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NEW
RELEASESLast Updated August 30, 2021
NEW
RELEASES
Last Updated August 30, 2021
Remember - If it doesn't say American Model Builders, Inc. on the box, it's not a genuine LASERKIT!
Click on the link
below to go directly to the NEW releases for that particular scale or subject:
N SCALE HO SCALE
S SCALE O SCALE
WARNING: American Model Builders, Inc. products are not intended for children under 14 years of age!
New N Scale Branchline Siding Series:
Standard Water Tank with Pump House
During the age of steam, one of the more common sights along the railroad was the water tank. Built in a multitude of sizes and styles, they were located at strategic points along the line, at stations, and at major terminals. While the details of tank construction varied from railroad to railroad, the basic shape changed little over the years. The most notable change being that from a tapered tank to one with straight sides as well as the eventual use of steel instead of wood in the construction of both the tank and supporting structure.
This N scale kit represents a 50,000 gallon straight side wooden tank, which is set on a wooden support structure and resting on wooden beams. The basic design of the tank was used from the mid 1800s through the early to mid 1900s. Although the various hardware components and support structure may have been modified over the years, a great many of these water tanks survived until the end of the steam era and often beyond.
The basic design of our water tank came from the Missouri Pacific Railroad plan book as well as from photographs of other railroads tanks where an overall similar appearance was maintained and a simple leg bracing system was utilized. The look of the included pump house, which housed the pump mechanism for moving the ground water up into the tank, was devised in the same manner. Likewise, the kit also includes two different styles of tank roof – both flat as well as peaked, to offer the N scale modeler greater versatility when trying to match a specific prototype for their layout.
Kit No. 626 boasts a real wood tank with custom scribed birch plywood wrapper and Peel & Stick tank bands; easy to assemble laser-cut wood beam support structure; built-up access ladder and water gauge; cast metal spout, fine brass wire, and plastic rod/tubing for modeling the water delivery system; optional cast resin peaked roof with simulated rolled roofing detail; and small wooden pump house featuring AMB’s standard Tab & Slot and Peel & Stick construction. Finished water tank measures 2” square (with ladder located as shown and raised spout) x 2.5” high to top of tank (optional peaked roof adds an additional 0.25”) while pump house measures 0.75” wide x 1” deep x 0.875” high.
Branchline Depot
Typical of a small town
passenger stop where insignificant freight movement did not warrant a
combination railroad structure, the design of this structure provided both
ticket and work office for the agent with very minimal waiting room space
for the passenger inside. Instead, a small platform located on the trackside
of the depot afforded space for the rider to await the arrival of the train. Although simple in nature, the Branchline Depot offers the
N scale modeler custom scribed wood siding, interior flooring, and exterior
wood deck platform; train order and station sign boards; Victorian style end
roof eave brackets; positionable window sashes; rolled roofing; and a white
metal smoke jack. As with all of our laser-cut structure kits, Kit No. 631
utilizes Tab & Slot constructed walls and roof and Peel & Stick windows,
doors, trim, and roofing for ease of assembly. The completed depot with
waiting platform measures 1.75” long x 1.5” wide x 1.375” high. Gandy Dancer's Shed 2-Pack
The traditional “Gandy Dancer’s”
or hand car shed was a common sight along the rails of any railroad from the
earliest days of railroading through the steam-to-diesel transition era.
Although not based on a particular prototype, our N scale model emulates the
practical nuances of these maintenance-of-way structures with an enclosed side
of the building, which housed the various tools and supplies used by the track
gangs, as well as an open side for parking the hand car. A track set-off is
also included. Featuring standard American Model Builder’s kit construction,
the wooden hand car shed exhibits custom scribed siding and carport decking;
exterior stud frame wall; rolled roofing; Peel & Stick door, window and trim;
and laser-cut ties, railhead, and wheel stop for detailing the open portion of
the shed. When assembled, each shed (2 included in each package) measures
2.125” wide x 1” deep x 1” high. As shown, the included length of set-off
rails places the shed 1.125” back from the main track, but can be shortened
by the modeler to best suit their layout space. Branchline Siding Combo
Add all three of our N scale Branchline Series structures to
your layout through this cost savings combo kit. The package includes:
the Branchline Depot, a single Gandy Dancer’s Shed, and Standard Water Tank
(flat roof option only) with Pump House. For reference, as pictured on our
diorama, the overall Branchline Siding site measures approximately
10” long x 3” wide, although the modeler is certainly free to arrange the
structures at their own discretion. Along side the Hudson steam
locomotive, the 19000 series wood caboose, with its distinctive low cupola,
was the iconic image of the New York Central from the early teens of the 20th
century through the 1960s. Referred to as the “standard” caboose of the NYC,
the 19000 series was actually a compilation of cars created from a fleet of
nearly 2000 cabooses, which were inherited from predecessor roads – some
dating back to the 1890s. Between 1912 and 1926, many of these cars were
rebuilt with common features such as window arrangement, steel underframes,
and low cupolas, but, as eight different company shops were involved, subtle
variations resulted. Kit No. 554 features: 100% laser-cut components with custom
laser-scribed Birch plywood side, end walls, and cupola; Tab & Slot carbody
construction; Peel & Stick window, door, and trim assembly; laser-cut
underframe, end platforms, ladders, end railing, hand grabs, window glazing,
truss rods, and brake wheels; cast resin platform steps and brake gear;
plastic smokejack; custom decals by Tichy Train Group; and fully illustrated
instructions that provide information on painting and decaling the assembled
model. In addition, the N scale kit provides for optional details too such
as square or rounded body corner posts; side windows that can be modeled open
or closed; two different styles of roofwalks; and cupola end window variation.
We recommend the purchase of Micro-Trains No.1015-1 Universal Body Mount
Couplers, Atlas No. 22061 Friction Bearing Caboose Trucks, and paint and
glue of your choice for the completion of this kit. Generator Flat Car Load
Designed to fit 50’ or longer N scale flat cars, our latest load features seven
cast resin generators, ready for painting, along with easy to assemble
laser-cut wood framing and blocking. Assembled load measures 3.25” long x
0.625” wide x 0.4375” high.
This latest caboose addition hails from
the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad and is available with two different types of
car siding: Kit No. 889 represents a post World War II “modernized” tongue
and grove sided car while Kit No. 890 renders a postwar rebuilt caboose with
plywood siding.
The prototype for these kits actually dates back further than
the GM&O and to the turn of the 20th century. In 1940, the Gulf Mobile &
Northern was merged with the bankrupt Mobile & Ohio creating a 2,000 mile
system that connected St. Louis with the ports of Mobile and New Orleans.
Incorporated as the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad, the new company inherited
an assortment of equipment including a fleet of wood cupola cabooses formally
of the M&O. While little has been uncovered regarding the early history of
these cars, they do have a striking similarity with designs utilized by the
Southern Railway, which owned a controlling interest in the M&O from 1901
until 1940. Dating as far back as 1896, the M&O cabooses, from the
X30 - X202 series, appear to have been built over a three decade period with
the last car outshopped in October of 1928. Approximately 57 of these cabooses
entered the GM&O roster in 1940 and were renumbered 2847 - 2903. Some of
these cars were retired as early as 1953, but the bulk of the fleet remained
on the roster into the mid 1960s and some even survived the merger with the
Illinois Central in 1972. The subsequent Illinois Central Gulf Railroad
retired all wood cabooses in 1973. At the time of the merger, the ex
M&O cars displayed features that were typical of wood cabooses of the era:
tongue and groove siding, composite steps, truss rod underframe, and vertical
staff handbrake wheels located on both of the full width end platforms. The
approximate 31 foot long carbody was outfitted with four single sash windows
on either car side and a centered cupola that contained a single window on the
sides and two windows on the ends. Often, these cars were equipped with sun
visors over both the cupola and body side windows and during the hot summer
months were even supplied with window screens.
Variations within the fleet were apparent too with some cars
exhibiting letterboard trim that separated the car side from the cupola while
others had continuous siding running up to the cupola roof. Also, end
ladders with either straight or curved tops could be found. At some point,
possibly following World War II, these cars were rebuilt with steel sills and
steps, AB brake gear, a power brakewheel stand on the B end of the car, and
were often resheathed with plywood or, in at least one instance, steel. The new American Model Builder’s kits replicate these latter
rebuilt cars. As mentioned above, due to the variations found among the
prototype cabooses, the modeler will find a number of options built-in to
these kits, which are indicated throughout the included 13 page heavily
illustrated instruction booklet. It is suggest that modeler read through
the pages first before beginning construction and then consulting photos of
the specific roadnumber desired in order to build the most accurate rendering. Kits No. 889 and No. 890 feature 100% laser-cut components with
custom laser-scribed side and end walls; Tab & Slot and Peel & Stick
construction; laser-cut underframe, end platforms, end railing, queen posts,
sunshades, and power brake wheels with stands; cast resin platform steps and
brake gear; Tichy Train Group plastic turnbuckles; white metal smokejack;
brass wire; custom decals by Tichy Train Group; and several fixtures to aid
the modeler in creating all the wire handholds and ladders appropriate for
the prototypes. We recommend the purchase of Kadee No. 580 Bettendorf-AAR Caboose
Trucks, Kadee No. 5 couplers with draft gear boxes, and the paint and glue of
your choice for the completion of these kits. Crated Diesel Engine/Generator Loads
Our latest flat car load features a detailed multi-part cast resin diesel
engine/generator, which includes separate frame, engine block, radiator,
cooling fan, hoses and manifold, as well as an easy-to-build laser-cut wood
crate for shipping the engine off to market. Laser-cut tie-down strapping is
also included. Each package includes two complete loads, which, when used
together, is suitable for flat cars with a minimum length of 40 scale feet
(as shown). Each assembled load measures 1.75” long with end blocking x 1”
wide x 1.125” tall.
Kit No. 221 Crated Diesel Engine/Generator Loads Dairy Transfer Stands
At one time, the “milk train”
was an important member of the food chain supplying those folks living in
large cities with milk, butter, and cheese from the outlying farming
communities. Before World War II and the prevalence of electricity in
rural areas, farmers would need to make daily runs to the nearby railroad
station in order to transport their fresh milk, which was carried in cans,
to the creameries in the big urban areas for processing. Often, a group of
farmers far removed from a township would setup collection points, whereby the
milk cans would be gathered and taken to a dairy depot of sorts. From here,
wagons would be loaded up with the large group of milk cans and taken to the
train station, where they would be unloaded on one if its trackside platforms.
Upon the milk trains arrival at
the station, railroad crews would first unload the previous day’s empty milk
cans to be returned to the farmers and then take on the filled cans.
Depending on the length of the train ride, iced reefer cars were often
employed to handle the milk loads to the city. After electrically powered
refrigeration became a possibility for the local farmer, it was not as time
sensitive of a commodity any longer, and while milk cans were still collected
locally, transportation to the dairy by truck on a slower schedule would take
the place of these daily milk trains by the early 1950s. Our new Dairy Transfer Stand
kit is based on these rural milk can collection points and includes two
platforms. The smaller platform represents an individual farm’s milk can
stand that may have been situated on its acreage nearest the county road.
From here, the milk cans would be picked up by a cooperative that would
collect the milk cans from other area farmers and haul them by wagon to
a main dairy hub, often controlled by the largest dairy farm in the region.
This latter facility is represented by the second larger platform with
office in Kit No. 730 and carries the sponsorship and signage of the
Behrenwald Farms Dairy, a real Michigan based family owned dairy farm still
in operation today. Precision cut from quality
milled basswoods and 3-ply aircraft grade birch plywood, the Dairy Transfer
Kit incorporates all the attributes customers are used to enjoying in an
American Model Builders LASERkit: tab and slotted wall and roof assembly;
peel and stick windows, doors, and trim; simulated metal roofing; both
“cracked” and solid office window glazing; platform ladders; full color
signage with large cow-shaped rooftop billboard; and an assortment of
resin cast parts depicting milk cans, salt sacks, a hand truck, an other
details for accessorizing the larger platform/office structure. The finish
structures measure 1.375 inch square x 0.5 inch tall and 2.625 inch long x
3.5 inch deep x 2.75 inch high to peek of roof respectively. While the United States was
fighting wars in Europe and the Pacific, railroads on the home front were
doing their part to meet the additional shipments.
With restrictions placed on materials such as steel, railroads across the
county turned to rebuilding older pieces of rolling stock to meet rising
traffic demands. In 1944, the New York Central rebuilt fifty boxcars into
cabooses at their East Buffalo, New York shop. Entering the shop as 1910
era 36-foot steel framed wood bodied boxcars, they exited as essentially
new cabooses numbered 20100-20149. These cabooses were given construction
lot number 732.
In outward appearance, the lot 732 cabooses resembled the NYC
19000 series “standard" caboose with their short off set cupola, but were
more than five feet longer. The cabooses retained the steel fish belly frame
as the boxcars they were rebuilt from, but a steel channel was added that ran
along the bottom of the body of the cabooses giving them a unique
appearance. While NYC’s wood bodied steel frame cabooses were bumped from
mainline trains with the addition of 300 all steel bay window cabooses between
1949 and 1952, they continued to serve in local and branchline trains. The
introduction of the steel transfer type caboose in 1966 sent many more of
NYC’s wood cabooses into retirement. However at the time of the merger with
the Pennsylvania Railroad to from Penn Central, there were still ten lot 732
cabooses on the roster. In 1946, the New York Central
introduced a new service, the fast and dependable Pacemaker Freight Service.
Speeding less-than-carload packages between New York City and Buffalo and
intermediate cities, with connections to fast freights to other online
Midwestern cities, the service provided options to shippers who work on
tight schedules and required precise timing. An example allowed cloth mills
neighboring Utica, NY same-day loading on Pacemaker Freight cars with arrival
in New York City's garment manufacturing centers the next morning.
To provide this service, 1000 specially equipped boxcars and
five cabooses were rebuilt with distinctive colors to make up trains of
harmonious design. The upper halves of the equipment were painted vermilion
red and the lower halves dark gray. Roofs, under frames and trucks were
painted black with all white lettering. Special brake equipment known as
AB-1-B type, which is designed for high-speed freight service, as well as
Waughmat Twin-Cushion, double-acting, rubber draft gears were applied to all
boxcars and cabooses. These additions reduced the shocks of starting and
stopping protecting the shipments and the crew. The five cabooses selected for the Pacemaker Service came from
Lot 732 and were numbered 20112, 20117, 20129, 20132 and 21033. These cabooses
were originally built NYC’s East Buffalo, New York shop on the frames of 1910
era 36-foot boxcars in 1944. In outward appearance these cabooses resembled
the NYC 19000 series “standard" caboose with short offset cupola, but were
more than five feet longer than the standard caboose. Converted in 1946 for
Pacemaker Service, in addition to the brake and draft gear modifications the
tongue and groove siding was replaced with plywood sides giving them a smooth
sided appearance. Kits No. 887 and No. 888 feature 100% laser-cut components
with custom laser-scribed side and end walls; Tab & Slot and Peel & Stick
construction; laser-cut underframe, end platforms, end railing, and brake
wheels; cast resin platform steps and brake gear; white metal smokejack;
custom decals by Tichy Train Group; fully illustrated instructions that
provide information on painting and decaling the assembled models; and
several fixtures to aid the modeler in creating all the handholds and
ladders appropriate for the prototypes. In addition, the HO scale kits
provide for optional details too, such as square or rounded body corner
posts, side windows that can be modeled open or closed, cupola end window
variation, and a complete set of screen doors and windows. We recommend the
purchase of Tahoe Model Works Barger-Bettendorf Swing Motion Caboose Trucks,
Kadee No. 5 couplers with draft gear boxes, and the paint and glue of your
choice for the completion of these kits. Springfield
Depot
Inspired by the countless number of small town railroad
depots found across North America, the newest addition to our S scale line has
been aptly called "Springfield Depot" for the widespread use of that
town name in the US. The clapboard sided structure borrows elements from
multiple designs displaying a centrally located angled three window bay with a
small freight room on one side and passenger waiting room on the other side.
At only 7.5" long x 3.75" wide x 3" tall, the S scale
depot will fit just about any 1/64 standard or narrow gauge layout with a rural
or urban setting dated from the late 1800s though the present. The kit features
100% laser-cut parts that include tabbed and notched walls, peel and stick
windows that can be assembled in layers for an optional open window effect, peel
and stick trim, peel and stick shake style shingles, interior floor with wall
partitions, our "stand alone" bay window design, detailed gable
brackets, and a white metal chimney. S
Scale Kit No. 80 Springfield Depot Mine Trestling
This 100% laser-cut O scale basswood kit is designed to either
augment the parts provided in our Kit No. 488 Martinsburg Coal Mine, to fit your own mine structure, or as a
stand-alone unit. The kit provides 20 linear inches of “tailings trestle”, which can be assembled in a straight
line or curves to suit your scenery. "The Pickle Works" A great small industry to add to your layout, our new O scale kit conveys the early appearance of pickle salting
stations with its 100% laser-cut real wood construction right down to the 20 brine vats, which display individual
wood planks and banding. Made from quality birch plywood and basswood, the modeler will easily be able to
obtain that stained weathered look of the prototype facilities. Furthermore, the modular design of the kit,
which includes the open platform with vats and freight car loading point and elevated shed with covered deck affords the modeler relative ease in placement of the structures on their layout
even on curved sidings. Kit No. 451 features everything the discriminating craftsman has come to expect from
a LASERKIT® including Peel & Stick windows, door, trim, and roofing material, custom scribed platform
decking, Tab & Slot wall and platform substructure assembly, laser-cut ladders and wheelbarrows, cast resin
casks and cucumber loads for the wheelbarrows, cast resin scale, optional open vats with simulated brine,
well-illustrated instructions, and full color signage that includes a unique dill pickle shaped rooftop
billboard. As shown, the G. R. Dill & Sons Salting Station measures 16.5” long x 6.5” wide by 7” high
with the elevated shed 5” long and the open platform 11.5” long. Click on photo below for more details! O Scale Kit No. Kit 451 The Pickle Works Copyright ©
2002-2021 American Model Builders.
All rights reserved.
N Scale Kit No. 626 Standard Water Tank with Pump House
Available now MSRP ...$29.95
N Scale Kit No. 631 Branchline Depot
Available now MSRP ...$16.95
N Scale Kit No. 632 Gandy Dancer's Shed 2-Pack
Available now MSRP ...$24.95
N Scale Kit No. 624 Branchline Siding Combo
Available now MSRP ...$49.95
New York Central 19000 Series Wood Cupola Caboose
N Scale Kit No. 554 New York Central 19000 Series Wood Cupola Caboose
Available now MSRP ...$37.95
N Scale Kit No. 519 Generator Flat Car Load
MSRP $15.95
GM&O Wood Cupola Cabooses
HO Scale Kit No. 889 GM&O Wood Cupola Caboose
MSRP ...$64.95
HO Scale Kit No. 890 GM&O Plywood Side Cupola Caboose
MSRP ...$64.95
MSRP ...$19.95
HO Scale Kit No. 730 Dairy Transfer Stands
MSRP ...$39.95NYC Lot 732 "Long" and "Pacemaker" Wood Cupola Cabooses
HO Scale Kit No. 887 NYC Lot 732 "Long" Wood Cupola Caboose
MSRP ...$64.95
HO Scale Kit No. 888 NYC "Pacemaker" Wood Cupola Caboose
MSRP ...$64.95
Available now MSRP...$74.95
O Scale Kit No. 452 Mine Trestling
MSRP ...$39.95
G. R. Dill & Sons Salting Station
Available now MSRP...$189.95
Revised: August 30, 2021
