Hello,
Can anyone tell me the standard size track that came with American Flyer 3/16 Pre-War trains? Will regular size 031 tubular track work OK? Just not sure of the radius of the curved track or length of the straights that came with the sets.
Thanks,
Bruce
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40" diameter. Just like the post war S gauge track.
What makes you think eight sections of AF is correct, are you basing it on Lionel track? Are you intending to run it on Lionel track or AF track or just wanting to know what AF dimensions are in relation to Lionel?
Most of the Flyer 3/16 will have no problem with 031 track. Not sure about the Northern though.
Steve
It's all available... the Flyer O-40 is twelve sections to a circle.
Most of the Flyer 3/16 will have no problem with 031 track. Not sure about the Northern though.
Steve
The Flyer 4-8-4 will work on 0-31 curves. I used one to pull strings of Marx 3/16ths litho cars on my old layout - I loved the looks I'd get from the "how the **** are you running Flyer on 3 rail track?" folks. 
Most of the Flyer 3/16 will have no problem with 031 track. Not sure about the Northern though.
Steve
The Flyer 4-8-4 will work on 0-31 curves. I used one to pull strings of Marx 3/16ths litho cars on my old layout - I loved the looks I'd get from the "how the **** are you running Flyer on 3 rail track?" folks.
Most of the Flyer 3/16 will have no problem with 031 track. Not sure about the Northern though.
Steve
The Flyer 4-8-4 will work on 0-31 curves. I used one to pull strings of Marx 3/16ths litho cars on my old layout - I loved the looks I'd get from the "how the **** are you running Flyer on 3 rail track?" folks.
Watch Ebay - the engines show up, the tenders are tougher to locate as they're prone to "Dorfan's Disease" (the dreaded impure zinc casting plague that afflicts the Flyer 3/16ths O gauge line). If you ever find an intact Challenger tender grab it - if you don't end up using it, someone else will be glad to take it off your hands. Watch for warped frames, missing steps, crazing on the shell itself, crumbling/missing sideframes. Solid tenders are out there, and if they've made it this far they'll probably be fine. I might have an engine/tender combo that could use a new home - if you're interested we can discuss that...
As far as running the Flyer 4-8-4, as long as you don't fly through 0-22 switches you'll be fine. It does look better on wider curves, but runs fine on traditional 0-31 curves. You can pull a nice string of Marx cars behind one - just be sure to have clean axles, and oil them if the cars sit for a long time (my fave Marx axle/wheel oil is Marvel Mystery Oil, a penetrating oil that really does a great job of keeping those wheels rolling).
From what I have seen, the 1946 Northern tender is virtually identical to the Prewar one. I don't think it would be too tough to convert a 1946 or even an early 1947 tender and make it into a 3-rail version.
Ed Boyle
From what I have seen, the 1946 Northern tender is virtually identical to the Prewar one. I don't think it would be too tough to convert a 1946 or even an early 1947 tender and make it into a 3-rail version.
Ed Boyle
The trucks are the problem - the frames for the 6 wheel O gauge trucks are tough to locate. The S gauge tenders are also expensive (usually $100+ for undamaged/rough paint).
I have a prewar AF 559 Pennsy K-5 loco, the one that needs a transformer with the push button reverse system. Is there any other transformer other than the AF 12B that has this feature? Thanks in advance for any help.
@Varneynut You might have a better chance of getting your answer by starting a new topic. It's going to be hard to get an answer about a transformer using a 7 year old track topic. Just trying to help.
@bag09 posted:Hello,
Can anyone tell me the standard size track that came with American Flyer 3/16 Pre-War trains? Will regular size 031 tubular track work OK? Just not sure of the radius of the curved track or length of the straights that came with the sets.
Thanks,
Bruce
Prewar Gilbert AF 3/16" scale O gauge train sets were supplied with their "O-40" style curves. The AF turnouts of the Prewar period were based on the same curvature. These trains will operate best with the readily available O-42 curves (or greater).
Hope this helps.
Bob
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