A.C. Gilbert fantasy: American Flyer Lines Center-cupola Cabooses
Model Manufacturer Info
Prototype Info
Style:
center-cupola
Body:
steel
Road Name:
fantasy: American Flyer Lines
Model Info
Gauge:
AF
Introduced:
1954
Road Number(s):
934
Product Type:
plastic
Finish:
painted & lettered
Wheels:
hi-rail
Couplers:
AF
Magazine Article:
S Gaugian, Jul 2003 (prototype history plus model history; scale drawings)
Notes:
This was an uncataloged item. Since the 934 was assigned to a floodlight series of cars in 1953, noted author and historian Ted Hamler believes a mistake was made when assigning a number to the caboose as two different items were not to carry the same catalog number. The 934 caboose is identical to the 938 caboose that was also introduced in 1954, however the 938 was a bobtail style (single-coupler) caboose whereas the 934 has a coupler on both ends.
(image copyright © Ted Hamler; used by permission)
(image copyright © Holt Apgar; used by permission)
Holt Apgar repainted this model based on the 1960s paint scheme for the Lehigh Valley, which includes the yellow handrails and ladders, yellow rectangular safety slogans, the peaked narrow rain gutters above the paired side windows, and the narrow rectangular windows on the right side of both ends of the main cabin. HO-scale Microscale decals provided the numbers and lettering. Flexible acrylic sheet was used for the glazing, and a section of brass tube was used for the stack-top cross-piece. Flat clear lacquer sealed the decals, car sides, and the thinned brown enamel roof weathering. Holt's model represents a late Phase-I built in 1944.
(image copyright © Holt Apgar; used by permission)
Holt extensively reworked this model into a New Haven NE6 in McGinnis 1955-58 colors. He cut the end windows, sealed the outer side windows, and re-cut the inner side windows upward and filled the originals. He used decals by Accu-cals and Microscale. He handpainted Testors Model Master flat enamel paint, and sealed the model with flat clear lacquer. He then applied the side windows' glazing, and cut a brass tube for smokestack crosspiece.