Atlas California Zephyr Sleeper Lounge Dome Observation improvements by Bob Meyer

Nice job. It looks so real.

Hi Erik • Very cool rolling stock project.

Gary

Much better.

Erik - Does the observation floor sit lower (i.e. less clearance) than the other domes?  

Looks much better... I'm thinking of putting a Proto Craft coupler in mine..... like you did on your SC Observation

Hey Erik:

Nice changes, but I do think if you (or anyone else) is going to do this coupler change, it would be better to use the Proto-Craft coupler.

http://protocraft.com/category...9C3-7A25ECA1C24EAEAE

Operationally the Kadee is fine, but the look of the Proto-Craft is so much nicer.

Did CBQ paint the couplers like SF did? In some pictures it sure looks like silver has been painted on the coupler.

Thanks.

Charlie

Charlie,

I kind of agree with you about the realistic appearance of the Proto-Coupler, but maybe Erik (or Bob for that matter...) wanted the capability to pull the train from the rear end and thus Kadee was the right choice.

Yves

I use scale couplers (mine are Hi Sierra, so far - same thing, almost) on the fronts of all locomotives except switch, and on the backs of all obs cars and many cabooses.

Kadee couples up readily for double- heading and unusual consists.

Clipping off that air hose is what really did it.  Now it is almost as good looking as Protocraft.

That coupler change really does make a big difference

I do wish someone would do detail parts for all these cars, especially all those vents on the roof and along the skirting and the stirrups.

     Please remember when you are working on the ZEPHYR's we can provide the decals to finish these beautiful cars off. In fact we have had some requests for decals to change the names on the car name plates to suit the clients home town names.

     Thank you for your time in reading this post.

Dave, LBR

Its not the coupler that looks bad but the draft gear box is hideous

Atlas, you hit this one out of the park. WOW!!! Just got mine open.

Dick

My two cars too came yesterday and they are beautiful. Leaving them in the boxes till I really  need run them.

Sleeper is nice, nice, nice.

I really liked how the Atlas CZ cars turned out, and this conversion is excellent. I talked to the Jerry Kimble (Atlas rep) at York and he said they're looking into other roads.

Thanks for mentioning the Blue Bird.  I had considered trying to use unlettered CZ cars for the Blue Bird but I didn't feel I could successfully remove the skirting.  

Years ago someone at Atlas told me the molds were designed to be modified, and that after they got the CZ out of the way the skirting at the trucks would be removed.  I've got my fingers crossed.

Can't you just see your Key PA sitting next to the Blue Bird?

That's great Erik!

Howard, I haven't researched the dome observation car used on the Blue Bird, but it appears to differ from the CZ dome observation car in two respects.  First, the offset of the domes seem to differ with the CZ dome being clearly offset to the rear while the BB seems to be centered or slightly forward. 

Second, the CZ dome roof is higher in the rear of the dome, while the BB dome roof appears to be of uniform height; i.e., roof height is the same fore and aft of the dome like a non-observation car dome car.

Would these differences pose significant manufacturing difficulties for a Blue Birddome observation car?

Presumably, Atlas could take a streamline, non-CZ observation car from previous models, and insert a blank in the mold to create an appropriate "hole" in the mold to accommodate the standard Budd dome that they've produced.   

Carl - Sorry I missed your post.  You and Erik are correct, the observation is different.  Personally, I only paid any attention to that in the last year.  Before that I saw a difference in the glass area of the dome.  Then I realized the roof was higher.  

I don't know how modular the Atlas molds are and with the way MTH has backed off creating any new molds for American prototypes, I don't know what it would take for Atlas to do an accurate Wabash Dome/Observation and how many other D/O's for other roads would have a similar roof/dome configuration.  

My understanding is that the molds they have, allow different side window configurations.  I don't know if the wheel skirts are a one time change that can't be reversed.  I don't know how modular the roof molds are.  I hope Atlas is able to produce cars for other railroads with same accuracy they have used to produce the CZ cars.  Nothings perfect, but I think Atlas did an excellent job producing the first accurate passenger cars in plastic.  That includes the few issues like the trucks and different paint issues that were caused by changing factories.  

Highly unlikely Atlas will attempt a project of this size again, this train was first announced in July 2009 it will probably be 1st Q 2016 before the last 2 cars are delivered.JMO

Funny looking skytop as a very accurate CZ dome obs.

Of course that's absurd.  However the Canadian Pacific dome roof isn't that far off the CZ dome/obs.  The molds might be able to be tweaked to produce the CP dome.

Walters produced molds for one train and then offered separate sale cars for other roads.  Of course they didn't offer the Sky Top observation for the San Francisco Chief.  

In fact Sunset produces a something like a 4-4-2 streamlined sleeper and labels it for as many roads as reasonable.  They aren't totally accurate with each passenger car, especially in plastic.  I would be surprised if Atlas has the money to do new molds for each car on each train, but perhaps I missed your point.  You are also missing mine if you think I'm saying Atlas would use a Budd passenger car mold to produce what should be Pullman Standard, ACF or other non-Budd car.   

I got mine yesterday... I relocated the coupler and added steam and brake lines plus some chain details. Love this car!

I'm still waiting for my dealer to ship.  At least you guys will have everything figured out and posted.

Looks great Santiago!

Far away from the USA, I have just seen pictures of the real car, but it's seems to me that the ATLAS one is a perfect model! Very very nice work with adding details!

May be I will buy one soon...