Update 2.
Since I’m not altering my existing aluminum passenger car's shell I started with measuring how much room I had to create a new ACF dome structure. The opening on the K-Line shell allowed for 6.5” long dome.
The shells width was 2.5”.
The first step is to remove the existing Budd dome off my observation lounge car. Remove the end caps of the car, disconnect the power wire for the lights and slide the aluminum shell off the black metal frame. Once that is done you will notice there are small tabs holding the dome in place on the front and back. Push in on the tabs and the dome structure lifts straight up and off the shell. The domes interior is held in place by two small screws.
The next step was to find an ACF dome structure that snaps in place onto my K-Line shell. That search did not go well. There just isn't any mass produced ACF style dome structures out there that are 6.5” long and 2.5” wide. Even though Lionel makes the correct ACF dome for their Union Pacific 21” cars they do not sell them separately.
Luckily @Pingman came to the rescue with a front & back window assemblies made out of brass. He found these brass items at a train meet over 30 years ago. The castings did not have any manufacture markings on them but look liked Midland Reproductions part# BC-101. Midland Reproductions announced them as a brand new item in O Gauge Railroading magazine issue #77 (November/December 1982) on page 32. The lost wax brass castings matched the 2.5” width of my K-line aluminum shell perfectly. Here’s a look at one matched up to the width of my factory K-Line dome.
Stay tuned for the next step…
