AM Dome Cars At Novi

Rusty, they look great!  I sure hope he makes some for the IC set I have, but when I interviewed him for the S Gaugian (New Issue Coming Out) he said the IC set didn't sell well and he didn't plan to produce IC domes. 

Bill

The cars can be purchased in sets of three (each of the three cars being numbered or named differently).

 Can't remember the price.

I am drooling in anticipation and ready to order and send payment as soon as they appear on the AM website. 

Would like to know when they can be purchased! 

Ben

Rusty Traque posted:

I couldn't go the the NASG convention at Novi, Michigan, but a friend sent along some cell phone pictures of AM dome car samples:

Sorry, don't have any other information.

Rusty

Rusty,

    Question: Were all those shown painted Silver and no Chrome?

Don

Don't know.  Wasn't there.  Pictures are from a friend of mine that was.

Rusty

I bought a set. Scale and chrome will be available at the same price. Introduction price is $109 for a single car, $299.95 for a three car set where each car will have a different number/name. They have lights in the dome, they look nice.

Donald Payer posted:

Rusty,

    Question: Were all those shown painted Silver and no Chrome?

Don

Don,

The cars were all factory samples and were painted.  And the LEDs in the domes were NICE!  I was told that they had a 9v battery on the track that powered the lights for all three days the hall was open.  

poniaj posted:

Donald Payer posted:

Rusty,

    Question: Were all those shown painted Silver and no Chrome?

Don

Don,

The cars were all factory samples and were painted.  And the LEDs in the domes were NICE!  I was told that they had a 9v battery on the track that powered the lights for all three days the hall was open.  

Thank You Jerry, for the informative answer. I greatly appreciate your answer. I have placed an Order for the NH Vista Dome Ca but found out that that one will only be painted version available. So I guess it will not be too bad looking with my other four cars because they do have some variances in the real cars. At least I will have a complete set with the Vista Dome. I say this also because I know if American Models built them they will last forever and run smooth as silk.

Thanks again

Don

Rusty Traque posted:

Don't know.  Wasn't there.  Pictures are from a friend of mine that was.

Rusty

I am sorry Rusty, I do remember now you saying you couldn't make the event. I thank you for sending the response anyway. Maybe next time I can get it right.

Don

Quick Casey posted:

I bought a set. Scale and chrome will be available at the same price. Introduction price is $109 for a single car, $299.95 for a three car set where each car will have a different number/name. They have lights in the dome, they look nice.

Thank You Quick Casey for the information. I saw the photos and determined that I had to have at least one and That turned out to be the NH Vista Dome. I spoked to Ron Bashista, yesterday and he said that the NH would only be offered in the painted version and no chrome. I bought a set of the NH cars a long while ago at York Pennsylvania and since I am primarily Hi Rail I think I have a chrome version but I am not sure. I ordered one any ways and I am glad I did now. You  and Jerry gave more detailed information then the new leaflets information enlightened me. Thank You again and Happy railroading

Don 

Is there information in the "new leaflets" that has not appeared in this thread? Jerry mentioned LEDs in the dome. Do LEDs replace the incandescent bulbs in the earlier AM Budd cars? I have installed buck-boost modules in all of my AM passenger cars so that the lighting is uniform whether being pulled by AM DC locomotives at 5 volts or Lionel Legacy locomotives at 18 volts of AC. I'm curious about how to wire the Budd dome cars for the same effect; but the fact that they have LEDs means that there is a rectifier in there somewhere to but sure the lights see only direct current. (The AM Budd cars do not have a capacitor on their lighting boards as do the other AM passenger cars because the Budd trucks are wired so that every wheel provides  electrical contact. This wiring scheme produces very uniform, non-fickering lighting without resorting to a capacitor to temporarily store energy.)

TOKELLY posted:

Is there information in the "new leaflets" that has not appeared in this thread? Jerry mentioned LEDs in the dome. Do LEDs replace the incandescent bulbs in the earlier AM Budd cars? I have installed buck-boost modules in all of my AM passenger cars so that the lighting is uniform whether being pulled by AM DC locomotives at 5 volts or Lionel Legacy locomotives at 18 volts of AC. I'm curious about how to wire the Budd dome cars for the same effect; but the fact that they have LEDs means that there is a rectifier in there somewhere to but sure the lights see only direct current. (The AM Budd cars do not have a capacitor on their lighting boards as do the other AM passenger cars because the Budd trucks are wired so that every wheel provides  electrical contact. This wiring scheme produces very uniform, non-fickering lighting without resorting to a capacitor to temporarily store energy.)

ToKelly,

   The bits and pieces of information that has been released do not totally describe the American Models Vista Dome Cars. By asking questions we all can find more about these cars before they come out. The only question I asked was will there be chrome and silvered painted cars as before. Chrome to match American Flyer Hi Rail and Silver with Scale wheel sets. That was the case when the Budd cars were first brought out by American Models. So I asked about the NH Vista Domes if they were going to be made with the same differences as the original cars were made. The answer was no the NH Cars would only be painted silver and the NH colors as shown on the back cover of the S Gaugian Magazine. Jerry said he was there at the NASG Convention and saw them there and talked to Ron Bashista to find out the lighting in the domes were LED powered by a nine volt battery attached to the track the cars were setting on. The back Cover of the S Gaugian magazine states the new Vista Dome Car will be featuring: Full Interiors,LED Lighting upstairs and Downstairs. Cast Metal Frames and Composite Metal Trucks with all wheel electrical pickup for non flickering lighting, Added grab irons and Details. That is all I know.

   I hope this will answer your questions and hope you can see your way clear to add one to your passenger train. I am sure you will like it.

Happy Railroading

Don

Don,

There's no question about buying a dome! I already have five Santa Fe Budd chrome cars, and I need a Pleasure Dome car to complete a Super Chief passenger consist. All five cars now have LED interior lighting to show off the passengers placed in the seats, and I was just wondering how the AM dome was going to be illuminated. This is the best surprise since the RS-11s last year!

Fortunately, I only need the Burlington domes, which were used on almost every Zephyr.  My "Q" set looks nekkid without domes.

My Santa Fe El Capitan represents the as delivered Budd consist and therefore doesn't need a dome.

My Hirail Atlantic Coast Line and New Haven sets don't need domes because neither road had them.

Rusty

I called Ron yesterday and ordered domes for my UP set and for the silver and the chrome PRR sets.

I put my order in at the S Spree when they were first introduced and only had two cars on display.  I saw the additional road names at Novi last week and they all do look nice!  Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures since I was really busy attending clinics at the convention and building the "make and take" structure kit at one of the clinics so I didn't get a chance to look at the dealer hall till the end.  But I did find a closer-up cell phone photo I snapped at the Spring S Spree:

It's not that great of a picture, but it gives you a little better idea of the lighting.

Mike A.