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September 23, 2024

A variation to a common American Flyer crane by Ben Swope

Being an avid collector of American Flyer items, other Gilbert products seem to find their way home too, including several Erector sets. Sometimes, a project merges these Gilbert products to create a new variation. 

As I was digging through a box of stored “basket case” condition American Flyer rolling stock, when I ran across what was once a #606 crane someone customized for their own S-gauge pike. The previous owner discarded the railcar underframe, replacing it with a shorter solid wood frame, assumingly to make it look more like a lighter capacity wrecking crane. 

With the short frame, it also resembled a locomotive crane, being a common crane used in scrap yards, steel mills or lighter lifting needs by many railroads. To further the conversion to a locomotive crane, all it needed was to replace the original curved wrecking crane boom for a straight lattice-type boom. Attempting to reason what the design engineers of Gilbert would have done for such a conversion, I turned to my collection of Erector sets. 

By using two Erector 10-inch lattice girder sections to replace the original boom, I thought the conversion could be pulled off, so I raided the Erector boxes for more parts. The project has the look of yet another variation to this common American Flyer crane body using mostly Gilbert items.

I have no plans to repaint or replace the wood underframe, as I’m aware of the previous owner, and leaving it is sort of a homage to him. Let’s just say I finished what he started. A few photos show details of the simple boom construction.

If you wish construct your own crane boom, here’s the Erector parts list I used: 

  • 2 each, “C” 10-inch girders
  • 2 each, “F” 5-hole straps
  • 2 each, “M” double angle brackets
  • 1 each, “CH” right angle bracket
  • 2 each, “P37” collar with screw
  • 2 each, “S62” 7/8” x 8-32 bolts (one trimmed to 5/8”, one cut to 11/16”)
  • 1 each, “S57” 1-3/8” x 8-32 bolt (trimmed to 1-1/16”)
  • 8 each, “N21” nuts

Three items were reused from the original crane boom:

  • AF part # “PA9219” hook block for crane
  • sheave from the boom tip
  • part the boom-height adjustment screw is threaded into (small flat part with a threaded hole in the center). 

Other non-Gilbert parts were the two tension rods, made from 12-inch lengths of 18-gauge galvanized steel wire. The tension rods were bent to simply hook over the bolt at the boom tip. The other end of the wire was bent to hook into the upper holes of the upright 5-hole straps installed at the boom’s base. The wire was bought at a home improvement store. The string was replaced with a longer length of cord. I used a blue colored 1/8-inch cord found at a craft store.  

If you wish to duplicate the shorter underframe, the dimensions are 5” long, 1-15/16” wide, by 3/8” thick. You could use wood, layered styrene sheets, or you have the means, aluminum or steel. Three holes will be required to be drilled along the centerline, required to mount the two trucks and the crane house assembly. Other underframe details are your choice. 

Due to the added weight of the longer crane boom, I found it needed rear counterweight. On removing the cab, I placed old radio speaker magnets on the inside rear of the crane cab, but glued lead weights or stacked steel washers could do the same. 

Also because of its heavier weight and long boom length, the crane will not track well in a train, so it’s destined to be placed on the layout as an interesting static display, perhaps the focal point of a scrap yard scene.

No doubt the engineers with Gilbert developed many items like this by tinkering around with the parts they had on hand. I’d say most of those tinkering’s were never seen outside the New Haven factory building and now lost to history. The intent in this project was to have a little fun and follow their lead. 

Ben Swope

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April 30, 2024

While attending the York Train show in April 2024 I happened upon a unique engine in the “White” member hall. This American Flyer engine was one of the rare 1950 releases that had “wire hand rails”. It is hard to see the difference between this version, and the one that simply had the handrails painted in black. The green card is actually slid between the wire handrail and the engine body, so that you can see it better.

360 Alco PA from Bob Tufts collection – York April 2024

Greenberg’s Guide to American Flyer S Gauge – Volume 2 Variations

In addition, this particular engine is the one that Bob Tufts used in the Greenberg book on Variations. (Officially written by Joe T. Deger, Bob Tufts wrote portions of this book. Though out of print for many years, this book can sometimes be purchased at train shows, eBay etc. Copyright (c) 1991 Kalmbach Pub Co)

While the engine is in much worse condition than this photo indicates (part of its nose is missing), I am still thrilled to have this piece of American Flyer history in my collection.

Chuck

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September 7, 2021

Ben Swope is back with another kit bashing article! See his latest creation in the Ben’s Tracks section.

Thanks Ben for this great constuction article!

Chuck

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March 5, 2021

I received an email from Joe Endicott.

“Picked this up at an online auction. It’s a Washington loco 21089. It came out of the Frank Pisani Collection. I didn’t realize it at the time but the stack is different than the normal production model. I couldn’t find any info on my own anywhere not even a picture matching it. However it does match the 60/61 advertising photos. Interesting find but how can I find out what I really have and if its legit or not?  Anyone you can point me to?  Any thoughts?  Would appreciate any help identifying it. 

Thanks  Joe Endicott”

UPDATE! April 27, 2024.

After seeing 2 prototypes of the Washington at the April 2024 York Flyernut meeting, both had funnels that were much like Joe’s photo. However, after showing the photo to one of the Flyer Experts, I was informed that Joe’s funnel was actually a reproduction! Who knew!

My Washington has the common funnel shaped smoke stack, but certainly the one Joe found is interesting! Thanks!

December 9, 2020

Chat Room!

I would like to remind everyone that the chat room is alive and well, as it has been for over 10 years. The S-Trains chat still takes place on Sunday evenings, but has moved a little later in the evening to 9:30 pm Eastern time, to accommodate people in the western time zones, who are quite active in these chats.

Please join us Sunday at 9:30 pm Eastern, and if you don’t see anyone else right away, hang in there because people will come! The chat software has been updated to the latest version, and has many great new features. You can either log in with your registered username, or just enter any username you wish and gain access to the chatroom right away! Join us Sunday evenings for the S-Trains chat. It is a lot of fun!

The chatroom is open all the time, so you can test it out whenever you wish.

https://www.myflyertrains.net/chat/

See you there! Chuck

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November 18, 2020

Ben Swope has been busy again! See his latest creation in the Ben’s Tracks section.

Thanks Ben for this great constuction article!

Chuck