Center-cupola Cabooses for fantasy: American Flyer

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert (click for web site)

Manufacturer ID:

638

Prototype Info

Style:

center-cupola

Body:

steel

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer

Model Info

Gauge:

Introduced:

1949

Road Number(s):

638

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 #638 was produced from 1949 through 1952 in five red plastic and five red painted variations with the road name "AMERICAN FLYER". In 1953, the #638 was produced with the road name "AMERICAN FLYER LINES" in four variations. In the front row of the photo is an example of the red plastic model from 1949-52. The one on the left in the back row is a painted variation produced in 1949-52. The caboose on the right is an example of the version produced in 1953. Of the 14 variation, most of the differences in variations have to do with lettering style and body types. The 638 is very similar to 630, except for the road name.

Scan from the 1949 catalog, where #638 is first shown as part of the #4904T train set. The catalog does not show it as being separately available (only #630 appears separately available). The same is true for the 1950 through 1953 catalogs, where it appears as part of additional train sets.

Install LED Lighting

Running on a Layout

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert (click for web site)

Manufacturer ID:

930

Prototype Info

Style:

center-cupola

Body:

steel

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer

Model Info

Gauge:

Introduced:

1952

Road Number(s):

930

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted & lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

Lighted:

yes!

Weight:

Raoul started the company in 1959. He retired in 2008. Dave Rygmyr bought the company and moved it to Hamilton, Montana. Dave retired in 2019, and NWSL employees Holly and Ian bought the company and moved it to Kila, Montana.

Magazine Article:

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

This photo shows the underside of the 1952 American Flyer cabooses (the bottom one is the same as the foreground in the first photo, and the middle one is the same as the middle one in the first photo). Note the bottom red unit has riveted couplers, which is an example of an early 1952 model. The riveted style knuckle coupler on early 1952 models can also come in tuscan. These were one of only eight cars produced in 1952 with knuckle couplers.

Holt Apgar reworked this into an N5b Pennsylvania cabin car. Fitting the I-beam collision posts into the end braces and changing the side windows were the most difficult tasks. End windows were cut first; inner side windows were blocked, and outer side windows were extended upward, and filled at the base. Plastic I-beam collision posts were trimmed and carefully fitted into the tuscan painted end braces. Flat black Testors enamel was brushed onto the roof. The class N5b cabin decals are from Microscale; they are HO-scale, but correct for class N5b. Flexible plastic glazing and flat clear lacquer completed the project.

Scan from the 1953 catalog.

Repair and Upgrade