[Reckers]

UPDATE --

The info below offer great information resource links to any S / AF guys. I've merged a few posts into this new Sticky thread, and would encourage you S guys to add helpful resources, manual links, etc. to the thread.

TJ ~ 18 Jan 2012

(Original post from Reckers follows ...)

====

Since S scalers are pretty scarce on the forum, right now, I thought drop a list of sites in here for those who come along with questions.

http://www.thortrains.net/index.html
http://www.portlines.com/afrepairclinics.htm
http://www.rfgco.com/history/index.html
http://www.americanflyerexpress.com...ucts-directory-rolling-stock-flat-cars-02.htm
http://www.trainweb.org/s-trains/FAQ/FAQ.htm
http://www.trainweb.org/s-trains/diagram/wire.htm
http://www.geocities.com/theupstairstrain/infrastructure_Transformers.html
http://www.geocities.com/theupstairstrain/trains.html
http://www.portlines.com/portlinesclinic23.htm
http://www.thortrains.net/sgauge/splan48a.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_5399199_test-american-flyer-transformer.html
http://www.thortrains.net/flyrlay1.htm
http://www.building-your-model-railroad.com/model-railroad-wiring.html
http://www.csgnetwork.com/modrrscaleconv.html
http://www.thortrains.net/manualx.htm
http://myflyertrains.org/gallery/GilbertFactoryManual
http://pghbridges.com/basics.htm
http://www.nasg.org/index-mrplan.html

http://www.8thstreet.org/3R/ -- Three R Plastics, realistic railroad ties

 

[Reckers]

1949 American Flyer Instruction Manual

http://www.americanflyerexpress.com...nual/american-flyer-instruction-manual-00.htm

 

[T-Man]

I used this one to date my two engines.
collector A tripod site.

 

[Reckers]

I have that one, but I like this one better----more info on one page: http://www.americanflyerexpress.com...ucts-directory-rolling-stock-flat-cars-02.htm

It keeps me from accidentally bidding on a link-connector unit or a DC engine!

 

[tjcruiser]

Great info / site with service manuals ...

This is a site with a collection of original service manuals for AF S Scale! Not a "buy it here", but an on-line, free library of resource material.

http://myflyertrains.org/gallery/GilbertFactoryManual

 

[tjcruiser]

Great site with lots of AF wiring diagrams, etc. ...

Reckers, have you seen this site?
I was wiring everything bass ackwards
The color drawing had me all confused(I'm incredibly color-blind)
Had the "Better Half", look at the drawing. When she started :laugh:, I knew where the problem was(she really gets off on that!)

Hopefully, I'll be up and running soon. Keep your fingers crossed

Thanks for all the help!!!

http://www.rfgco.com/wiring.html

Jim

 

[Reckers]

teej, this is perfect---thank you!

 

[dc57]

Thanks reckers,

There is a lot of very useful information, especially the flyer instruction manual. Also some very good links.

Thanks
Don

 

[Reckers]

Glad to help, Don. As you run across things that should be added to the sticky at the top. please forward them to TJ and ask they be included on the list.

Best wishes,

 

[AZ-Flyer]

August first was the Two Year Anniversary of American Flyer Cabinet-Top Layout web site. These model S-scale trains ran on two rail track, with smoke, choo-choo, rail sounds, and much more "realistic appearance".
With over 48,000 views from 95 different countries we thank those who help build the dream of having a model train layout, no matter what country you live in. We will be adding more information to our web site as it comes available.

AZ-Flyer

 

[Nuttin But Flyer]

Best Wishes to you for your accomplishment. I refer to that website often for the helpful tips. It is saved as one of my Favorites in my Hobby list. Thanks AZ.

 

[flyernut]

A good source for info/help/ is Despatch Junction, located in East Rochester NY. The owner's name is Stan, and is the ultimate AF guru in these here parts. He has original tools from Gilbert, so your restorations can look factory.

 

[Big Ed]

I don't know if this is listed yet.

I never realized the some of the American flyer Locomotives were so big.
I guess all you old dogs know what they look like, maybe the link will be of help to someone new to Flyers.

http://www.geocities.com/theupstairstrain/engines-Northern.html

Edit,
I see the site is listed but not this page.

 

[amer/flyer]

Despatch Junction, Stan is the owner, good to know.

ameriflyer

 

[Bkubiak]

Does anyone make 'S' Scale anymore

When I was a boy my first train set was an American Flyer 3 rail system and that was the Christmas right about the time of the Pearl Harbor attack.

Do not remember much about it except that if the tinsel from the tree fell on the track it made a short.

The train only came out at Christmas and then I was not allowed to play with it unless my father was there

Some years after the war we moved to florida and a friend had a Lionel set, also 3 rail, and we put my loco on his track and poof it smoked and that was that, have no idea what happened to it after that.

Just Curious, I do HO gauge now in my old age

 

[DonR]

Hmm....I wonder why your AF loco was not OK with a
Lionel transformer. Should have been essentially
the same voltage as the AF transformer.

I see a lot of S scale cars at train shows but I have not
looked closely at them to know whether they are new
or restored.

Don

 

[Bkubiak]

Hmm....I wonder why your AF loco was not OK with a
Lionel transformer. Should have been essentially
the same voltage as the AF transformer.

I see a lot of S scale cars at train shows but I have not
looked closely at them to know whether they are new
or restored.

Don

I remember taking that loco home and breaking out my AF track and trying to run it and nothing, so I put it away and never spoke of it again, did not want to face the wrath of my father.

Every year in the fall we could not wait for the Sears, Montgomery Ward and Penny catalogs to arrive, then we would circle the stuff we wanted, I used to droll over the train pages and circled the one I wanted, it never came tho, not until I was 14 and then I got an HO set for Christmas, you had to assemble everything, including the engine. Engine and tender, it was an 0-4-0, two flat cars and caboose, I used to take a little piece of punk. get it smoking and drop it in the smokestack.

 

[400E Blue Comet]

Hmm....I wonder why your AF loco was not OK with a
Lionel transformer. Should have been essentially
the same voltage as the AF transformer.

I see a lot of S scale cars at train shows but I have not
looked closely at them to know whether they are new
or restored.

Don

It could've been a bigger transformer. I run my O gauge trains (And Standard gauge... barely...) on a Lionel KW. That beast puts out 20 volts, opposed to AF's 14'ish volts.

 

[flyernut]

I run some of my flyers with a ZW with no problems...

 

[Bkubiak]

It could've been a bigger transformer. I run my O gauge trains (And Standard gauge... barely...) on a Lionel KW. That beast puts out 20 volts, opposed to AF's 14'ish volts.

After we moved back to NY my little cousin got an AF train set for one Christmas, it ran on two rails and had smoke and a choo choo sound, that was around 1953 or 54