things clearer.

 

[Southwestforests]

Just found this, lower left of page is interior photo of recessed passageway & steps to dome seating.
Well illustrates how small car interior cross section is,

VIA Rail photo album at VistaDome.com

Canada VIA Rail

www.vistadome.com

 

[Southwestforests]

This page of period advertising art has at least one cutaway illustration showing interior arrangement,

Vista Dome marketing images at VistaDome.com

A slideshow of images used to promote the Vista-Dome car used on the the California Zephyr train.

www.vistadome.com

 

[Paul M]

Ahh... it does look sort of tall, but the diaphragm has been removed, so hard to see what the resultant "human opening" dimensions are.

I think you will find the height of the area to support the diaphram is very tall, compared to the door itself, which is not tiny either.

And there was me thinking it was a giraffe carrier

 

[PhilP]

Thanks Guys..
I just couldn't see how you could get the two decks in, but having a passage to the rear lounge, with a lowered floor, makes sense.