When a manufacturer, such as American Models, or Showcase, states "American Flyer compatible" in their ads, are they primarily referring to the options of scale or high rail trucks and couplers? Am hoping beyond that, the rest of the car and it's details are of scale quality? Rather than what can at times be the more toy-like appearance of tinplate? Boxcab E50
Ken, your guess to AF compatible is correct. The wheels and couplers are flyer type on scale bodies. SHS includes scale wheels with all the cars coming with flyer type wheels. SHS flyer wheels aren’t as big as real AF wheels. SHS has the larger coupler, but Kadee’s are easily substituted. AM cars can be ordered with either style of wheels. SHS is comparable to Athearn Genesis models while AM is comparable to Athearn blue box models. Some of AM’s models are almost at the SHS level, but mostly good basic models that can be dressed up or ran as is. SHS has kept the high standard of details up with separate grab irons and see through roof walks. And speaking of SHS, they are planning on a new run of SW-9’s and SW-8’s coming soon. They also promise an NW-2 coming, in five variations. Greg Elems
