A.C. Gilbert fantasy: American Flyer Lines Center-cupola Cabooses

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert (click for web site)

Manufacturer ID:

938

Prototype Info

Style:

center-cupola

Body:

steel

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer Lines

Model Info

Gauge:

Introduced:

1954

Road Number(s):

91524

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

Magazine Article:

S Gaugian, Jul 2003 (prototype history plus model history; scale drawings)

Notes:

The #938 was produced in 1954 and 1955 in three variations. The first variation, shown in the first photo, is painted red over a Type I or a Type II black plastic body that is a bobtail style caboose (no rear coupler) with Type 8 trucks. The second with a straight-sided "M" is painted red over a Type I black plastic body with Type 8A. The third variation is painted red over either a black or a white Type II body that is mounted on Type 7 trucks. The 938 was basically a 638 renumbered due to the switch to knuckle couplers.

Holt hand-painted the model using Testors paint. He added the smokestack crosspiece and applied window glazing. Both dry-transfers and wet decals were used. It is modeled after a prototype of the early 1960s.

Holt substantially repainted and decorated this model for the Boston & Maine. The C92 model closely matches one of ten (C90 - C99) northeastern style cabooses purchased by the B&M in 1962 from original owner L&NE; they were built by Magor Car Co. in 1931, as wood cabins with steel underframes. Holt applied two coats of Testors flat enamels by hand. Lettering and logos were dry transfers and Microscale decals, sealed with flat clear lacquer. End brass parts and brake wheels were painted white as per the prototype. The stack top crosspiece was cut from brass tube stock. Windows were glazed. These ten C90s were the only wood-framed, 4 windows per side, cabooses on the B&M to wear the late-1950s blue, black, and white McGinnis era paint scheme.