Railsmith GN/NP Budd domes update

[nkalanaga]

These are still scheduled for delivery in February, and he sent pictures of the production samples to his email subscribers.  For those who don't subscribe, here is the picture, and his comments.

****************************
Dome Coach - Your First View

As promised, here is your First View of the decorated NEWLY TOOLED Budd Dome Coaches!

I think you'll agree that these really are impressive!  We are very pleased and we're sure you will be as well. (The new trucks will be on the models delivered as well as a slightly darker dome window tinting.)

There are still some of the GN and very few of the NP available.  We have no plans for running more in the near future so done miss your train!


****************************

If you want some, and haven't ordered them, you might want to hurry!

[thomasjmdavis]

Just curious - Are these domes prototypical for both roads, or prototypical for one and 'close' for the other (and which is which)?  A friend asked me, but I don't have reference books on either road.

[chessie system fan]

My understanding is GN only had this kind of dome.  NP had this one plus a different kind.

[Ike the BN Freak]

The GN is accurate, the NP is close.

I just wish he offered undecs.

[nkalanaga]

They are prototypical, and, as far as I know, only these roads bought the "slab-side" Budd domes.  Some were owned by the SP&S and CB&Q, but they were still bought for the GN/NP trains.  They all made it into Amtrak service as well, and with HEP, some were still running into the 1990s on regional non-Superliner trains.

What the differences are between the GN and NP versions I don't know, unless it's roof vents.  Seeing them in Amtrak's Empire Builder in the 70s, they looked the same to me.

Only the NP/SP&S had the dome-sleeper version, which Lowell is also making, if you want to order some.  They're scheduled for the second quarter of next year.

[Mark5]

These are still scheduled for delivery in February, and he sent pictures of the production samples to his email subscribers.

I saw the email, yeah they are looking good. I was nervous about pre-ordering this as he had not done any dome cars before - but feel a bit better about it now. 

NCL has been on my "wanted" list for years.

Mark

[hegstad1]

Pretty darn sure they are correct for both roads with some interior details being the only difference.  Note the "split" windows in the NP dome.  I love that he did this detail.  It is the so the shades can be drawn at different levels on such a wide window.

[Sokramiketes]

Nice upgrade from the ConCor domes.  And he's tooling the right trucks too! (Mentioned in the release, but not shown yet)

[chessie system fan]

Looks great. I ordered three GN cars.

[nkalanaga]

The NP also had dome-sleeper-lounge cars, with the lounge seating in the dome.  As far as I know, the only difference between the them and the original dome-sleepers was the dome interior.  They were converted from dome-sleepers, so probably no body changes, just change the number.

If Lowell uses a separate interior piece for the dome, which would be the easiest way to make it, a simple 3D print could convert these.

[EspeeGoldenState]

Webb Rail should hook up with Lowell and do a 549 and 313 set like what he did with Catalpa Falls. I definitely would be in for a set of those two.

https://www.webbrail.com/549
https://www.webbrail.com/313

I know, lets get the train done before venturing to other paths.

[Ike the BN Freak]

Webb Rail should hook up with Lowell and do a 549 and 313 set like what he did with Catalpa Falls. I definitely would be in for a set of those two.

https://www.webbrail.com/549
https://www.webbrail.com/313

I know, lets get the train done before venturing to other paths.

Pretty sure I got photos of both when they were stored in Spokane.

[wazzou]

The NP colors on that sample look awful, like not close.

[Sokramiketes]

The NP colors on that sample look awful, like not close.

Are you happy with his prior releases?  He does a pretty good job run-to-run to match.  I've found they fit in well enough with my ScaleCoat I models that I'm not itching to repaint anything. 

[nickelplate759]

They also look pretty good with my Tru-Color painted models.
Lowell has been admirably consistent in matching colors from one run to the next  (unlike, say, Intermountain... ).