I am new to American Flyer (I restored a Flyer set that I found in my parents closet). I am looking for road bed that goes with the original style track (I have quite a bit of it). I have bought some on eBay but I found it to be hit or miss on the condition, price, and availability. My question is, is there anyone out there that makes new AF road bed or sells original road bed. I know that I can by new S-gage track but i want to give my layout an original feel, plus I already have plenty of track. I’m only in my 30’s with three small kids so I need to be smart with my spending on the layout.
I have purchased several lots of roadbed on eBay, watch the bids sometimes you can get a good deal. I use Krylon semi flat black and give it a couple light coats. The Krylon claims it can be used on rubber and I can tell you it does not seem to have any negative affect on the flexibility. It has stayed looking good for over two years.
I washed the road bed in dish detergent and a stiff brush, let it dry for a couple days before painting. I have done both blak and grey, and even the grey that was looking green.
I agree with Timboy. I have made several eBay purchases to supplement my original rubber roadbed which I acquired in the 1950s. I paid anywhere from $1.00 per piece to as much as $4.00 per piece.
The best quality rubber roadbed that I purchased was not quite equal to my original road bed which still looks terrific, remains soft and pliable, and has no nail holes or paint marks. Some of the worst quality rubber roadbed that I purchased on eBay has some tears on the bottom where the rubber is thinnest but it doesn’t show when it is down on the layout with track inserted in it.
Incidentally, the pieces that I purchased on eBay with paint on it was easily cleaned off with a toothbrush and rubbing alcohol.
Timboy will not pleased to learn that I used Armor All on one batch of roadbed which appeared dull after cleaning and too shiny after applying Armor All. Trying to wash off Armor All with soap and water is a challenge but I was able to remov
I can’t speak for every single piece, but I’ve got a box of AF rubber roadbed that I bought back in the Seventies, when it was cheap. None of it has gotten brittle or begun to disintegrate, which I find gratifying but surprising.
All of you have given me some good advice. Thank You. Now I need to acquire 29 pieces of curved roadbed and 28 pieces of straight roadbed for the layout I am planning on building. Is there a reason some roadbed is gray and some is black?
My original rubber roadbed from the 1950s is black and I thought all of the AC Gilbert rubber roadbed was black. When I bought that one batch on eBay, as I mentioned, the seller said it was gray but I ignored that assuming that it was the same color as mine especially from the photos. When I received it, I immediately noticed the difference in color. The same numbers are on the bottom of the straight and curved pieces as on the black pieces. So, I have no idea why Gilbert produced two different colors. In some ways, the gray color looks more prototypical than the black.
Maybe one of our AF experts can provide the answer.
While I don’t consider myself an AF expert I can look up information as well as the next guy. Here is a quote from Greenberg’s Guide to American Flyer S Gauge , Volume II edited by Joe Deger. Page 101:
Rubber Roadbed Development
The idea for rubber roadbed started with a letter to the Gilbert factory from a man who owned a restaurant in Denver, Colorado. The letter stated that there was an American Flyer train running on track built on a shelf completely around the restaurant (out of the reach of children). Unfortunately the train created an objectionable level of noise and the owner wanted to know what Gilbert had available to quiet the rumble. According to Dr. Edward Bernard, Maury Romer in an effort to help the Colorado man out, started to cut some strips of sponge rubber and bevel the edges. While he was in the process of working on this idea, a salesman and part owner of the Bond Rubber Company of Derby Connecticut, visited him in engineering. The Bond Rubber Company already did some rubber molding for the Gilbert Company (primarily) the rubber tires for Pull-mor Power.)
After Romer explained what he was up to, the salesman offered to mold what he was working on. $500.00 was authroized to construct a single mold, instructions were given that the edge should have a stone effect, and that the track should nest in the roadbed without shifting.
A single cavity brass mold was mad and, after sever inspections and repeated chiseling of additional freatures into the mold it was accepted. Ties, in addition to the four track ties, were just high enough so that they could be stampled black. Although intended for this it was never done.
While I don’t consider myself an AF expert I can look up information as well as the next guy. Here is a quote from Greenberg’s Guide to American Flyer S Gauge , Volume II edited by Joe Deger. Page 101:
Rubber Roadbed Development
The idea for rubber roadbed started with a letter to the Gilbert factory from a man who owned a restaurant in Denver, Colorado. The letter stated that there was an American Flyer train running on track built on a shelf completely around the restaurant (out of the reach of children). Unfortunately the train created an objectionable level of noise and the owner wanted to know what Gilbert had available to quiet the rumble. According to Dr. Edward Bernard, Maury Romer in an effort to help the Colorado man out, started to cut some strips of sponge rubber and bevel the edges. While he was in the process of working on this idea, a salesman and part owner of the Bond Rubber Company of Derby Connecticut, visited him in engineering. The Bond Rubber Company already did some rubber molding for the Gilbert Company (primarily) the rubber tires for Pull-mor Power.)
After Romer explained what he was up to, the salesman offered to mold what he was working on. $500.00 was authroized to construct a single mold, instructions were given that the edge should have a stone effect, and that the track should nest in the roadbed without shifting.
A single cavity brass mold was mad and, after sever inspections and repeated chiseling of additional freatures into the mold it was accepted. Ties, in addition to the four track ties, were just high enough so that they could be stampled black. Although intended for this
I also purchased several lots of AF rubber roadbed on eBay. I found by just putting the road bed in the washing machine with a bunch of large towels works wonders … just like new. Then I take the old AF track and clean it with a Tycro wheel, which is attach to my Shopsmith. I can turn the speed dial down on the Shopsmith to it lowest speed setting. It takes about 30 seconds to clean a section of track inside and out. It is just like new! I have a desert southwest layout 5x16 which I covered the table top surface with microfiber, beige desrt color. You can see it on a lot of furniture now days. I sprayed the roadbed with the Krylon textured paint in the travertine tan color, Just put the track in the roadbed and your ready to start your layout. The best part of this, you can run your trains while you are working on the scenery, bridges, washes, and mountains. Three years later I’m still at it…but best of all, I like to run my American Flyer trains for the grand kids They do too. Smoke choo-choo and rail sounds.