Re: Converting an AF Royal Blue to scale

I found a 283 pacific with the scale disc drivers installed, and a can motor conversion. $45.00 plus shipping.?

Tommy

On Mon, Jan 27, 2025, 8:47?PM Tom Lennon via <milepost169=[email protected]> wrote:

Let me look tomorrow, but I think the Museum has a partially converted Pacific that's available.? IIRC, it has scale disc drivers, a can motor conversion, and a few other bits.

I'll post something tomorrow.

Tommy Lennon

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Re: S Scale ZOOM tonight

#175592

Can't join without a password

Tommy

Show quoted text

On Tue, Jan 28, 2025, 5:20?PM Bill Lane via <bill=[email protected]> wrote:

ZOOM is starting 8:00 eastern
?
Meeting = 965 6316 7779
?
It has been every Tuesday night for over 2 years.
?
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
?

Springfield Train Show

#175591

开云体育

This is my little review of the Springfield train show....

There was little S "Scale" you had to look for it. Only 1 piece of S brass I saw a Sn3 caboose. I bought NO trains – only a very expensive Chili Dog and soda.

?

As if the news about Lionel ending all American Flyer production was not bad enough my conversation with Shane Wilson of ScaleTrains was not much better. They have no plans on making anything brand new in S Scale for the known future. But in reality given new projects have a 3 year lead time - do the math for me at almost 63.... I have no plans on buying any of their reefers I already had 75 from various manufacturers.

?

I think other manufacturers like Atlas should be contacted to see how receptive they may be. Also there was a number of high quality HO cars there made by very small companies (2 people) I am going to contact 1 I saw maybe they are hungry for growth.

?

The best news I heard was from Matt Gaudynski of Des Plaines/Fox Valley. A number of known long dormant projects have had progress recently and?may?be seen in some form at the NASG convention. The code 137 track and turnouts should be back in stock by spring.

?

Code 100 rail is not a priority for Micro Engineering. They sell almost none in HO. They were out of stock of code 100 rail. That has been corrected an order has been placed this week but rail has a long lead time.

?

It was great hanging out with the Dwiggens family. They are great genuine people working in a family run business. Dan and I had dinner with them after the show.

?

And… my wedding crew was together at the show however briefly for the 2^nd time since 2002. All are friends of mine for 30+ years.

?

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

?

20250125_160157.jpg

20250125_160611.jpg

Re: S Scale switching layout plan

jjmannmmr

#175590

I have an S Scale timesaver that fits on a door. I'll post pictures on Facebook on Thursday.

Show quoted text

On Jan 27, 2025 at 7:01 PM, Mike Swederska via groups.io <mikesscale@...> wrote:

I am surprised that nobody has mentioned John Allen's Time Saver puzzle.?

--

Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16

Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!

Re: It's Official: No More Flyer

#175589

On Tue, Jan 28, 2025 at 04:12 PM, John Degnan wrote:

Or was that a feature on one of the other AF modern diesels?

The SD70 was the only Flyer locomotive to have a factory fixed pilot option.? As I recall, it secures the pilot to the frame and not the body.? It is possible to secure the ES44's pilot from moving to the frame with a little drilling and tapping.? (Pictures below.)? Mounting to the body would require more work.

?

Rich G(ajnak)

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Re: It's Official: No More Flyer

#175588

Bill, or anyone else who can answer this,

?

Can the PILOT on the AF U36C be mounted to the shell instead of the trucks?

?

Or was that a feature on one of the other AF modern diesels?

?

John D

Scaler164

?

On 01/28/2025 2:57 PM EST Bill Roberts <bill@...> wrote:

?

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.

S Scale ZOOM tonight

#175587

开云体育

ZOOM is starting 8:00 eastern

?

Meeting = 965 6316 7779

?

It has been every Tuesday night for over 2 years.

?

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

?

Re: S scale switching layout plan

#175586

I am working on plans for several switching modules myself.?

Show quoted text

On Sun, Jan 26, 2025, 4:59?PM Tom Branton via <Tombrantoncpa=[email protected]> wrote:

After a very long absence from the model railroading hobby I am back and believe I would like to build a small S scale switching layout as an experiment with the scale.? If anyone has a favorite track plan that you have built or always thought of building and can share, it would be much appreciated.? Thanks everyone. Tom

Re: Amity Star Southern Railway "Big John" 100 ton Covered Hopper

#175585

I have one.? Not sure when or where I got it.? ?Not in mint condition.? ?Maybe got it because it is SOUTHERN ???????? ? Stan

On Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 09:31:30 AM EST, Jamie Bothwell via groups.io <jamie.bothwell610@...> wrote:

Bob,

I have one in a partially completed state. Too modern for me too. That's probably why it is languishing.

Jamie Bothwell

Bethlehem, PA

Show quoted text

On Tue, Jan 28, 2025 at 8:03?AM adguytrains via <bob.hogan=[email protected]> wrote:

I acquired this interesting Amity Star kit some time ago.? While the car is too modern for my layout, it provided an interesting kit to build.? I upgraded it using milled "T" stock and styrene brake details.? The prototype was a 58' long, 4 bay, 100 ton car built in 1965 for the Southern and upgraded with dual walkways in 1966.? Equipped with nicely etched walkways and ACE roller bearing trucks, it makes into a very nice model and is listed on eBay should it fit someone else's time frame.? I've not seen another of these nice kits built, but there must be others out there.

Bob Hogan

Re: Alan Evans

#175584

Was not able to locate an official Obituary.

Copied from a post on Groups.IO S-Trains:

Alan Evans memorial?Service will be on

Friday May 2nd at 11:00 am location is?

Stoneybrook?Methodist Church??

485 Cherrybottom Rd.

Gahanna, Ohio 43230

?

11:00 Am May 2nd

?

If you would like to send a card to his wife Pat here address id?

Pat Evans

478 Foxwood?

Gahanna, Oh 43230

?

-- John E. Henning

Re: It's Official: No More Flyer

#175583

On Tue, Jan 28, 2025 at 11:57 AM, Bill Roberts wrote:

but when Lionel acquired Flyer I figured its goal was simply to remove a competitor from the marketplace.

That's pretty much the case as I've understood it, which is a reason why Lionel would probably not sell the Flyer tooling.

?

Rich G(ajnak)

Re: It's Official: No More Flyer

#175582

开云体育

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.

--?
Bill Roberts

Re: Unique Southern Pacific AC-5 Cab Forward 4-8-8-2 for sale

#175581

David...

It looks more like a later AC to me but?I'd need?to see more to be certain of the model type.? Does it have a square tender or Vanderbilt?? Class AC-5 & 6 had the Vandys.? Class AC 7's and later had square tenders.? Did the?model come to you with the number 4137?? Only 4 AC-6's were known to have received the "modern" cab, but #4137 was not one?of them.

There's no?doubt that Jesse had not totally finished the locomotive, but he did not install?the window glazing or number boards in Lee's loco either.? The paint job looks to be Jesse's, however. Not his forte.? Just a rough coat of Floquil black.

Bob

Show quoted text

On Tue, Jan 28, 2025 at 11:04?AM David Dewey via <djdewey=[email protected]> wrote:

I believe this is an AC-6 that Jesse built, but looking at your pictures, I suspect it was never really finished as the number boards are empty. I picked this up at a train show in the Sacramento CA area and the seller knew nothing about it except that it was(is) scale. It has the typical tender drive and has had a somewhat rough life as some details are missing or damaged.? Still it was way too cheap, and it was afternoon when I bought it--in spite of the seller having a table right at the show's entrance!! I will admit I didn't see it at first until he pointed it out to me, so maybe it was all about presentation!

S'

David Dewey

Re: Unique Southern Pacific AC-5 Cab Forward 4-8-8-2 for sale

#175580

开云体育

I believe this is an AC-6 that Jesse built, but looking at your pictures, I suspect it was never really finished as the number boards are empty. I picked this up at a train show in the Sacramento CA area and the seller knew nothing about it except that it was(is) scale. It has the typical tender drive and has had a somewhat rough life as some details are missing or damaged.? Still it was way too cheap, and it was afternoon when I bought it--in spite of the seller having a table right at the show's entrance!! I will admit I didn't see it at first until he pointed it out to me, so maybe it was all about presentation!

S'

David Dewey

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Stokrocki and Lane in February RMC

#175579

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.

Brooks Stover

Re: Amity Star Southern Railway "Big John" 100 ton Covered Hopper

#175578

开云体育

Someone, aka one of my esteemed customers, bought one from me (Jamie?/ Bob?).? Billy Click owned one or more of "everything" that I've sold.? I do remember the Amity Star kit being announced a long time ago.? So both the prototype and kit, couldn't be that modern!?

As most of you know or now realize, I have a somewhat multi split modeling personality.? The layout is basically steam/1 gen diesel which I'm very happy with, but I reach into the SD60 range with cars that match (play the theme from Star Treck here where we explore the world beyond--more power Scottty!).? Those I generally reserved for our modules--the other guys do the 50's while I do the 70's+.? Those items rest on a shelves on display.? Unfortunately, I've sold off some of that stuff as I'm finding it difficult to actually get it all packed, unpacked and then do it all over again several times per year--the fun seems to be slowly draining.?

Bob Werre

PhotoTraxx

Show quoted text

Bob,
I have one in a partially completed state. Too modern for me too. That's probably why it is languishing.

Jamie Bothwell

Bethlehem, PA

On Tue, Jan 28, 2025 at 8:03?AM adguytrains via <bob.hogan=[email protected]> wrote:

I acquired this interesting Amity Star kit some time ago.? While the car is too modern for my layout, it provided an interesting kit to build.? I upgraded it using milled "T" stock and styrene brake details.? The prototype was a 58' long, 4 bay, 100 ton car built in 1965 for the Southern and upgraded with dual walkways in 1966.? Equipped with nicely etched walkways and ACE roller bearing trucks, it makes into a very nice model and is listed on eBay should it fit someone else's time frame.? I've not seen another of these nice kits built, but there must be others out there.

Bob Hogan

Re: Amity Star Southern Railway "Big John" 100 ton Covered Hopper

#175577

Bob,

I have one in a partially completed state. Too modern for me too. That's probably why it is languishing.

Jamie Bothwell

Bethlehem, PA

Show quoted text

On Tue, Jan 28, 2025 at 8:03?AM adguytrains via <bob.hogan=[email protected]> wrote:

I acquired this interesting Amity Star kit some time ago.? While the car is too modern for my layout, it provided an interesting kit to build.? I upgraded it using milled "T" stock and styrene brake details.? The prototype was a 58' long, 4 bay, 100 ton car built in 1965 for the Southern and upgraded with dual walkways in 1966.? Equipped with nicely etched walkways and ACE roller bearing trucks, it makes into a very nice model and is listed on eBay should it fit someone else's time frame.? I've not seen another of these nice kits built, but there must be others out there.

Bob Hogan

Re: It's Official: No More Flyer

#175576

On Mon, Jan 27, 2025 at 10:49 PM, John Hutnick wrote:

Apparently very few here(or enough of anyone else) bought Lionel AF.? Mostly I have seen complaints in this group that it is toylike, flanges too big, etc., and now it is gone.? So we hope that somehow some other entity buys the Lionel AF tooling, to once again make a product that is no good and we will not buy?

Not everything Lionel/Flyer made was toylike.? Pacific's, Mikado's, Challengers, Y3's, U33/36C's, SD70's and ES44's come to mind.? While some aren't easily converted to scale wheels, they are far from toylike.? Also, after some figured out how to deal with the cylindrical hoppers, they seemed to be accepted.

?

AM, SHS/MTH/ScaleTrains all offer or offered stuff with big flanges and couplers.? That's where the money to survive is.? If the HiRail/Flyer folks stopped buying from AM and now the latest rebirth of SHS products, they too would go over the horizon.? Us snooty scale boys would not be able to keep AM alive or ST interested in producing S.?

?

Besides, isn't there a well known modeler and prolific RMC author on this very forum who uses big rail and flanges???? Hmmm...

?

Granted, by continually rehashing traditional Gilbert patterned products (I seriously doubt any original Gilbert tooling is usable after all these years) it was Lionel's market to lose... and they did.? Apparently, even the Flyer Faithful got tired of rehash.

?

Rich G(ajnak)

Unique Southern Pacific AC-5 Cab Forward 4-8-8-2 for sale

#175575

Due to my downsized layout I'm considering selling one of my prized locomotives.? This is a Jesse Bennett built brass Southern Pacific AC-5 Cab Forward. It is one of only two in S scale.? Jesse built one for himself and this one for Lee Johnson.? I upgraded it several years ago with the correct and higher quality River Raisin brass castings.? It runs very well (typical of Jesse's work) and is tender drive using a large Pittman motor.? It operates around the minimum 28" radius curves on my layout just fine.? If interested, please contact me directly at bob.hogan@....

Many thanks.,

Bob Hogan

Amity Star Southern Railway "Big John" 100 ton Covered Hopper

#175574

I acquired this interesting Amity Star kit some time ago.? While the car is too modern for my layout, it provided an interesting kit to build.? I upgraded it using milled "T" stock and styrene brake details.? The prototype was a 58' long, 4 bay, 100 ton car built in 1965 for the Southern and upgraded with dual walkways in 1966.? Equipped with nicely etched walkways and ACE roller bearing trucks, it makes into a very nice model and is listed on eBay should it fit someone else's time frame.? I've not seen another of these nice kits built, but there must be others out there.

Bob Hogan

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