James Roberts's new BTS 0-6-0 spots a car at the Helmsburg Feed Store on the way to the IC paint shop at Paduca. The car is from the collection of the late Ed Shumacher.

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American Models 10087 Colonial Industrial Drive, South Lyon, MI 48178; PHONE # IS 248 -437 6800, FAX IS 810-437-9454.

Largest manufacturer of S gauge products including code .148 flextrack, Amtrak Superliner set, lighted passenger car fleets, diesel locomotives, rolling stock and lots more.

CHECK THEIR WEBSITE FOR MORE UP TO DATE PRODUCT INFORMATION.

Here are some examples of their work from the past:

AMERICAN MODELS DETAILED 4-8-4 NORTHERN ...The largest 4-8-4 prototype ever built, Sante Fe's war time 2900's. 23 inches long / Die cast /Engine weight over 4 lbs. - Total weight over 6 lbs. DC versions with smoke & choo choo sound (Scale or Hi Rail)=$369.95. AC Flyer with smoke & choo choo sound (runs Flyer curve track) = was $399.95 AC Flyer with smoke & choo choo sound, electronic whistle and bell = was $449.95. Check for availability.

FEATURES:
Die cast boiler, frame, wheel centers, pilot, cab trucks, tender and trucks, metal wire details, headlight, powerful 5 pole motor.
Smoke (with on/off switch), choo choo chug sound with 2 chug per revolution mechanical piston drive unit (twice the speed of the old flyer for realism), all 16 tender wheels are flanged and pick up electrical current.
Fully compatible with AF 20" radius track.
Limited production run, Prepurchase advised.
Will also be offered in Rock Island's Oil Burning 5100's (5110 & 5115) and
Lehigh Valley and The Burlington Route which will be available with 6 wheel coal tender.
The incorporation of detailed Die Cast construction, wire handrails, more realistic prototypical mechanical chug, on/off smoke, electronic bell and whistle, 5 pole motor with AM's rugged drive system, added details like brakes and jeweled marker lamps, all demonstrate contemporary technologies.  The design goal was to incorporate the new available technologies and greater detail to blend with engines designed and manufactured years ago.
Consequently, the ultimate challenge of designing the largest and most detailed Northern with a sixteen all wheel pick up tender to run on 20 inch radius AF type curve track while maintaining as much prototypical detail was addressed. This Locomotive is totally compatible with American Flyer (R) track and will bring detailed "BIG STEAM POWER" with realism and sound to your layout scale or High Rail. The limited lifetime warranty completes the greatest offer ever made for a new "S" Gauge Steam engine.
Expected delivery January 2006.  
Limited production run, Prepurchase advised.

 

AM 4-6-2 PACIFIC STEAM ENGINE

• Pacific 4-6-2 engines only: (check updated pricing and availability)
• AC HR with sound was $379.95
• AC HR w/o whistle or bell. $319.95 (smoke & chug sound included in all ac and dc units).
• DC units were $299.95  (no whistle or bell).  Except scale Milw or NH scale flange engines requiring wheel change.
• J3a Hudson engines:
• AC HR with sound was $399.95
• AC HR w/o whistle or bell. $349.95 (smoke & chug sound included in all ac and dc units).
• DC units were $319.95  (no whistle or bell).

PRR K4s and Milwaukee Road engines offered.  

Santa Fe F7 engine sets:

About the only difference between these chrome engines and our past chrome engines in appearance is that under certain reflection of light the mirror finish shows minute polishing marks of the steel mold, these are almost unnoticeable. Our molds were polished for a painting finish which always fills in polishing marks (chrome exposes everything).  So if anyone is concerned we can exchange these for painted silver engines which we have available in AC Flyer or scale engines.

These Santa Fe engines are shipped with our new "flex coil" power trucks.  And "DX" style grab iron sets with windshield wipers are available separately were $10... (These are decorated and built in our shop in Michigan).

 

Budd Passenger cars --

The trucks are fully sprung and work as the real ones are, and come in an attractive clam shell vinyl packaging.  AM has incorporated insulated axle 36" wheel-sets which provide for all wheel electrical pick up and the elimination of the pick up springs, (and eliminate any light flickering). These went for $25 a pair. This is because of the assembly expense and materials being die cast and tough engineering plastic with real springs installed, and the special wheel sets and wires screwed into the side-frames will be standard.   Their usual passenger car couplers can be easily installed on these. AM will also have the interiors to sell for kit bashing into their other passenger cars for about $6 each.  (Also AM offers more sitting figures that will go great with these interiors).

The Budd cars are a scale 74 feet long which is about 1 inch longer than the American Flyer passenger cars are.

 

The E8s

NYC,  Empire State Express: on the web site is information on it as well as a "click through" to the a NYC site with many pictures of the train.  Click below AM site for information:

http://www.americanmodels.com/ltds/ese.html

         This is the only steam engine (we know of) with polished corrugated stainless steel to matched the passenger cars built by the Budd Company. The train was specifically styled by Henry Dreyfuss and was truly spectacular, making daylight runs from New York City to Cleveland and Detroit beginning in December of 1941.  Although all tooling is finished  

Other items AM has are the following freight cars now in stock most with 4 numbers available.

1103  St. Louis Southwestern 40' box  with the blue lightning bolt and lots of white printing.

1134  Erie Lackawanna 40' box, gray car with maroon printing.

3264  Missouri Pacific 2 bay offset coal hoppers.  

3406  Peabody 4 bay offset hoppers, yellow with black and red coal flame.

3258  B&O 2 bay offset coal hoppers, with Capitol herald.

3204  Erie 2 bay coal hoppers with yellow herald.

3256  NYC 2 bay offset coal hoppers.

They also have some Pullman green heavyweight passenger sets with no Pennsylvania printed on them. Pullman only in large letters on the letter board and car numbers.

Sound Car introduced as a 50' boxcar....This is a 2 speaker unit and has all 8 wheels picking up power. Featuring Diesel horn, bell and idle and step up power sound...AC hi-rail only. Was $139.95.  Check for availability and pricing.

American Models sound car shown in Amtrak paint scheme.

Other American Models products:

• PS-2 CD Three Bay Hoppers
• 4 Bay Hoppers
• Pre-packaged sets.
• Locomotives
• Rolling Stock
• Track
• 40' Semi Trailers
• Wisconsin Central GP-35
• Figures (people)--New painted figures. Unpainted figures were also available.

Amtrak Superliner Diner by American Models

Scenery Unlimited
7236 W. Madison Street
Forest Park, IL 60130
phone (708) 366-7763

E-mail: info@SceneryUnlimited.net

Thousands of S products in stock. Owner Don Heimburger also publishes the "S Gaugian" magazine available from the same address.

River Raisin Models - EXCELLENT BRASS PRODUCTS!

6160 Upper Straits Blvd.

West Bloomfield, MI 48324.

Phone/Fax: (248) 366-9621.

E-mail Jim Kindraka at: raisinone@wideopenwest.com

AN EXAMPLE OF FINE CRAFTSMANSHIP FROM RIVER RAISIN MODELS (January, 2007) Budd-built "Zephyr" train set:

- The 3 unit "Pioneer Zephyr" as built (and on display at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry)

- The 4 unit #9900 Zephyr as operated after June of 1938 and on into the late 1960's.

- The 3 unit "Flying Yankee" as built in 1935 (and currently being refurbished)

A popular misconception is that the "Flying Yankee" and "Pioneer Zephyr" are identical. They are not! The two 3 unit train sets are completely different in window configuration and will be correctly executed by our builder. Close enough is NOT good enough at RRM...

Models have all correct details, nickel silver plating, DCC ready, complete interiors and interior lighting and several other features. The 4 car version includes car #500, the correct Budd-built dinette/ 24 seat coach delivered in 1938.

Former Projects Of River Raisin Models:

• S Scale 2-10-4 locomotive.
• Pennsylvania Class J1, J1a #6401-6500 and #6150-6174
• Chesapeake & Ohio Class T1 #3000-3039
• The Union Pacific Turbines have arrived and all pre-orders have been shipped. (1/2002)

The following pics by Bob Werre show just some of the products made in S Scale by River Raisin Models.

Click on the thumbnails to see the larger pix. Hit your browser's "BACK" button to return to this page.

B. T. S.-- Bill's Train Shop - Large supplier of S scale products.

Check their website for updated product information and pricing.

Here are some products BTS has carried in the past.

Depressed Center Flat Car - #09209 - Originally $ 59.95 (April 2007).

 

From BTS ...EMD BL2

Craftsman Car Kits
Scale Steam Locomotive Kits
Greenbrier RR Models
Standard Gauge Diesels
Standard Gauge Electrics

Port Lines Hobby Supplies - Doug Peck--Large supplier of American Flyer parts and reproduction products.

Mike's Train House - MTH -- now owners of the S Helper Service Showcase Line of S gauge products.

Ballston Locomotive Works

Ballston Loco Works / Mel Nielsen

Box 2048

Wilton, NY 12831

[518] 584-1090

 

"We are continuing to offer our 4-4-2 camelbacks in many road names, in addition to B&O President class Pacifics with long distance Vanderbilt tenders, as well as other American Flyer based engines. We also offer restored Circus sets, reproduction circus cardboard tent sets, and add-on circus cars such as the giraffe car and searchlight cars. Special run for the 2008 NASG convention is a B&M Pacific with streamlined tender and red, white and black billboard tender lettering - can motor and electronic e-unit. Thx Mel Nielsen"

Smoky Mountain Model Works, Inc. Jim King makes Sn2 trucks and some S standard freight cars.

Jim King
Smoky Mountain Model Works, Inc.
35 Springwood Drive
Asheville, NC 28805

Des Plaines Hobbies - S Scale America

S Scale America USRA gondola. Photo courtesy of Bob Werre.

S Scale America carries S scale decals and a line of brass S scale motive power and rolling stock from Overland, River Raisin, Sunset, Southwind, Omnicon and more.

Ronald & Susan Sebastian

Des Plaines Hobbies - S Scale America

1468 Lee Street

Des Plaines, IL 60018

1-800-264-1956 fax:847-297-4976

 

Hoquat Hobbies - distributor of S scale products by many companies including S Helper Service and American Models.

Railmaster Exports

Ye Olde Huff N Puff - S scale freight car kits: boxcars, reefers and 50 foot express reefers

Funaro & Camerlengo

CHECK THEIR WEBSITE FOR PRODUCT AVAILABILITY AND PRICING.

S scale kits available (from January, 2006):

• S-210 "S" Scale New York Central 40'Nine Panel Gondola Kit With Decals
• S-211 "S" Scale New York Central Despatch Shops Covered Hopper With Decals
• S-212 "S" Scale ERIE White (Black Car) Dunmore Shops Covered Hopper
• S-213 "S" Scale ERIE-LACKAWANNA White (Spelled Out) (Boxcar Red Car) Dunmore Shops Covered Hopper
• S-214 "S" Scale Conrail White (Boxcar Red Car) Dunmore Shops Covered Hopper
• S-215 "S" Scale E-L Black (Letters Only) (Grey Car) Dunmore Shops Covered Hopper
• S-216 "S" Scale ERIE-LACKAWANNA Black (Spelled Out) (Grey Car) Dunmore Shops Covered Hopper
• S-217 "S" Scale Conrail Black (Grey Car) Dunmore Shops Covered Hopper
• S-218 "S" Scale Pennsylvania "GR" Composite Gondola Kit With Decals (Shown)

Funaro & Camerlengo

10 Funaro Court

Honesdale, PA 18431

Phone (570) 224-4989

e-mail fandc@ezaccess.net

A tip o' the hat to Keith B. Thompson for his help in providing this information.

  Aztec Manufacturing Track Cleaning Car....S-Helper PS2 hopper TS1100-S Originally sold for $84.95 each.

Check their website for product updates and pricing.

These cars use a roller which is similar to the material in the Bright Boy track cleaning blocks. The roller is slightly skewed to the rails, which produces a scrubbing action. The S scale units come mounted in a modified SHS covered hopper. Like all SHS products they come American Flyer compatible with the code 110 wheels. If you want to use code 110 with KD802 couplers, fine, purchase the KD-802s and change out the wheels.

S Scale Loco And Supply Steam Locomotive Parts; lost wax brass parts and kits for S scale. A complete S Scale Mogul is almost available in kit or ready-to-run.

S Scale Locomotive & Supply

 

E-mail: frouse@sscaleloco.com

 

Lehigh Valley Models--Now under new ownership:

K&P Brick & Building Co. / Phil Kehr
308 Indian Rock Dam Rd.
York, Pa. 17403
717 747 0493

Email: kpbrick@aol.com

Veteran S scaler Frank Titman no longer produces this fine line of craftsmanlike S structure and rolling stock kits.

Pennsy S Models...PRR X-29 boxcars. BRASS rolling stock.

P.O. Box 5252

Deptford N.J. 08096

pennsysmodels@yahoo.com

Craig Stair's American Models Erie Lackawana GP35 passing through town on the layout of the Trinity Express S Scalers of Dallas TX.

Pacific Rail Shops;
P.O. Box 867
Coos Bay, OR 97420-0201.
(541) 267-6664

Northwest Short Line-NWSL--was offering precision miniature 12v. DC motors suitable for S scale locomotives or other powered units.

Check their website for product updates and pricing.

NWSL

Box 423

Seattle, WA 98111-0423

Phone: (206) 932-1087; Fax: (206) 935-7106.

 

The Colorado S Scale Connection--an exclusively S and Sn3 Hobby Shop with a catalog mail order business. This is an excellent glossy well-stocked catalog supplier.

The Colorado S-Scale Connection

250 Broadway

Denver, CO 80203

303-777-2880

W.A. Drake & Co. - Suppliers of S scale brass rolling stock including 6,000 and 8,000 single, double and triple dome tank cars.

W.A. Drake & Co.

P.O. Box 801

Johnstown, CO 80534

Phone: (970) 535-4601

Fax: (970) 535-4251

Caboose Hobbies-- carries lots of brass, some on consignment, mostly HO scale but you can find some "S" scale pieces as well.

COMPANIES NO LONGER IN BUSINESS

Southwind Models This company made brass products in S scale.

S Helper Service The S Helper Service Showcase Line - NO LONGER IN BUSINESS - Has been sold to Mike's Train House - MTH

S Helper Service was one of the largest manufacturers of S gauge rolling stock. Excellent quality and detailing.

Photos are included to show a sampling of the product line that once existed in S gauge.

789985-02043-1 DL&W #1 7000
789985-02044-8 DL&W #2 7032
789985-02045-5 Eatmor Cranberries NWX 14021
789985-02050-9 Prima Special URTC 19511

The F7 Phase 1 A & B Units in 7 paint schemes: A or B to A-B-B-A sets; DCC available

 

• 3 bay PS-2 hopper
• 40' Wooden Billboard Reefers

1. 01000 Pacific Fruit Express #1 "double herald"
2. 01001 Pacific Fruit Express #2 "double herald"
3. 01006 NRCC Banana Car
4. 01007 URTC 92132 Schlitz Beer Car
5. 01017 Century Beer Car
6. 01015 Fruit Growers Express #1 "double deck"
7. 01016 Fruit Growers Express #2 "double deck"

• Starter Sets
• SW-1 Diesel Switchers
• EMD Phase II F-3 A & B Units
• SW-9 Diesel Switchers
• 53'6" GSC Flat Car and Trailers
• 35' Trailers
• Flatcars With Loads
• 53'6" GSC Flat Cars
• 48' GSC Bulkhead Flat Cars
• 2 Bay PS-2 Covered Hoppers
• 40' Steel "Rebuilt" Box Cars

1. 01010 Canadian National #1
2. 01011 Canadian National #2
3. 01012 Seaboard Air Line "Orange Blossum Special"
4. 01013 Seaboard Air Line "Silver Meteor"
5. 01014 AT&SF "The Super Chief"

• 40' Wooden Stock Cars
• 40' USRA Wooden Box Cars
• 3-Car Box Car Sets
• Extended Vision Cabooses

The Extended Vision Cabooses by SHS
Click on the thumbnails above to see the larger images.

• S-Trax System
• Trucks
• Wheelsets
• Couplers

SW-1 roadnames available.... Chessie, LV, C&NW, B&M, Seaboard all sold out.
Click on the thumbnails above to see the larger images....all photos by Bob Werre.

Trailer On Flatcar

Standard Flatcar from S Helper Service

The 3 bay PS-2 from S Helper Service