Anyone have a source for O scale Budd vista domes?

I am only aware of the Kemtron UP domes.  Castings for the ends and an etched wrapper.  Look on the used market, or try the guys who bought the line.  Russ Briggs, I think.

Pingman posted:

I have three 21" vista dome passenger car kits but don't have the vista dome structures for the roofs.

Anyone know of a source for the dome structures?  The openings are ~6.0" in length.

Atlas, GGD, and LIONEL are not a source last time I checked; and, received no response after several attempts at MTH.

Any leads will be most welcome.  Thanks.

Why not Lionel 21" pax car domes? They are still listed on the Lionel parts website.

I would like to swap out the dome section on these new 21" Canadian Pacific cars.  They didnt use the Budd style dome, but the angular Pullman style dome.   These were supposed to become my VIA Rail repaints, now reevaluating.

I'm not sure Lionel ever made a scale length Budd type dome roof section?  Just the angular style and higher profile UP and NP dome.  

PRRHSC, I've scoured LIONEL's parts database for both 21" and 18" pax dome cars and found no joy.  The domes available for separate sale are, as mentioned by Scott, the Pullman Standard, flat glass variety.  The Budd, curved-glass variety, are sold installed in the car shell if they are sold at all--the domes alone are not available separately.

I did discover a suitable dome on eBay, but it was included with the Phoenix Railways dome car and the seller quite naturally was unwilling to sell the dome separately.

So, I'm still looking.

Hi Pingman, any luck in your search for a replacement dome structure for your passenger cars?  

Currently, I'm also trying to track down a more correct dome for my K-Line Union Pacific passenger cars.  But I have not had any luck in finding the correct ACF style dome sold separately either.  I thought about modifying one of these eBay full length vista dome structures (shown below).  My plan would be to shorten it down to 6 windows but I wasn't sure the width would fit my application because it looks like I came from a smaller body 027 passenger car.

The only reason I'm looking for replacement ACF style dome because Union Pacific 7000, 8000 and 9000 series domes cars are not suppose to have an extra horizontal support bar going through the middle of the window.

@T.Albers posted:

Hi Pingman, any luck in your search for a replacement dome structure for your passenger cars?  

 

Currently, I'm also trying to track down a more correct dome for my K-Line Union Pacific passenger cars.  But I have not had any luck in finding the correct ACF style dome sold separately either.  I thought about modifying one of these eBay full length vista dome structures (shown below).  My plan would be to shorten it down to 6 windows but I wasn't sure the width would fit my application because it looks like I came from a smaller body 027 passenger car.

 

The only reason I'm looking for replacement ACF style dome because Union Pacific 7000, 8000 and 9000 series domes cars are not suppose to have an extra horizontal support bar going through the middle of the window.

I believe what you have is from a LIONEL 15" extruded aluminum full-length dome car.  If you will measure its length and width, I will compare it to one I have easy access to.  Also, there may be a p/n molded into the interior.  Also, you can see the part illustrated on LIONEL's website for the product no. 6-19128.

Question:  how would you make the glazing for the ends (front and rear)?  The OEM plastic "window" piece that mates with the part shown is no longer available from LIONEL or its parts surrogate, North Lima Train Works.

And the answer to your question is I have had ZERO luck locating a source for O scale Budd-style regular, offset domes.

I just found those full length vista dome structures for sale on eBay yesterday.   Your right, I went back today and looked again on eBay and some have a 12” ruler next to them.  The width of these domes would be way too small to match  your 21” aluminum 1/48th scale kit.

Another option might be those MTH Vista Dome premier shells on eBay right now.   They may be empty shells but they come with the OEM clear plastic windows and the dome structure should be the correct width.  The down side would be the dome would have to be carefully cut away from ABS body and then shortened to match the opening on the top of your passenger car.

Useful thread !!!

Thanks !!!

CB&Q Bill

@Pingman posted:

I have three 21" vista dome passenger car kits but don't have the vista dome structures for the roofs.

Anyone know of a source for the dome structures?  The openings are ~6.0" in length.

Atlas, GGD, and LIONEL are not a source last time I checked; and, received no response after several attempts at MTH.

Any leads will be most welcome.  Thanks.

Midland Reproductions did a nice brass cast ends and photo etched wrapper . when you find them its about 50.00.

Atlas sells domes for their 21" CZ cars and lots of other parts for them, too.

Seems like something that 3D printing was made for as a solution.

@Rapid Transit Holmes posted:

Atlas sells domes for their 21" CZ cars and lots of other parts for them, too.

Atlas O sold out of their domes within months of their CZ release. Those CZ domes are long gone and Atlas O has yet to reissue the CZ cars again.

What you vould do [and it aint cheap] is wait for after christmas sales from top ten lionel dealers and see if they sre "blowing out" Lionel 21" pax cars. I got an extra Amtrak  dome camera car to fix my dome car in the Amtrak ph1  4 pack.

It appears Lionels camera dome cars are Budd style domes [probably to clear the camera lense.]

@prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Atlas O sold out of their domes within months of their CZ release. Those CZ domes are long gone and Atlas O has yet to reissue the CZ cars again.

That's too bad.  I have several that I bought, complete, back in March of this year.

Depending on how much you're willing to spend, there are a handful of Atlas CZ/ Alaska RR dome cars on that auction website for about $180...

@prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Atlas O sold out of their domes within months of their CZ release. Those CZ domes are long gone and Atlas O has yet to reissue the CZ cars again.

Bought four of the Atlas Budd domes in 8/2020, and tried to buy more a month later and no luck--out of stock--P/N 0028.  The windows/glazing is P/N 0027.