Large Scale Central

Aristocraft heavy weight pass. cars scale?

Modeling Rolling stock
#1

Hello All

I’m looking at picking up 3 Aristocraft heavy weight passenger cars #ART3170, ART3130 and ART31510. i believe these are an older series car? The length of these cars are stated at 29" but what is the height and width and how do they scale out? Are they 1:29? I want to run them behind a USAT GP38 which is a good size engine. How will this look? I don’t want what looks like a huge engine pulling tiny cars.
Another question came up when looking these cars up online and it is about the track, “large scale curves recommended” I have a mix of 5’ 8’ and 10’ diameter curves on my pike. Will these cars make it around the tight curves without derailing or will they just look ridiculous with the overhang?
Any thoughts are appreciated.
Todd

#2

All Arsitocraft stuff are 1:29 except the the Classic series cars. They are 1:24. The Heavy weights are 1:29. They require a minimum of 8ft diameter track. They may make tighter curves but would look ridiculous on anything under 8ft curves. You might be better off with something like the Bachmann or Arsito Sierra Coaches.

#3

One thing I’d add - if they are the older three-axle truck versions, you might need to remove the centre wheels - most folks would never notice anyhow. The drag of the three-axle trucks is prodigious - yet another handy tint and hip from Greg Elmassian.

tac

#4

Hello I do have 5 bachmann passenger cars that each measure 18" long. They look great behind any of my steamers but the USAT GP38 is 24" long and they jsut don’t look right being pulled by it never mind they are of the wrong era. USAT passenger cars I believe are 34" long which would really be pushing it regarding the ridiculous overhang factor on tight curves. Most of my equipment is a mix of LGB and Bachmann, 2 pieces of Aristo are from the classic series. I have a aristo track cleaning caboose is that one 1:29? It does appear too small compared to my other pieces. I don’t want these cars to look “wrong” behind the GP38.
As for the overhang derailment issue I could set up a 29" board on trucks and send it around to check it out.
That is a good idea about removing the center wheels.
Thanks guys.

#5

Heavyweights were not tall cars. You can google “tourists line” and see many pulled by Geeps. The
loco is much taller than the car.
If you are worried about looks, try a 1:32 MTH diesel.
Wrong scale, but might get the effect you are looking for.
A heavyweight will hang over an 8’ dia curve, as well.

#6

Todd,
I can run 36" long cars with body mounted couplers on 4.5 radius or 9’ diameter curve. Whether they look right or not is a different story but honestly depending on the camera angle and the picture taken the tightness of the curve matters not IMO. However if your concerned only about getting the Aristo cars around a 10’ diameter you will be just fine. I don’t understand the 5.8 diameter? Assuming you meant radius?

#7

Todd
I have found that the 2 axle truck is more forgiving. I had some three axle trucks I swapped for 2 axle. If you don’t have 10’ or greater I found the 3 axle are a big headache. I am running body mounts on 8’ curves, they look ok. The cars are also good at finding any questionable track due to their length.

#8

Good point Mr Whittier…I was talking about the 2 axle truck …sorry my mistake!
I’ll be in my corner …:frowning:

#9

Now that it has finally stopped raining maybe I can get out on the RR and try out a mock up of a 34" car to see if it will work. I think a 2x4 with wheels attached should do.
David it is not a 5.8 diameter but I have 5 foot diameter curves, 8 foot diameter curves and 10 foot diameter curves on my mainline. I have a bad feeling that the long passenger cars will not make it around the 5 footers. Even worse is due to space constraints I built a 15 foot curved tunnel using 5 foot diameter track. The long cars will probably scrape the insides of the tunnel if they make it at all.
I think I might be out of luck with this long passenger train idea.
Thanks guys

#10

There was some discussion about the Aristo heavyweights a few years ago. I had three of them and they were nice looking cars with full interiors.

The consensus seemed to be that the cars were closer to 1:32 than to 1:29. They were some of the earliest cars you must remember and introduced I believe before 1:29 became the “established scale” for Aristo and USA. The cars are very nice and I think still the best bet for steam era conventional passenger trains short of custom or scratch built. I’ve often wondered if anyone will ever have the courage to cut some up and make full length 85 foot cars from them.

#11

Well the jury is back. Tonight was able to build a mock up of a 33" long car that is close to the USAT size ran that around and then built a 29" long car out of a 4x4 and tried that too. I borrowed trucks from a bachmann passenger car and stuck them on where they should go. Both test cars didn’t look pretty making their way on the tighter 5’ diameter curves and for that fact they didn’t look so hot on the 8’ ones either but they made it. I also have a “S” curve that only has a 24" straight inbetween the curves and the cars made it. I also backed the 33" test car over a LGB R1 turnout and then pulled it through and it made it. I held my breathe when the train went into the 15’ long tunnel built around the 5’ diameter curve track and it made that as well without scraping the sides.
The VERDICT. Both a 29" and 33" car can make it over a 5’ diameter curve but it sure don’t look pretty.
I still have a concern that the aristo cars appear to be smaller then they should be. I agree with Richard that they look closer to 1:32 than 1:29. Maybe I will have to build my own someday.
Thanks guys for all the info.

#12

Aristo claims that their heavyweights are modeled on some 72 ft stuff that a New Jersey RR used. I doubt very much that they ever were intended to be full sized 85 footers.

#13

Steve - maybe that’s why they look so good behind a true Gauge 1 loco like my Hudson in 1/32nd scale.

The USA Trains streamliners ARE to 1/29th scale, that’s why they look soooooooooooooooooo looooooooooooooooooooooooooong.

tac

#14

As far as I know, they scale out correctly, but they are shorter than most heavyweights were in reality, and atypical for Aristo, they are not set too high. Most Aristo diesels and rolling stock are too high (from the rails), the height seems to be from adding clearance between the trucks and the body to allow the trucks to swivel more and work on tighter radius curves. I have a friend who does a lot of tweaks to Aristo cars, and most of them need lowering to match scale.

And yes, the USAT streamliners are very much to scale, and they look great, prototype length.

Greg

#15
Greg Elmassian said:
And yes, the USAT streamliners are very much to scale, and they look great, prototype length.

Greg


I agree with that 100% they are awesome cars and well worth the money if your looking for damn good replica! I just can’t shell out/justify the cash(yet) for a few that I want too molest into Amtrash stuff.
:wink:

#16

To fix the center wheel issue does using BB wheels help. They have worked wonders on my stock on my uber-tight curves.

#17

You don’t need to remove the center axle, proper wheel gauge, lubrication will allow operation on 8’ diameter curves.

These are NOT going to fit on your pizza layout ha ha!

Regards, Greg

#18
Greg Elmassian said:
These are NOT going to fit on your pizza layout ha ha!

Regards, Greg


Perhaps they could… Modify truck so it will rotate 90 degrees to the car then eliminate all but one axle on each end. It could rotate around the Pizza like a turntable bridge. Of course, all of the scenery in the center would have to go :smiley: