This Model Trains Display Shelf is the perfect way to display your Lionel American Flyer trains and other S gauge and S scale collectibles. The sturdy shelving is aluminum 48″ long X 3″ deep. This self-contained, floating shelf is perfect to display your collectible toy trains. The unique design allows your sections to butt together to span any length you need. The Model Trains Display Shelf / S gauge is an engineered design that has been heat treated for strength with an anodized finish. It is durable and easy to maintain and will hold your 1:64 S scale trains manufactured by popular companies such as American Flyer, MTH Lionel.  Sold by great hobby shops such as Train World , Bachmanntrains, ModelTrainStuff , Mario’s Trains, and other S gauge distributors.

MOUNTING HARDWARE AND END CAPS  or SHELF CONNECTORS SOLD SEPARATELY. We suggest installing your shelves by screwing them into wall studs 16″ on center. Based on this 16″ stud bay, the weight bearing rating is a conservative ” no worry” load of 25 -30 pounds per 16″ span. For evenly distributed loads, a four-foot section of aluminum shelving installed with proper mounting screws at the same 16″ on center will hold a conservative total weight of 120 pounds without bending or bowing. So, there are no worries for these shelves to hold your heaviest locomotives and train cars for years of enjoyment!

Install your train display shelves with ease using this optional train display shelf installation kit. This 2-piece set includes 1 drill bit (3/16″) and 1 Phillips driver bit (6″).

MrTrain.com shelves are easy to install. You will need the following tools:

• An electric drill
•  3/16″ drill bits (Because the lip faces downward to hold S scale trains, a 6-inch-long bit works best so you can drill straight without hitting the shelf edge)
• A Level
• Mounting Hardware
• Spacing Blocks

Spacing blocks should be as high as the distance between the shelves, generally between 4″ to 6″ for S gauge trains. Studs are usually located 16″ or 24″ apart on center. Electrical outlets are generally attached to the side of a stud, which is the easiest way to locate one. They may also be found with a magnetic stud finder.

**CUSTOM CUTTING is available here for your 48″ display shelf (to smaller lengths) for $2 per shelf. You will receive the cutoff if they are larger than 12″.  This allows you to butt pieces together to span an area, or fit smaller shelves into small spaces.

Installation Instructions

Using the level, draw a line on the wall where you would like the bottom shelf to be located. Locate the studs along this line. Mark the stud spacing and transfer the marks to the back of the shelf. Using the 3/16″drill bit, drill holes in the shelf from the back.

Using the mounting hardware, install the shelf on the wall line once you have drilled holes through 1 inch lip to align to your wall studs. Attach to the wall by aligning holes to studs and screw directly in. Ideal length of drill bit for the S scale shelf installation is 6 inches, so the chuck does not interfere with levelness. 

Once the bottom shelf is fastened, place the spacing blocks on the top of the rails, equal distance apart. Place the next shelf on top of the blocks and mark where each fastener hole is to be drilled. Remove the shelf, drill the holes in the shelf and in the studs and attach the second shelf.

Continue installing the shelving by using the spacing blocks until installation is complete.

If you are looking for the perfect gift for the model railroader and similarly sized collectibles too, this can be for every enthusiast. Displaying their model railroad trains is a great way to brighten up any train room, office or man cave!

A bit of good information from Wikipedia: S scale is one of the oldest model railroading scales. The earliest known 1:64 scale train was constructed from card stock in 1896. The first working models appeared in England in the early 20th century. Modeling in S scale increased in the 1930s and 1940s when CD Models marketed 3/16″ model trains.

American Flyer was a manufacturer of standard gauge and O gauge “tinplate” trains, based in Chicago, Illinois. It never produced S scale trains as an independent company. Chicago Flyer was purchased by A.C. Gilbert Co. in the late 1930s. Gilbert began manufacturing S scale trains around 1939 that ran on three rail “O” gauge track. This was known as 3/16″ O gauge. Gilbert stopped producing trains during WWII. When the war ended, Gilbert began producing true S scale S gauge trains in 1946 under the American Flyer mark.

The term “S scale” was adopted by the National Model Railroading Association (NMRA) in 1943 to represent that scale that was half of 1 gauge which was built to 1:32 scale. A.C. Gilbert’s improvements in 1:64 modeling and promotions of S gauge largely shaped the world of 1:64 modeling today.

As early as 1948, an industrially produced narrow-gauge railway on tracks with a model gauge of 16.5 mm was available from the French company Allard. The vehicles in the scale of 1:60 to be assigned to today’s Sm gauge ran with direct current on commercially available H0 gauge centre conductor tracks from the same manufacturer or from competitors, which also has a model gauge of 16.5 mm and centre conductor. The traction units, a steam locomotive and a rail bus (autorail), were also available with a clockwork drive.

S gauge entered what many consider its heyday in the 1950s (although there is more available in S scale today than was available during this period). However, during that period, Lionel outsold American Flyer nearly two-to-one. American Flyer’s parent company went out of business and the brand was sold to a holding company that also owned Lionel in 1967.

Lionel re-introduced S gauge trains and accessories under the American Flyer name in 1979. Another S manufacturer, American Models, entered the marketplace in 1981 and is now also one of the major S suppliers. S-Helper Service, another major S gauge manufacturer of locomotives, rolling stock, track and other products, began operations in 1989 and delivered their first S products in 1990. In 2013, S-Helper Service was sold to MTH Electric Trains. And while the S scale market has seen a number of brass model manufacturers, today the major brass model supplier in S scale and S gauge is River Raisin Models. Today’s S gauge and S scale modelers have a greater selection and higher quality products, from a wide range of manufacturers, than at any time in the past. In addition to the basics of locomotives, rolling stock, and track, various manufacturers now offer S scale structures, detail parts, figures, other scenic items, bridges, and more.

Terminology
The terms “scale” and “gauge” are often confused. Strictly speaking, scale is the ratio of the size of a model to that of its prototype and gauge is the distance between the track railheads. In the case of S scale, the proportion is 1:64 or 3/16 of an inch modeling 1 foot. Standard S gauge track has a spacing of 7/8 inch. Three-foot gauge in S scale (Sn3 gauge) is 14.28 mm (0.562 in).