ARISTO PCC TROLLEY
I finally got my hands on one of the Aristo PCC trolleys. It is one thing to read other people's comments, and another to really touch and run the real thing. The sample I tested was painted for the Los Angeles streetcar system.
This is a very nice model, and based on my measurements with a scale ruler, it is close to 1:29 scale, so it will fit well with all of Aristo Craft's main line models. As previously reviewed by others, it is a model of a 1929 PCC (President's Conference Committee) car. These were produced up until 1952 and were found in most metropolitan areas of the US. Paint a graphics on the model are crisp with no overspray.
Like the prototype, it is made to operate in only one direction, and there is no coupler on other end.
The car has a complete interior and operating doors. It has a headlight, tail lights,
market lights, and illuminated destination sign, and two rows of LED's to light the interior.
The unit is powered by two motorized trucks which swivel through a wide arc, making it capable of negotiating narrow curves just like the prototype. The model only actually needs one powered truck since it is light . The wheels on my sample were very shiny, so we painted them with Floquil's grimy black to tone them down.
Power for the car can come from track or overhead trolley wire. There is a switch under the car that selects either "T" for track or "O" for overhead. My unit would not move when I put it on the track until I found the switch and moved it to the "T" position.
Two other switches under the car control lights and motors.
I opened up the body to look at the interior. It is only held in place with four screws. The interior is adequate, and passengers can be easily added along with a Motorman. You will have to cut the legs off your seated passengers, but this is not evident when they are viewed through the window. USA Trains passengers would be ideal to add some life to this unit. The old Aristo Engineer can be repainted to look like a typical Motorman. While I had the body opened, I worked with the springs on the doors so that they would open more easily. As the car comes from the factory, the doors will barely open.
The Power Pole cable does not retract. I am sure someone can figure out a way to make this happen, but I did not have time to play with it to find a satisfactory solution.
The interior illumination is way too bright. It is also accomplished by the typical white LEDs that have a bluish cast. Changing the LEDs to a "warm white" would make a difference, along with painting some of them with black paint to dim the interior to a more realistic glow. The headlight has the same problem, and a "warm white" LED would be much more satisfactory.
The model is DCC ready. Remove two screws, and a dummy plug on a circuit board can be found. Remove the plug, and any manufacturer's DCC unit can be installed.
The car will begin to move at around 5 Volts. Slow speed operation is good, as many of these cars did not run very fast in normal service.
Phoenix makes a great sound system that would really complement this particular car if you want sound effects. One "cool" feature is the brake lights. When power is turned down they stay on for 5 to 10 seconds before going out
Aristo hit the mark with this model. It will look great running in your garden or on your indoor layout. Trolley wire strung over your streets would be a fantastic effect even if you do not power it. Since no one produces the appropriate trolley overhead,. scratch building is the only choice at this time,
I like this car, and would probably repaint and letter mine for Pacific Electric just to fit in with my particular railroad.
