American Flyer K5 with Nimco scale conversion

  It's SO refreshing to see scale pilot wheels on a steamer!

My first train was Gilbert's #310 PRR K5 sans smoke & Choo Choo.

Very cool. Tender trucks were a part of the kit? Were the original link couplers retained?

Very Nice and would be a welcome addition to many scale layouts.

Glad you liked the video .

Tender trucks are probably later production ..unknown manufacturer...

Coupler is a  cast dummy by Nimco ...

Cheers Carey

This video has gotten some good replies over on the S Scale group I follow...which is kinda cool, considering (almost) anything Flyer-related is usually taboo.

Carey, you've done it again!

Mark in Oregon

@Carey Williams posted:

Tender trucks are probably later production ..unknown manufacturer...

Cheers Carey

Carey

On March 28th of last year you posted some pix of a Flyer/MidGage conversion; I have taken the liberty of re-posting one of those pictures here:

...looks like the same tender trucks, maybe?

Mark in Oregon

Does anyone make scale conversion kits for any of the old S Steamers?  I have 2 scale clubs near me.

I love it so much! It looks great!

Thank you all for your kindness and words. 

I believe the tender trucks on both engines were made by S Scale Locomotive Supply out of St Louis 1960's - 80...by Claude Wade .

You do see an old kit surface on eBay once in awhile .

Unknown if anyone makes a similar "new" product today ....the market then &  now is / was very small.

Cheers Carey

Wait till you see the UP FEF with Nimco scale wheels ! ....

@Carey Williams posted:

Wait till you see the UP FEF with Nimco scale wheels ! ....

No way!!!

Mark in Oregon

Those pilot truck wheels and drivers really look great; the passenger cars are also topnotch!

I’ve posted this picture of what I’ve always assumed to be a MidGage conversion before.

I am assuming the drivers are Nimco but I don’t know.  I thought some shots of the underside might be interesting.  The scale pilot wheels are mounted to the original K5 Flyer pilot.

The same is true of the trailing truck.  I have no idea about the tender trucks other than they are not the same as the one Carey posted.  They are not sprung either.

You can see it still has the original ACG motor.  The gentleman who did this conversion worked at MidGage in the late ‘40s when the MidGage building was a boxcar.  I have some of more of his trains that you might find interesting.  I guess I should post them on a separate thread as not to hijack this one.

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

@Tom Stoltz posted:

1.  I’ve posted this picture of what I’ve always assumed to be a MidGage conversion before.

2.   I have some of more of his trains that you might find interesting.  I guess I should post them on a separate thread as not to hijack this one.

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

1. Nice engine...

2. Please do!

Mark in Oregon

Midgage supplied a new chassis ..motor , side rods etc ...only using the AF boiler casting ...which needed to be cut to fit.

Nimco provided new axles and wheels ....balance was original Flyer

Cheers Carey

@Carey Williams posted:

Midgage supplied a new chassis ..motor , side rods etc ...only using the AF boiler casting ...which needed to be cut to fit.

Nimco provided new axles and wheels ....balance was original Flyer

Cheers Carey

Thanks Carey I believe that would make mine a 'Nimco only' Flyer conversion.  Any thoughts on the tender trucks?  The tender does have a Kadee #5 on it.

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

I'm not up on all the various truck makers ...sorry

@Carey Williams posted:

Thank you all for your kindness and words.

I believe the tender trucks on both engines were made by S Scale Locomotive Supply out of St Louis 1960's - 80...by Claude Wade .

You do see an old kit surface on eBay once in awhile .

Unknown if anyone makes a similar "new" product today ....the market then &  now is / was very small.

Cheers Carey

Wait till you see the UP FEF with Nimco scale wheels ! ....

Those tender trucks don't look as detailed as S Scale Locomotive Supply parts - I'd venture a guess they pre-date S Scale Loco's trucks.