Did anyone ever produce any of the following in N scale: I think this is called a "skyview" or something. "Full dome" or "Superdome" I know Bachman produced a full dome car, but did anyone else? I have never seen one of the "skyview" cars. Forgive my ignorance, but what road name is this one: I am thinking about giving a try at making a "skyview" body with interior. There was a varnish excursion train that left out of Chicago Union Station with UP1995 in the lead. I have UP1995, so I was thinking... :teeth: Honestly, if I had the money to acquire and restore a Skyview car, I'd live in it.
The MILW tail end car is known as a "Skytop" due to it's window arrangement. They came in a couple of different interior floor plans. And yes, they have been available in N scale, $$$.
Resin shells for both the dome and observation were made by Jim Stillman under the name nscaleskytops. Not sure of the current status or availability. For the record, I have never seen the dome, but know the observation was made. Jason
Jim posted here about his shell production, early last year. At that time, his web site was discontinued, and as I read it, he was not making any more shells. His User Name here is "Jims", so you could try sending him a PM.
Wow, you weren't kidding about $$$. There's one on the 'bay for about $400 (incl shipping) If Jim is around and has one/some available, that would be great. Otherwise, I'm going to build one through Shapeways. I'll need to figure out what kind of chassis it needs. Thanks!
The Domes were massive (112 tons) and rode on special coil-sprung 6 wheel trucks which will be hard to duplicate. The Skytops were more "standard" , so you could probably use any observation car as a starting point.
"The other dome pictures is a Illinois Central car." Actually, it isn't. It's an ex-Santa Fe car painted in the Illinois Central scheme quite recently. http://trainweb.org/vrt/RioGrandeScenicShops/
I caught that car on an excursion in Montana last year: http://www.train-orders.com/RFAN/MRL/MRL.html
While the car does not match, you could useit for the trucks and the dome..... http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=907 the trucks STILL are not right, but closer
I've decided to go ahead and make my own version of both. The Bachman one really doesn't look bad at all. If my plan doesn't work out I will definitely go that route. I just want one (some) with better window configuration and since I have a few line drawings of some, I can make sure the scale is exact. I may go ahead though and get one of those just to study it. As for trucks, I'll have to start shopping around for what's out there already to see what comes close.
I bashed a Skytop frpm a ConCor observation car several years ago. In fact I just listed it on eBay yesterday.
Railway Classics imported brass models of these cars in a variety of paint schemes (made by Ajin), but as noted, they ain't cheap (and probably difficult to find as well). Also as noted previously, resin shells were made by N Scale Skytops (whose website appears to have vanished) - -Mark
Those brass cars are gorgeous. There's a skytop going for $400 on the 'bay but $80 of it is shipping. I can't justify that kind of $$ for a single car. An engine, sure. I wish I knew how the whole brass manufacturing process took place. That's a lot of loving dedication to create those shells I'm sure. Too bad they're just not really available anymore. Starbuck, I just saw your car this morning - what a great job! I've already begun the modeling process for the skytop sleeper and expect it to take through the weekend to get it and the skytop lounge bodies through phase 1. I expect it to take a month to get both skytops to phase IV: test print. Then I'll work on the versions of the superdome. Not really sure how I'm going to do the glass for either of these yet. Phase I: Overall model of the body Phase II: Body details and undercarriage Phase III: Interior Phase IV: Test print, quality control, truck selection, model adjustments Phase V: Final print
Not mine, but looky here..... http://www.ebay.com/itm/N-scale-Mil...299560?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item4d0af4d628
I think that's the one J Starbuck was talking about. Very nice work. This little ordeal though has put me on the path to make one using 3d printing, and I am cursed with spending hours making sure rivet spacing is just right (that's a slight exaggeration, but not much - .1mm diameter rivets don't really show up well - I tried) If it actually turns out, then the community benefits from high detail closer to the affordable range. Also on the list will be the super dome (several versions) , a steeple cab and some boxcabs. That'll take some time to get just right. Lots of wiry parts on those.
My progress on the sleeper Skytop so far: It's pretty hard going right now while I just work out the complex curves at the tail support beams. Once I am happy with those, the windows will be dropped in, then more adjusting to get them aligned properly. A few cuts after that and Phase I will be complete. Also: I managed to get in touch with Jim who made the resin shells. He has "very few" left of the Cedar Rapids type parlor car, but he DOES have some. His other shells are all gone though.
Nice start on the skytop CAD drawing. May I suggest you change the roof to be smooth. The sleeper skytops were built by Pullman-Standard and didn't have the roof ribbing like the Milwaukee shops built parlor skytops.
