Buy/Make Anything Cool Lately (Tinplate Version)

George S posted:

This is more like it. 

George

George, very nice job on the turntable.

Who made the tinplate powerhouse above the tender?

Tom

MNCW posted:

George S posted:

This is more like it. 

George

George, very nice job on the turntable.

Who made the tinplate powerhouse above the tender?

Tom

Yours truly. That’s my personal replica of an Ives STD gauge no. 201 powerhouse. It is paper-plated tin.

George 

Rich Wiemann posted:

Steamer, thanks for the inspiration. That’s one of the many great things about tinplate being a toy train focused hobby....just about anything goes.

Exactly Rich! Your layout is great! 

I’m mixing in some ceramic buildings with tin painted and litho. I will need to have at least one plastic building, because I have a Woodland Scenics theater with animated marquee that I love too much to leave off the layout. Also, my Atlas engine shed is plastic, but I painted the roof gloss enamel to mask it. I will also use Lionel plastic tunnel portals. I am considering painting them with enamel, but haven’t found a color that would look right. I may use an eggshell house paint.

George

Dennis Holler posted:

Just got back from a four hour round trip to pick up a couple of sets of trains.  The main reason I got them was the Prewar Flyer 572 loco and tender and associated set, 1941's #4131.  Also came with a later Pikemaster set, a 9B transformer, and a nice clean Lionel 2037 loco in the box.  Road Trip baby!  Chicago traffic was nice for once!!  Top picture was from the seller and the rest are minutes after I got back home and let the dogs out lol

Nice pick-ups @Dennis Holler ! Gotta love the pre or post Christmas train hunt road trips. Love that 1941 Flyer set- that's 3/16 scale on o-gauge, correct? The green gondola/sand car and the 434(?) caboose were both part of my first prewar AF purchase. I later went back for the box car and log car.  My sand car is about 9.5 inches though, it definitely isn't in proportion to the white box car, caboose or log car. Regardless, gotta love prewar Flyer! Especially pre-war s-scale on o-gauge flyer! I think this is the first time I've seen the engine with the set- what a beauty!

Great haul on the whole my friend!! 

George S posted:

MNCW posted:

George S posted:

This is more like it. 

George

George, very nice job on the turntable.

Who made the tinplate powerhouse above the tender?

Tom

Yours truly. That’s my personal replica of an Ives STD gauge no. 201 powerhouse. It is paper-plated tin.

George 

George,

Ahh...it took me awhile to figure out you posted your powerhouse build details another thread! I don't think you posted it on this thread, but could be wrong. Thanks for the good-working search feature on the Forum. I knew I had seen it before:

https://ogrforum.com/...76#82100772784412876 

Great work on that George. 

Tom 

Rich Wiemann posted:

In the spirit of “The Anomaly” does anybody incorporate Plasticville buildings into their tinplate layouts. I ask since I built my tinplate layout these past few months with a Christmas theme incorporating Department 56 buildings. Now I’m thinking of the next direction. I could buy some other non-winter Department 56 buildings, and am always on the lookout for more reasonable price tinplate cottages, villas or stations to incorporate.  I have these plasticville buildings sitting in storage and could run my PW items on the outer 072 loop, which would certainly make the tie in. 

Thoughts??? Any PICs of your “Anomaly”

First, beautiful layout  @Rich Wiemann ! Like the wreath on the loco- very nice touch!

This year I didn't change my layout around(add Santas, reign-deer, ice-skating rink, snow, Winter houses on the "mountain")  to get into the season, unfortunately.

Regarding your question about plasticville- Absolutely. I have a section that's totally "non-scale" and 80% p-ville, but that's another story. For my main layout, while I've tried to "move away" from plasticville towards 1.) scale structures(mth, lionelville, woodland scenics, menards, etc...), 2.) postwar Lionel and Flyer(minicraft) and 3.)tinplate- there's still a good amount of plasticville on my layout incorporated near the aforementioned structures. But it's all a matter of perspective. Below are some pictures of my "hodgepodge" of accessories:

On the left(starting from the trailer): Hafner Glen Ellyn station, Bing station, plasticville platform, Ives water tower. On the right(starting at the police car) a prewar American Flyer station across the road from a plasticville motel, then a K-line platform, a narrow Bing platform in front of that, then my plasticville farm

Postwar Lionel platform, behind that is a modern Lionel shed, in the middle a KBN Goods Shed, plastic Lionel Tower(which I sometimes interchange with the plasticville tower), across the tracks is the farm

Opposite view of the picture from above

Very plasticville-centric here. Right next to the hotel, on the right, you see a litho'd wood roof- if you look in the first picture that's a tin "ranch" which i actually a bank that was my Grammy's.  

Here's a great example of a scene of different structures and accessories. To the left of the tubular tracks is an dictator run area while to the right is a "free zone. Behind the Plasticville roadside diner the dictator's army(Diecast Corgi 1:50 scale truck and soldiers) patrol the border area to prevent people from escaping. On the far side, there's a watchman's shanty/guard shack(prewar Bing ), a guarded, barricaded entrance to a pedestrian bridge(Marx), and a  plasicville lubritorium next to the guarded bridge entrance. Finally, on the left side of the diner, a Deli supplu truck drops off food for the dinner while some suspicious, wealthy gentlemen driving Mercedes meet up to eat and talk...

Prewar consist: Ives gondola, Kraus-Fandor Box Car, Marklin Baggage car. Immediately behind that are 3 structures- Freight Station(repurposed into a troops transport station-Postwar Lionel), Rotating beacon(pw lionel), and a Harbor Junction Freight station( PW Flyer  by minicraft). Please ignore the flamingo in the back ground

Some people might think it looks terrible. Sometimes, I think portions look terrible(which I quickly rectify), but I like it and Ithink I've struck a good balance on making things work such that I can run prewar, postwar or modern on my layout and any inconsistency with the scenery and my consist is minimized. I hope I answered your question, at least somewhat, and that these pictures are helpful to you as you move in that "other direction". You already have plenty of great tinplate structures that aren't winter-themed and I'm sure even a couple of your Dept. 56 winter buildings could play a multi-seasonal role. I'd say givethe plasticville a try- it can't hurt. And, like you said, keep on the look out for those bargains!

Best of luck!

Steve

StevefromPA posted:

Dennis Holler posted:

Just got back from a four hour round trip to pick up a couple of sets of trains.  The main reason I got them was the Prewar Flyer 572 loco and tender and associated set, 1941's #4131.  Also came with a later Pikemaster set, a 9B transformer, and a nice clean Lionel 2037 loco in the box.  Road Trip baby!  Chicago traffic was nice for once!!  Top picture was from the seller and the rest are minutes after I got back home and let the dogs out lol

Nice pick-ups @Dennis Holler ! Gotta love the pre or post Christmas train hunt road trips. Love that 1941 Flyer set- that's 3/16 scale on o-gauge, correct? The green gondola/sand car and the 434(?) caboose were both part of my first prewar AF purchase. I later went back for the box car and log car.  My sand car is about 9.5 inches though, it definitely isn't in proportion to the white box car, caboose or log car. Regardless, gotta love prewar Flyer! Especially pre-war s-scale on o-gauge flyer! I think this is the first time I've seen the engine with the set- what a beauty!

Great haul on the whole my friend!! 

Thanks Steve, yes all 3/16ths O. 

@stevefrompa  https://ogrforum.com/member/stevefrompa thanks for your detailed and informative response. I would say that your layout is a well balanced mixture of manufacturers and eras. I plan on giving the plasticville a try, its not going to cost me anything, so I have nothing to lose.

@GEORGE.S https://ogrforum.com/member/george.s  your last response about the Atlas building painting the roof with enamel reminded of one of your previous posts that showed that. I can apply the same method to some plasticville to make more of a tinplate look.  

Here’s another example of creating a tinplate look with plastic.

I needed another STD gauge bridge. I had an LGB girder bridge. All it needed was a little paint. I put it in my paint oven, and it’s dry, but it will need to cure another day before I can install it.

George

George S posted:

Here’s another example of creating a tinplate look with plastic.

I needed another STD gauge bridge. I had an LGB girder bridge. All it needed was a little paint. I put it in my paint oven, and it’s dry, but it will need to cure another day before I can install it.

George

Excellent work.  That will look sharp on the new layout.

Fendermain

@George S very nice looking bridge! The bright red paint and just general construction really "sell it". Automatically reminds me of the steel girder prewar Lionel bridge. Something about the aerial view - you can see where the screws go and its right by where the side walk of the bridge descends down really make me think of the prewar bridge even though the Lionel prewar didn't have such a siding for people to walk along on the interior. Very nice work

@Rich Wiemann thank you for that compliment, it's much appreciated. And go for it my friend, all it will cost you is some time and that'll be time well worth it because I'm sure you'll find a couple pieces that will fit! Keep us posted!

Got this American Flyer 1097 for Christmas.

@Lionel2056 very nice! Love that engine and the colors.reminds me of a much better version of the one that Flyer made later on that was rather bare bones and litho’d- which I also love. Good Christmas present!

I usually never win anything at the monthly auction at a nearby antique mall, but pleasantly found out that I won these and a box of DC powerpacks and a few AC transformers(probably 12-14 total) fora whopping $7. The DC powerpacks include a few Lionel from the 90s, one Hobby Line 710, a Fleischmann 583(?-i think),Auroa, MRC and others. The main reason I bid on the box- a Beets &Beets Hercules toy transformer. Don't have a picture of that yet so I'll provide a stock photo for now:

My transformer comes with a light-bulb socket plug so I guess it's likely older. Just thought it was a neat piece of history and a cool looking conversation piece.

Also snagged a pair of 184 A-1 bungalows for a bit below the going rate. Pretty good condition and prewar buildings I've wanted for awhile. One has a roof that's a bit loose but it's not noticable. Considering how small these are they'll be perfect "fill-ins" for a residential area. I'd really like to get my hands on a bungalow/house with a plot someday, always thought those were really cool.

Finally, won this Marx Armed Forces training center. Bidon a lighter colored one as well but the condition wasn't as good. Sizing it up against some ofmy MTH and Lionelville structures, I think I can find a way to make it fit. It's not nearly as close to the size/scale Army HQ from Marx(likely due to the lack of an open door and interior which is clearly made for 54mm soldiers). Could absolutely see this being the HQ for my U.N. International Zone if the right pieces are around it.

Found this fun gingerbread house tin on Amazon. 

There's even a gingerbread recipe on the back!

I’ve admired the AMT passenger cars for years. Finally snagged a Santa Fe set today.

Steve

those look great Steve. I wouldn't mind getting a PRR set.

Hi Guys - new to this forum but I wanted to comment to some of the prior posts:

STEVEFROMPA:  I also like to mix my buildings and have a Menards "city block", a Lionel PW suburban station, a china (like Dept 56 but it has no maker's mark) McDonalds with the Golden Arches, a P'ville station platform and a Flyer tinplate PW tower all in the same area as my "small town" section of the layout. Partial view below. Oh...Flag Pole is Lionel from 1957 complete with original 48 star flag.

Dennis Holler :  What a beautiful Flyer PW set.   I have parts of the same set but alas no engine.  Did this set come with any other engines, my reference data on PW flyer is OK on individual pieces but awful on what came with what in sets.

Lionel2056: What a great AF prewar set, I think this one was near the start of the depression and they were trying to get their lower priced (lithographed) line in place .  Lionel did the same thing (even putting out some Mickey Mouse items- including the famous MM handcar which it is often claimed saved the company).  I have the same set, but I will admit in deference to its age I have never had the courage to try and run it, afraid the power would "fry" something.  If you run yours, let is know how it turns out and maybe then I can summon up the courage to try and run mine!

JHZ563:  Gingerbread house...too cool and what a great add to any Christmas layout.  I also picked up a Gingerbread House this year while helping at my wife's antique booth.  Its wooden and so are all the candies and decoration painted wood.  Its about 6 1/2" square, 71/2" to the roof peak and 91/2" to the top of the chimney.  Its actually a music box (wind up) but the key is hidden in the base so its not visible.  Cost was 8$ and its earned a place on my Christmas layout for next year.

Well that's about it for me today.  I wish everyone a Happy Healthy, and successful new year.  Good hunting for trains!!

Don

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

I’ve admired the AMT passenger cars for years. Finally snagged a Santa Fe set today.

Steve

 

That’s a nice start on a SF set - it’s really impressive when you get a full string with all the body styles and car names - double motor an AMT/KMT F unit, have a transformer capable of putting out 24 volts and you’re all set. If you want to run the cars, I started  a pretty lengthy how-to thread about cleaning and get the cars to roll better many moons ago (the cars are heavy, especially the one piece body castings which are thicker than the 3 piece separate sides and roof cars).

Steve, I agree they are nice - so you have 4 down and 5 to go.   They look nice with the AMT Santa Fe units but those units are painted in freight colors.  Since AMT did make the offering of the cars with the idea that you might want to provide your own head end power I took them up on that idea.  I have an MTH A-B-A Alco set to pull them. It does a good job of pulling and the engines and the cars make for a very colorful consist.

...Just to give you an idea of the visual impression...

Oh yes - the remaining cars are: 

#4170 Baggage

#5260 Combine

#3160 Coach

Indian Scout 

Diner

I made a few  things since I had a lot of time off over the Holidays. Here are a couple of pictures of my latest projects a standard gauge 38 shell in B&M maroon and a 33 shell in B&M Bluebird. By the way the flash kind of washes out the maroon, it's really a very nice burgundy color ( Rustoleum Burgundy).

The 38 is decaled but not touched up or clear coated yet, the 33 need decals and few finishing touches. 

I found out something I didn’t realize when I put these two on the bench together. I always thought a 38 was just a 33 with different wheels and frame, turns out the 38 is an inch longer than the 33 such as larger cab side windows and longer hoods. At the moment I don’t have a 38 chassis so I think I’ll make some spacers and use one of the 33 chassis I do have.

In this photo a 33 and 38 are lined up and you can see how much longer the 38 really is.

The 33 in this picture will be the fraternal twin to the one I'm working on now.

The 2 Bluebirds on a train should look pretty good especially with my 117 Caboose. When I run the maroon 38 I can use my other B&M maroon caboose.

Sorry, guys, these pictures showed that they were posting on my computer but not on my phone, now they're not showing up at all. Winnings from the auction as referenced in the post above

 Beets &Beets Hercules toy transformer. Still the stock photo:

My transformer comes with a light-bulb socket plug so I guess it's likely older. Just thought it was a neat piece of history and a cool looking conversation piece.

Also snagged a pair of Lionel 184 Bungalows(Specifically with the A-1, A-2, A-3 marked on the pieces) for a bit below the going rate. Pretty good condition and they're prewar buildings I've wanted for awhile. 

Finally, won this Marx Armed Forces training center. The 4 walls are in great condition.

Robert S. Butler posted:

Steve, I agree they are nice - so you have 4 down and 5 to go.   They look nice with the AMT Santa Fe units but those units are painted in freight colors.  Since AMT did make the offering of the cars with the idea that you might want to provide your own head end power I took them up on that idea.  I have an MTH A-B-A Alco set to pull them. It does a good job of pulling and the engines and the cars make for a very colorful consist.

...Just to give you an idea of the visual impression...

Oh yes - the remaining cars are: 

#4170 Baggage

#5260 Combine

#3160 Coach

Indian Scout 

Diner

Ah, Robert! Why'd you have to post those engines with that! I love the MTH PA's! I have a K-line Alco A-A FA set, which is nice, but nothing like your set! I've running the different combos of the 3 AMT Santa Fe passenger cars that I have behind the K-line A-A and a postwar Lionel FA 215 A-A but neither looked right with these passenger cars.

I actually have 2 of the#3160 coach, which is fortunate as the Obs Car came with a plastic, non-operating coupler that was broken so I just replaced it with one from the "not as nice" 3160. Have the 5260 combine car that you pictured above, which might be my favorite. So that leaves baggage, which could be the 4170 or the 3407 RPO, Indian Scout, and Diner which would leave me with a nice 6 car consist.

Robert S. Butler posted:

Steve, I agree they are nice - so you have 4 down and 5 to go.   They look nice with the AMT Santa Fe units but those units are painted in freight colors.  Since AMT did make the offering of the cars with the idea that you might want to provide your own head end power I took them up on that idea.  I have an MTH A-B-A Alco set to pull them. It does a good job of pulling and the engines and the cars make for a very colorful consist.

...Just to give you an idea of the visual impression...

Oh yes - the remaining cars are: 

#4170 Baggage

#5260 Combine

#3160 Coach

Indian ScoutDiner

I have a baggage on the way, so only 4 more to find. The only SF diesels I have are Marx 21’s and 1095’s

Steve

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

I’ve admired the AMT passenger cars for years. Finally snagged a Santa Fe set today.

Steve

 

Sorry I didn’t see this before, Steve! Awesome set- all operating couplers and matching smooth roofs. Is the dome on the Vista original? I don’t think I’ve ever seen when that hasn’t become discolored. The set in general looks to be in great shape, how are the wires to the lights underneath and the trucks? Took me awhile to get used to the trucks and the wires were finicky.

After I got a Kusan is when I started looking into its history and recognized that these AMT passenger cars were the same ones being sold in the same antique mall(where I got the 2 #3160 coaches and combine). If only I had recognized it sooner as they had other road names as well-PRR, NYC, Reading, or some combo thereof.

Don’t have the 1095 Marx but I have the litho 21. The thought has crossed my mind to try and run it with these except the powered unit’s shell is off balance and I haven’t gotten around to re-examine it yet. Regardless, Congrats on getting something you’ve always had your eye on- that’s always a good feeling. 

StevefromPA posted:

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

I’ve admired the AMT passenger cars for years. Finally snagged a Santa Fe set today.

Steve

 

Sorry I didn’t see this before, Steve! Awesome set- all operating couplers and matching smooth roofs. Is the dome on the Vista original? I don’t think I’ve ever seen when that hasn’t become discolored. The set in general looks to be in great shape, how are the wires to the lights underneath and the trucks? Took me awhile to get used to the trucks and the wires were finicky.

After I got a Kusan is when I started looking into its history and recognized that these AMT passenger cars were the same ones being sold in the same antique mall(where I got the 2 #3160 coaches and combine). If only I had recognized it sooner as they had other road names as well-PRR, NYC, Reading, or some combo thereof.

Don’t have the 1095 Marx but I have the litho 21. The thought has crossed my mind to try and run it with these except the powered unit’s shell is off balance and I haven’t gotten around to re-examine it yet. Regardless, Congrats on getting something you’ve always had your eye on- that’s always a good feeling. 

Steve, It had a original dome on it that was badly warped, but the seller had the repro one to go with it.

Steve

Here's a link to an old thread about AMT/KMT/Kusan aluminum cars:

https://ogrforum.com/...assenger-cars?page=1

George S posted

Yours truly. That’s my personal replica of an Ives STD gauge no. 201 powerhouse. It is paper-plated tin.

George 

George, I like the way you think.

MTN posted:

Here's a link to an old thread about AMT/KMT/Kusan aluminum cars:

https://ogrforum.com/...assenger-cars?page=1

Thanks, some good reading.

Steve

From bits:

PD

PD: What a great flatcar load.  The ambulance looks to be WW1 vintage or perhaps a 20's vehicle.  The flatcar, with manual latch couplers and Ni journal boxes looks to be a #651 made between '35-40 if its O-gauge Lionel (which it appears to be).  Am I right?  

Great modeling .  I just found a 64 1/2 Mustang that I sent pictures of on the thread about vehicles, its too late and likely too big (1/36) for my tinplate but my wife (future wife at the time) owned an identical car when it first came out.  Don't know how I will integrate it with my tinplate but will figure that out! Really well detailed and only cost $5.99 at Walgreens.

Happy New Year. and Great Modeling

Don

 "Don't know how I will integrate it with my tinplate but will figure that out! "

Don have fun with your trains. I have '60s musclecars all over my tinplate trainboard.

Hi Don...yes, it was actually a Lionel 804 tank car I bought out of a guy's junk bin at a meet many years ago. Only the frame was salvageable, the rest was either missing or mashed. I seem to remember that someone had soldered the handrails directly to the sides of the tank. Tossed that away, beat the frame back into shape and repainted it black, then got the rest of the bits from George Tebolt (wheels, axles, couplers, and journals). The Lledo Hudson ambulance was found on eBay ("Models of Days Gone" series, 1986). A bit of chain from the jewelry aisle at Michael's, and that's about it. I liked the white tires on this little car, sets off nice against the black frame. Lledos are a bit small, maybe closer to 1/64-scale, but it seems to work here.

Paul

pd posted:

From bits:

PD

An alternative could be an art deco, wooden wheel, pressed steel Wyandotte ambulance.

Bob Nelson

Pete in Kansas posted:

I made a few  things since I had a lot of time off over the Holidays. Here are a couple of pictures of my latest projects a standard gauge 38 shell in B&M maroon and a 33 shell in B&M Bluebird. By the way the flash kind of washes out the maroon, it's really a very nice burgundy color ( Rustoleum Burgundy).

The 38 is decaled but not touched up or clear coated yet, the 33 need decals and few finishing touches. 

I found out something I didn’t realize when I put these two on the bench together. I always thought a 38 was just a 33 with different wheels and frame, turns out the 38 is an inch longer than the 33 such as larger cab side windows and longer hoods. At the moment I don’t have a 38 chassis so I think I’ll make some spacers and use one of the 33 chassis I do have.

In this photo a 33 and 38 are lined up and you can see how much longer the 38 really is.

The 33 in this picture will be the fraternal twin to the one I'm working on now.

The 2 Bluebirds on a train should look pretty good especially with my 117 Caboose. When I run the maroon 38 I can use my other B&M maroon caboose.

Love 'em Pete, fantastic job.

Dave: Thanks for the encouragement, agree...that Mustang will find a home on the "Lexington Park and Savannah" (long and skinny) RR for sure. 

Paul:  thanks for the response, thought it was a #651 (which believe it or not is the only "600" series car I don't have !) Great job, thanks for letting me know about the Lledo brand, I will look for these as this ambulance looks really top notch

Bob Nelson:  Thanks for the picture of the Wyandotte alternative, I have a few Wyandotte trucks but most are way too big for trains (mostly floor toys).  Did you restore that one?  If not finding a pressed steel toy in that shape is a real rarity, most of them I see are well played with (a testimony to their durability and play value).  Still love 'um anyway.

Pete from Kansas: Your modeling skills are obviously top notch, the cars / engine cabs look terrific.  Wish I could find 33 / 38 cabs anymore, toys and toy trains are "thin" here in Central Texas outside of our train shows.

Great Stuff Everyone

Don

PD  if you have another flat that you want to load - why not put on an old horse drawn fire engine complete with the fire engine crew?  In addition to being true to prototype you would have a perfect excuse for running your engine with just the one flatcar around your layout as fast as you could - The book Railroad Avenue has the details

Excerpt From Railroad Avenue

  In the fall of 1871 the country had a prolonged dry spell. Prairie fires caused quite a lot of damage. Talk of fires was common along the line, but nobody in Bloomington was prepared for the startling report on October 8 that the great city of Chicago was burning. By the next morning things were desperate and Chicago sent out a plea for help over the telegraph wires. 

  Bloomington had a good fire engine, but the blazing metropolis was 126 miles away.  The suggestion was made that this apparatus be loaded on a flatcar and set to Chicago on a special.  The division super thought it over and five minutes later he came out of his office and yelled at engineer Lou Hawks, “Take the Major Knowlton (a high stepping 4-4-0) and run the wheels off her!”

  The switch crew set up the alignment for a flat car and the fire brigade was told to get their rig to the station immediately. Just as they were hooking the flatcar to the engine the Bloomington fire engine crew drew up beside the platform. Presently a gang of men had the equipment fastened securely to the car. The fireman had been keeping the engine hot so the second everything was nailed down Lou gave a nod and the super said, “The road’s yours! Everything else is on sidings and men are posted at switches.”

  Lou cracked the throttle and after a quick snake through the yard was out on the main. He opened her up. Chenoa to Pontiac, ten miles in ten minutes. Wilmington to Elwood, seven miles in a fraction over six minutes. Telephone poles raced by like a picket fence. As No. 97 skyrocketed through one town after another, station loafers yelled and cheered.

  Back on the flatcar the Bloomington fire brigade, frightened and pale, were clutching their apparatus with an almost deathlike grip. Through Joliet they tore like a runaway comet, then out into the open prairie again. Soon the men in the engine cab and on the flatcar could see the heavy smoke pall hanging over the doomed city and could smell the acrid scent of her burning buildings.  At length the fast run ended. Lou Hawks burst into the glass roofed Chicago train shed – 126 miles in 150 minutes – it hardly seemed possible back in 1871. Eager hands snatched the Bloomington fire engine from its moorings and sent it straight out to join in fighting the fire.

Had to go to the Philadelphia area for work today.  Exiting the Tollroad, I noted the sign said "Lansdale" in addition to the city I was visiting.  Lansdale...thinking...thinking...it suddenly dawned on me that Hennings Hobbies is in Lansdale.  Had to stop and google their address and hours.  Turned the car toward Lansdale and stopped and bought a pile of American Flyer MEW wheels.  19 sets of wheels traveling home with me.  Thought I might get questioned at airport security, but nope!

I had been meaning to place an order in the near future and my trip saved me the trouble of making the order.  Have some re-wheeling work in my future!  

NWL

Very interesting, RSB. That's a great idea, putting together a few more flats with other apparatus on them. The kids sure would love it.

Paul