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"
?
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
?
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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
?
|
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
?
?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
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
?
|
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
?
|
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.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
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.
?
|
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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Re: Unique Southern Pacific AC-5 Cab Forward 4-8-8-2 for sale
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
Got my Nimco K5 conversion kit? at 2017 S Fest. Maybe advertise in the Dispatch. Post on some of the AF groups? Maybe get separate items, drivers, wheels, DC can motor when you can? sometimes guys start projects and don't finish them. Just some random thoughts from a guy in S Scale since 1957.
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.
?
|
Re: Converting an AF Royal Blue to scale
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.
?
|
John Degnan
Bill Lane
Bob Werre
Tom Lennon
David Dewey
