S 4-6-4 Steam Locomotives

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

American Hi-Rail

Prototype Info

Category:

4-6-4

Road Name:

New York Central (NYC)

Model Info

Gauge:

S

Introduced:

1998

Road Number:

5445

Product Type:

Resin Kit

Finish:

painted & lettered

Power:

no chassis

Magazine Article:

S Scale Resource, Apr 2021, pg 13

Online Article:

visit site

Notes:

The kit is designed as a conversion kit, using a 4-6-2 chassis as the donor to complete the model. It comes with the pre-painted body and tender shell, decals applied, and the hand-rail.

Although the American Hi-Rail shells were pre-painted and lettered, Dick removed and replaced all the original lettering (except the herald on the pilot). Much of the locomotive was repainted because of the superstructure revisions. Dick used numerous S Scale Locomotive & Supply (SSL&S) parts, brass and steel wire, sheet brass and styrene, and S- and HO-scale details to complete his model.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

American Models

Prototype Info

Category:

4-6-4

Year/Era:

1941

Road Name:

New York Central (NYC)

Class:

J-3a

Model Info

Gauge:

S

Introduced:

2001

Road Number:

5429

Product Type:

Die-cast

Finish:

painted & lettered

Notes:

This engine was sold as part of the Empire State Express, which also included 4 passenger cars. A separate set of three coaches were available to add to the train. Road number #5426 was available separately, painted in chrome or silver.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

Nixon Model Co

Manufacturer ID:

C-322

Prototype Info

Category:

4-6-4

Model Info

Gauge:

S

Introduced:

1948

Product Type:

Conversion Kit

Finish:

unpainted

Supplemental:

American Flyer Conversion Instructions

Notes:

This kit enabled the modeler to convert an A.C. Gilbert American Flyer locomotive and tender of this wheel configuration from hi-rail/tinplate to "scale". The kit contained replacement wheels/axles for tender, pilot, and trailing trucks as well as scale drivers and axles. The axles had "D"-shaped ends, and the zamac driver centers had "D"-shaped openings to match. This design assured proper quartering. The modeler had to remove the AF drivers, axles, and worm gear, then use the reverse procedure to install the scale versions (applied using the jaws of a vice to keep the drivers perpendicular to the axles).

Screen capture from Carey Williams' video showing the 1948 Nixon catalog.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

Overland Models

Manufacturer ID:

1706

Prototype Info

Category:

4-6-4

Road Name:

New York Central (NYC)

Class:

J-3a

Model Info

Gauge:

S

Introduced:

1985

Product Type:

Brass

Finish:

painted & lettered

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

Overland Models

Manufacturer ID:

1707

Factory:

Ajin Precision, Korea

Prototype Info

Category:

4-6-4

Road Name:

New York Central (NYC)

Class:

J-3a

Model Info

Gauge:

S

Introduced:

1985

Product Type:

Brass

Finish:

unpainted

Notes:

With elesco and 6-wheel tender.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

S Scale Locomotive & Supply

Prototype Info

Category:

4-6-4

Road Name:

New York Central (NYC)

Class:

J-3a

Ext. Reference:

visit site

Model Info

Gauge:

S

Product Type:

Conversion Kit

Finish:

unpainted

Power:

DC

Wheels:

scale

Supplemental:

Instruction Sheets (1 of 9)

Supplemental:

Instruction Sheets (2 of 9)

Supplemental:

Instruction Sheets (3 of 9)

Supplemental:

Instruction Sheets (4 of 9)

Supplemental:

Instruction Sheets (5 of 9)

Supplemental:

Instruction Sheets (6 of 9)

Supplemental:

Instruction Sheets (7 of 9)

Supplemental:

Instruction Sheets (8 of 9)

Supplemental:

Instruction Sheets (9 of 9)

Supplemental:

Parts List

Notes:

This conversion kit was intended to convert an A.C. Gilbert American Flyer 4-6-4 to a scale model. Nearly every component was included in the kit. Early versions of the kit came with the Pittman DC-91 open-frame motor. Later versions came with the Pittman DC-86 stacked-field motor. Dick Karnes stated that he made the patterns for the Baker valve gear hanger and the inside crosshead guide yoke for Claud, when Dick was still a college student.

Dick Karnes' model includes additional detailing along the bottom of the tender sides, and he also scratchbuilt the sprung trailing truck because the kit contained an NKP Berkshire truck. He also sculpted out the rear of the bulky AF headlight/numberboard portion of the smokebox front so as to resemble a separately-attached plate. He installed a 3-amp DCC decoder in it.

The kit's instructions sheets.