Re: S scale switching layout plan
Tom.?
Here is my suggestion. A One Turnout Layout by Lance Mindheim.?
Lance also had a recent article in Model Railroaded Magazine describing a practice plank layout with all the tasks to try out the hobby. Ill follow up with details.?
Good luck with your adventure!
Charles.?
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Found it!
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Model Railroader, 2020 August
All you need to know in four square feet. ?By Lance Mindheim.
Here is a post from 2024 in the MR Forum.
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Let me mention just a tiny bit of
history here.?
Much of the end of Flyer in the 60's
ended up at Hobby Surplus in large bins of parts.? When our lost
bid for the NASG convention and it's related car occured, Jack
Troxell still wanted a tank car train, so he built one!? He bought
a couple dozen of those very Shell Tank car shells and the chassis
for them.? There were only two pieces--- chassis with bottom half
of the tank, and then the top half of the tank.? Your photo shows
it's missing the metal railing, & the ladder.? I'm surprised
it has the safety plaque and brake wheel.? Regardless, he spent
about $2.00each.?
Of course it's well known what kinda
work he did with those cars!? I put one aside for my RR, but I
also have possession of all the jigs he made for that conversion.?
I guess they are for sale!? However the knowledge to actually make
new versions has been lost. ?
So yes, not worth anything much above a
couple of bucks back then so you can't expect much more today.? So
Lionel should have been aware of all the old stuff that probably
was of better quality when they opened that surprise box and let
the vampire live again!.?
Then we have old Rollie stomping on old
AF cabooses as he auctioned them off!
Bob Werre
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ABSOLUTELY
CORRECT, Bill... ebay is the nail in AF's coffin.? I can't
count the numbers of UNSELLING AF trains that are always
listed on ebay, and at prices that one might think would
guarantee a sale... but no.? It seems that sellers can't even
"GIVE" them away.? And I can attest to that fact since I have
been trying to sell TWO NIV Lionel/AF items for over 4 years
on the GROUPS, and I have not had even ONE bite of interest in
them... even listed at MAKE OFFER and pay postage prices.? So
it looks like I'm literally going to have to throw them in the
trash!
?
(See attached
images and MAKE ME AN OFFER)
?
?
John D
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Re: Stokrocki and Lane in February RMC
The February RMC has not arrived up here in the Upper Left Corner yet, but that’s okay with me, because I just finished the January issue. ? In case you haven’t seen January, Jim Martin had the NASG inside cover shot with a beautiful scene. Even better, Jim also has a helpful article on an easy method to build a feed mill using mostly foamcore and printed building papers. Best part is, it’s cheap. The result is very realistic, and there’s a close up of the structure on page 69 that is truly breathtaking! As is the policy of RMC, Jim’s piece is clearly labeled as S scale. ? Thanks Jim, Roger Nulton ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Brooks Stover via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 7:31 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [S-Scale] Stokrocki and Lane in February RMC? Congratulations to Stan Stokrocki and Bill Lane who teamed up to provide the wonderful photo of a pair of Conrail diesels for the NASG ad in the February RMC.? Stan did the modeling and Bill took the photo which looks great opposite Scale Trains full-page ad.? This is the 34th ad in the series that started way back in May of 2022!? Starting with next month's issue, the 34 images will run again...all the way through December 2027...a total of 5 years and 8 months.? If you have an image of your modeling you'd like to see in RMC, get in touch with either me or Brian Jackson and we can work it in!? And thanks to all who have participated in this unique campaign that will have put an S layout photo in every RMC for almost 6 straight years. For those who don't read RMC, the photo will appear in the home page rotation on the NASG website shortly, as all the images do.
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The one answer to that is it is happening because they continue to re-make 80 year old models (in essence) for a diminishing market. I'd bet a re-run of any of the newer pieces (SD-70, ES-44, mikado, etc) would sell much better, and a totally new locomotive better still. Well enough to justify the tooling and development is a question I can't answer, but I'd guess they think the answer is "no". There was one of the Flyer articulateds on their stand at Springfield. I asked, the rep said there were a few still in the warehouse - so if owning one of them tickles your fancy, I'd call quickly.?
Pieter Roos
On Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 06:50:20 PM EST, Bill Lane via groups.io <bill@...> wrote:
When you see the total saturation of Gilbert American Flyer for sale on eBay it is not a stretch to connect to Lionel eventually ending A F production. Considering Lionel have been doing repaints largely on the SAME shells as Gilbert for 40? years… If a Flyer guy wants a new car they are all over eBay for CHEAP. Take your pick. Why pay $60.00+ for a car? ?EBay is Lionel’s biggest competition. ? Thank You,
Bill Lane
Modeling the Mighty Pennsy, PRSL & Reading in 1957 in S Scale since 1987
See my finished models at:
Look at what has been made in PRR in S Scale! ? See my layout progress at:
Join the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines Historical Society
It's FREE to join!??
Preserving The Memory Of The PRSL
?
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Correction to previous reply : "NIB" instead of "NIV"
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Besides, I'm a KJB guy... wouldn't touch a NIV with someone else's hands.? (LOL)
?
?
John D
NIB = "New In Box" for those of you who don't know.
?
?
On 01/29/2025 6:59 PM EST John Degnan via groups.io <scaler164@...> wrote:
?
?
ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, Bill... ebay is the nail in AF's coffin.? I can't count the numbers of UNSELLING AF trains that are always listed on ebay, and at prices that one might think would guarantee a sale... but no.? It seems that sellers can't even "GIVE" them away.? And I can attest to that fact since I have been trying to sell TWO NIV Lionel/AF items for over 4 years on the GROUPS, and I have not had even ONE bite of interest in them... even listed at MAKE OFFER and pay postage prices.? So it looks like I'm literally going to have to throw them in the trash!
?
(See attached images and MAKE ME AN OFFER)
?
?
John D
?
?
On 01/29/2025 6:50 PM EST Bill Lane via groups.io <bill@...> wrote:
?
?
When you see the total saturation of Gilbert American Flyer for sale on eBay it is not a stretch to connect to Lionel eventually ending A F production. Considering Lionel have been doing repaints largely on the SAME shells as Gilbert for 40? years… If a Flyer guy wants a new car they are all over eBay for CHEAP. Take your pick. Why pay $60.00+ for a car? ?EBay is Lionel’s biggest competition.
?
Thank You,
Bill Lane
Modeling the Mighty Pennsy, PRSL & Reading in 1957 in S Scale since 1987
See my finished models at:
Look at what has been made in PRR in S Scale!
?
See my layout progress at:
Join the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines Historical Society
It's FREE to join!??
Preserving The Memory Of The PRSL
?
|
ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, Bill... ebay is the nail in AF's coffin.? I can't count the numbers of UNSELLING AF trains that are always listed on ebay, and at prices that one might think would guarantee a sale... but no.? It seems that sellers can't even "GIVE" them away.? And I can attest to that fact since I have been trying to sell TWO NIV Lionel/AF items for over 4 years on the GROUPS, and I have not had even ONE bite of interest in them... even listed at MAKE OFFER and pay postage prices.? So it looks like I'm literally going to have to throw them in the trash!
?
(See attached images and MAKE ME AN OFFER)
?
?
John D
?
?
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On 01/29/2025 6:50 PM EST Bill Lane via groups.io <bill@...> wrote:
?
?
When you see the total saturation of Gilbert American Flyer for sale on eBay it is not a stretch to connect to Lionel eventually ending A F production. Considering Lionel have been doing repaints largely on the SAME shells as Gilbert for 40? years… If a Flyer guy wants a new car they are all over eBay for CHEAP. Take your pick. Why pay $60.00+ for a car? ?EBay is Lionel’s biggest competition.
?
Thank You,
Bill Lane
Modeling the Mighty Pennsy, PRSL & Reading in 1957 in S Scale since 1987
See my finished models at:
Look at what has been made in PRR in S Scale!
?
See my layout progress at:
Join the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines Historical Society
It's FREE to join!??
Preserving The Memory Of The PRSL
?
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When you see the total saturation of Gilbert American Flyer for sale on eBay it is not a stretch to connect to Lionel eventually ending A F production. Considering Lionel have been doing repaints largely on the SAME shells as Gilbert for 40? years… If a Flyer guy wants a new car they are all over eBay for CHEAP. Take your pick. Why pay $60.00+ for a car? ?EBay is Lionel’s biggest competition. ? Thank You,
Bill Lane
Modeling the Mighty Pennsy, PRSL & Reading in 1957 in S Scale since 1987
See my finished models at:
Look at what has been made in PRR in S Scale! ? See my layout progress at:
Join the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines Historical Society
It's FREE to join!??
Preserving The Memory Of The PRSL
?
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Re: It's Official: No More Flyer
Hello Rich.? ?I see in your photos ES 44s.? ?I did not fix the pilots on my ES 44 after incurring the derailments with my SD70Ace.? As a result I am not sure they have the same conditions.? ?I welcome more discussion about the two.
Andrew Parker
On Tue, Jan 28, 2025 at 09:46 PM, Andrew Parker wrote:
The SD70 was retrofitted with scale wheels and couplers mounted to the body. <snip> It also threw every car attached to the loco off the rails on my 54" curves.? So, as a result I have to foist it on Bill's layout to enjoy its true potential.
That's odd.? I had no problems with fixed pilots on my SD70 and ES44 (I secured the pilots) and 33" radius on my old layout.
?
Rich G(ajnak)
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Re: Converting an AF Royal Blue to scale
I sold my Hudson a few years ago to
Peter Loeb up in Idaho.? Actually it came back,? he actually owned
it twice;? Peter has lived an "interesting life" .? He's been very
quiet for a long time now.? I don't know what that means!?
Also just a few years ago, I sold
several Nimco engines that Jack Troxell had once owned.? His
included both the Nimco parts and original AF running gear.?
Since these were made so many years
ago--you gotta be there at the right time, then also realize? how
few that were actually made to start with.
I own a Overland (specialized UP
version) E3/6 that I bought from River Raisin.? I think 2 or 3
were made!? A white buffalo to be sure. Likewise, their price was
generally comfortable!
Bob Werre
On 1/29/25 9:05 AM, John Hutnick via
groups.io wrote:
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I checked back on Ebay.? There have been no Nimco kits(just
paper/decals) going back to September.
I attend train shows at York, Timonium and Allentown twice a
year.? I have not seen any Nimco chassis kits in decades.? And
Bill Lane's review of Springfield said no scale S.
My intention was to see what members here could offer.? If
these kits are not here, then they are either hidden in unknown
collections or in a dumpster.
?
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Re: Unique Southern Pacific AC-5 Cab Forward 4-8-8-2 for sale
Oh, and SP Mike then. I have no SP references other than on line, so thank you.
BTW, the tender is for sale.
Tommy
Tommy....
This is a 120 SC-4 Espee tender. Dan paired it with a Espee MK-6 2-8-2. Bob
On Wed, Jan 29, 2025 at 12:42?PM Tom Lennon via <milepost169= [email protected]> wrote: Thanks for the info. Tommy
Tommy…Only correct for the earlier 2-6-6-2 cab forwards. ? Bob, Would this tender be appropriate behind his AC? We have one for sale at the museum. Can anyone tell us the original RRM price? Tommy  
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Re: It's Official: No More Flyer
----- Original Message -----
From: Rich Gajnak via groups.io <rustytraque@...>
. . . . . . .That's odd.??I had no problems with fixed pilots on my SD70 and ES44 (I secured the pilots) and 33" radius on my old layout.. . . . . .
> > > > > > > >
Same here, and I found that the DCC in the factory-installed electronics package was (mostly) satisfactory.
Tom Hawley??--??Lansing Mich
(trying to get out of horse & buggy era modelling,)
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Re: Unique Southern Pacific AC-5 Cab Forward 4-8-8-2 for sale
Tommy....
This is a 120 SC-4 Espee tender. Dan paired it with a Espee MK-6 2-8-2. Bob
On Wed, Jan 29, 2025 at 12:42?PM Tom Lennon via <milepost169= [email protected]> wrote: Thanks for the info. Tommy
Tommy…Only correct for the earlier 2-6-6-2 cab forwards. ? Bob, Would this tender be appropriate behind his AC? We have one for sale at the museum. Can anyone tell us the original RRM price? Tommy  
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Re: Unique Southern Pacific AC-5 Cab Forward 4-8-8-2 for sale
David...
My guess?is that when he built it, we/he didn't have?all of?the locomotive information/books that we enjoy today.
Bob
Tommy,
? The motor is in the tender, one of the "features" of Jesse's locomotives! Kinda hard to change tenders! I will try to get some more photos this week, if I can remember where I put the engine (major remodeling going on here, so most everything is packed!).
David
PS wonder why he used the "wrong" number??
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Re: Unique Southern Pacific AC-5 Cab Forward 4-8-8-2 for sale
Tommy,
? The motor is in the tender, one of the "features" of Jesse's locomotives! Kinda hard to change tenders! I will try to get some more photos this week, if I can remember where I put the engine (major remodeling going on here, so most everything is packed!).
David
PS wonder why he used the "wrong" number??
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Re: Converting an AF Royal Blue to scale
Almost everything the museum will be selling will appear here first. The on to ebay or s events or ebay. Tommy
On Wed, Jan 29, 2025, 11:06?AM Austin Birkey via <aftrainfun= [email protected]> wrote: Tommy, If you find you have more engines to sell I would be interested also. Austin?
I'll look around the museum later this week. I'm pretty sure there's a 300? Atlantic conversion with brass spoked drivers (SSLS?) available.? Tommy?
On Wed, Jan 29, 2025, 9:05?AM John Hutnick via <johnhutnick= [email protected]> wrote: I checked back on Ebay.? There have been no Nimco kits(just paper/decals) going back to September.
I attend train shows at York, Timonium and Allentown twice a year.? I have not seen any Nimco chassis kits in decades.? And Bill Lane's review of Springfield said no scale S.
My intention was to see what members here could offer.? If these kits are not here, then they are either hidden in unknown collections or in a dumpster.
?
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Re: Unique Southern Pacific AC-5 Cab Forward 4-8-8-2 for sale
Thanks for the info. Tommy
Tommy…Only correct for the earlier 2-6-6-2 cab forwards. ? Bob, Would this tender be appropriate behind his AC? We have one for sale at the museum. Can anyone tell us the original RRM price? Tommy  
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Re: Unique Southern Pacific AC-5 Cab Forward 4-8-8-2 for sale
Tommy…Only correct for the earlier 2-6-6-2 cab forwards.
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On Jan 29, 2025, at 11:14 AM, Tom Lennon via groups.io <milepost169@...> wrote:
? Bob, Would this tender be appropriate behind his AC? We have one for sale at the museum. Can anyone tell us the original RRM price? Tommy  
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Re: Converting an AF Royal Blue to scale
Tommy, If you find you have more engines to sell I would be interested also. Austin?
I'll look around the museum later this week. I'm pretty sure there's a 300? Atlantic conversion with brass spoked drivers (SSLS?) available.? Tommy?
On Wed, Jan 29, 2025, 9:05?AM John Hutnick via <johnhutnick= [email protected]> wrote: I checked back on Ebay.? There have been no Nimco kits(just paper/decals) going back to September.
I attend train shows at York, Timonium and Allentown twice a year.? I have not seen any Nimco chassis kits in decades.? And Bill Lane's review of Springfield said no scale S.
My intention was to see what members here could offer.? If these kits are not here, then they are either hidden in unknown collections or in a dumpster.
?
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Re: Converting an AF Royal Blue to scale
Hi John, I have stumbled into two different AF Hudson's With Nimco wheels.? The first was at a mainly Lionel/Ho train show where a Lionel deal has this lonely Hudson? sans tender with Nimco drivers only.? A few months back I found one on eBay that was complete including Nimco money truck, trailing truck and tender wheels.? What could be seen I the pictures was one of the drivers was blown out...all spokes missing. After taking delivery...and getting denial from the seller for return or more than a pittance refund, I asked in this forum, FB pages and my different social accounts (TikTok, Instagram, FB and YouTube). Someone got a hold of me with just what I needed.
Hope this encourages your search. Austin?
On Wed, Jan 29, 2025, 10:05?AM John Hutnick via <johnhutnick= [email protected]> wrote: I checked back on Ebay.? There have been no Nimco kits(just paper/decals) going back to September.
I attend train shows at York, Timonium and Allentown twice a year.? I have not seen any Nimco chassis kits in decades.? And Bill Lane's review of Springfield said no scale S.
My intention was to see what members here could offer.? If these kits are not here, then they are either hidden in unknown collections or in a dumpster.
?
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Re: It's Official: No More Flyer
Thanks for the tip Bill, that is your second "Attaboy!" (Private joke ?)
I've been looking for some lower price cylindrical hoppers to strip and start a serious hack 'n whack job.? This fit the bill, although I might have purchased their last B&O car.? At any rate, full circle, I remember going to Nicholas Smith Trains
many years ago during frequent trips to Devon (PA), so the grandkids and in-laws could have time together.? Guess I'm likely on their mailing list - again!
At any rate, thanks... Jim
Jim Kindraka Grand Rapids, MI
American Flyer dealers probably have models to sell. My source has been Nicolas Smith Trains. Today its web site shows U36C and ES44AC??that are currently available and that are close to scale. I do not know if Lionel sells scale wheels. Repainting would be another hurdle. ?
Elsewhere on the site buyers can find B&O and PC??that operate on scale layouts after replacing the wheelsets.
Overtime, however, items that can easily be converted to operate on scale layouts will disappear from the market.?
Opinion: Scale modelers are lucky to have had some useable new products, but when Lionel acquired Flyer I figured its goal was simply to remove a competitor from the marketplace.
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Charles Malinowski
Bob Werre
Roger Nulton
John Degnan
Bill Lane
Tom Lennon
David Dewey
