S-Helper Service General Note | Historical Note

S-Helper Service

General Note

Historical Note

American Models Collaboration

Don Thompson and Michael Ferraro started S-Helper Service to offer investment money to existing S-scale manufacturers to be able to generate some new products. Their first and only investment/collaboration was with American Models. This started in 1989 and ran until 1995, when S-Helper Service decided to enter the market themselves directly. Under the collaboration with American Models, they produced the Alco FA-2/FB-2, RS-3, and PA engines, the EMD GP35, the GG1, and the 4-6-2 engines, and the heavyweight passenger cars. Some of these models are still being manufactured by American Models, today.

Don recalls that they were responsible for picking roadnames, the artwork, the marketing and advertising, and the taking of orders and deposits. As their discount was the exact same as hobby shops, their advantage was a few exclusives in the first run.