Like most other scales, or gauges, in the model railroading community, there is some history to "S" scale. Although 1:64, or "S", model railroading was made popular by the A.C. Gilbert company's American Flyer toy trains, a lot of new modeling is being done to-scale, much like Z-, N-, HO-, and O-scale is being modeled today. This page highlights some of the latest activities in the S-scale community.
Disclaimer: the NASG cannot be held responsible for the content of external web sites. However, all links are routinely checked for suitability.
"Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad" by Brooks Stover
Copyright © Brooks Stover; used by permission
"A Burlington Northern SD in Odessa, Texas" by Philippe Coquet
Copyright © Philippe Coquet; used by permission
"The New York Central" by Ed Loizeaux
Copyright © Edward Loizeaux; used by permission
"New York, Westchester and Boston Railroad" by Dick Karnes
Copyright © Bill Winans; used by permission
"Three Modern Faces" by Bill Lane
Copyright © Bill Lane; used by permission
Ames Junction on the "Monon Route" by Roger Nulton
Copyright © Roger Nulton; used by permission
Iola, KS engine terminal on the "Kansas Grain Belt" by Rich Gajnak
Copyright © Rich Gajnak; used by permission
"Downtown at the Penn Western" by Roy Hoffman
Copyright © Roy Hoffman; used by permission
Steam action on Bill Winans layout
Copyright © Bill Winans; used by permission
John Agnews layout modeling Rewanui, west coast of the South Island, New Zealand, in the late 1930s.
Copyright © Adrian Phillips; used by permission
"Pennsy Branch" by Peter Vanvliet
Copyright © Peter Vanvliet; used by permission
Norm Delucchi's layout, featured in August 2012 The Dispatch
Copyright © Bill Winans; used by permission
These are a few photos of Roy Hoffman's Penn Western layout, which also features the E.B.T. narrow gauge.
Copyright © Roy Hoffman; used by permission
Copyright © Roy Hoffman; used by permission
Copyright © Roy Hoffman; used by permission
Copyright © Roy Hoffman; used by permission
Most model railroaders are aware of the N.M.R.A.'s "Master Model Railroader" achievement program. This is a program wherein modelers are required to fulfill a certain number of tasks to the satisfaction of judges, earning seven certificates in various specialty fields. See the NMRA web site for more information about this program. The following individuals modeling in S-scale have attained the status of "Master Model Railroader" according the NMRA program:
Model Railroader magazine published Brooks Stover's A Model Railroader's Guide to Digital Photography. Both Model Railroader and Brooks have provided permission for us to repost his guide.
In this section we wish to feature some of the recent projects completed by S-scale modelers. If you have a recommendation or have recently completed a project yourself, send your suggestion to the webmaster.
Jim Sleeth shares with us his model of a Studebaker dealership. The diorama he is developing is one that starts off as a 1955 Studebaker dealership, but as the Delorean whizzes by at 88mph and energizes the flux capacitor, the owner is immediately transported to the future when the facility is now a 1985 Toyota dealership (of course, referencing the Back to the Future movies with Michael J. Fox; prototype photos show the actual building).
American Models produces the Baldwin Locomotive Works switcher, the S-12. It was a 1,200hp yard switching diesel locomotive manufactured between 1951 and 1956. One is preserved at the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum at Strasburg.
Matt Hogan has been working diligently trying to get this engine run smooth and slow, like a yard switcher should. If you are interested in doing the same with your model, he provided some instructive photos on what he did. Matt kindly gave permission to share these photos on the NASG web site (for those who are not members of the Yahoo S-scale mailing list and/or the S-SIG web site). First, he order the "low" gear from American Models to replace the "normal" gear that is installed in the trucks. He found, however, that the washers needed to be replaced.
This is what the American Models chassis looks like when opened.
Matt ordered and installed the NWSL replacement motor and appropriate flywheels. He posted a video on YouTube showing the difference in performance between the chassis with the NWSL replacement parts installed when, first, using the "normal" gear, and then the "low" gear, all running on straight DC.
Matt says, "Just use an NWSL cup on the AM 2.4mm worm shaft and the 2.4mm motor shaft, and cut the NWSL 2.0mm shaft material to the proper length. Then fit each end with a NWSL horned ball."
Matt discovered that axle gears were cracked or chipped. American Models will provide replacement parts.
Michael Greene has an article on his web site showing how he converted his engine to DCC. Here is a YouTube video of two S-12 engines with sound decoders installed. Classic Toy Trains February 2004 issue has a product review of this engine.
Bill Winans and Gerry Evans visited Bob Jackson's layout before going to the 2012 NASG Convention, and Bill shares these photos he took of Bob's layout. Used by permission of both photographer and layout owner. You can also view a a YouTube video recorded by a visitor to Bob's layout in March 2012.
This A unit has a Wabash Valley shell mounted on a modified American Models chassis. The chassis has a large coreless motor installed. The shell has both Overland and B.T.S. detailing parts applied. It also has American Models FP-7 skirting and ends. The truck sideframes were manufactured by Bill himself and are no longer available. Wabash Valley acquired the Enhorning shell molds.
Similarly, the B unit is a Wabash Valley shell on a modified AM chassis. This is a late model version with the Farr grill and 48" dynamic brake fan.
Bill has been working on two-bay open hopper cars. These kits were manufactured by American Models a number of years ago.
Bill used S Helper Service detail sets, which he bought directly from S Helper Service at $5 per set. There aren't quite enough parts to the sets, so he had to buy twelve sets to be able to detail ten cars. The weights shown in the photo on the right are lead putty by A-Line. The cars are very light. The addition of metal trucks added more weight, however, Bill said that he will not add these trucks to the other two-bay hoppers he is working on. These other cars will either have larger cast weights and center sills, or they will have more lead putty installed. His experience has been that the metal trucks are not good rolling trucks.
The bracing shown in the photos are made from Evergreen Scale Models strip styrene and angle strips.
The photos shown here do not include grab irons and ladders yet, so that the other details are visible in the photos. He also plans to add stirrup step braces and uncoupling levers. The cars will eventually be painted black and lettered for his SL&P railroad.
Photos copyright © Bill Winans; used by permission.
Bob has been actively working on converting an American Models GP9 into a Pennsylvania Railroad GP7. Specifically he is modeling PRR #8551. What is so special about that engine is that it, along with only two other GP7s, out of 66 the PRR had, had roof-mounted air tanks. The engine he is modeling was assigned to the Williamsport-Buffalo passenger service. A prototype photo of sister unit PRR #8852 can be found on the RRPictureArchive web site.
The fact that the model shown here is not painted yet is very helpful in determining just exactly what Bob has done to his model. The interior work (not shown), includes mounting the DCC decoder, and installing the speaker (which Bob said was not trivial). Although hard to see, the walk way is covered by Archer Fine Transfers treadplate 3D decals. Bob modified the fuel/water tank, and added the cab signal box behind the fuel tank.
The bulk of the detail parts came from B.T.S. and Des Plaines Hobbies.
The photo on the right shows the beautiful model painted and decaled. "Ready for service", Bob said. He added that he still needs to install a crew, awnings, headlight lenses, and add some window glazing.
Bob maintains his own blog on the PRR's Elmira branch which he models. He wrote a more thorough description of how he built this engine on the NMRA S Scale SIG web site.
Photos copyright © Robert Frascella; used by permission.
The following magazines or regular publications feature all or some S "scale" modeling:
The new NMRA S Scale SIG was recently formed. It offers quarterly digital newsletters, discussion forums, and interesting articles. The whole site is dedicated to scale modeling only.
A Facebook discussion group is also available. Although the primary focus is scale modeling (standard- and narrow-gauge, and hi-rail), discussion of American Flyer® topics are acceptable.
Below is a listing of all the known scale discussion forums on Yahoo! Groups.
1:64 Modeling Guide discussion group. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
NMRA S-scale SIG. (08/17/2012: appears to be inactive)
A discussion group about pre-1970's automobiles for S-scale. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
For sale, trade, or wanting to buy S-scale items. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
New Zealand 3'6" narrow gauge discussion group. (08/17/2012: appears to be inactive)
Free-mo standards for S-scale. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
National Association of S Gaugers, Inc. (NASG) members discussion group. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
Sn3 modeling. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
S-scale brass discussion group. (08/17/2012: appears to be inactive)
Proto:64 Special Interest Group (SIG). (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
Highlights items available to S gaugers. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
Promoting and building to the S-Mod Standards. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
Discussing S modules. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
News about S gauge. (08/17/2012: appears to be inactive)
The main "scale" modeling group; no American Flyer topics. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
Mostly non-U.S. S-scale discussion group. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
Discussing semi-, fine-, and proto64-scale modeling. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
Devoted to trolley, interurban, light rail vehicle, heavy electric, and rapid transit modeling in S scale. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
S Scale Helper Service's discussion group. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
Sn2 modeling. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
Topics related to narrow gauge modeling, specifically in S-scale. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
Sn3 modeling, including DCC. (08/17/2012: appears to be inactive)
Sn42 modeling. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
Sn42 and Sn3.5 group (converting HO- and O-scale items for S-scale layouts). (08/17/2012: appears to be inactive)
A low-traffic S-scale model railroading discussion group. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
S scale prototype model railroading discussion group. (by invitation only)
S Scale Trains of Tomorrow: Modern Day S-scale Modeling discussion group. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
Southeastern_ScaleS_modular_layout
Promoting Scale S in the Southeastern U.S. (site last reviewed on August 17, 2012)
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