1/8 Scale AB Brake Cylinder

For modelers who don't want a complete 1/8 (inch-and-a-half) scale brake set, this product contains just the brake cylinder.

This AB brake cylinder kit includes a cylinder component, a separate cylinder head, a separate inner push rod, and a separate hand brake chain clevis.  The cylinder head keys into place so that it cannot be assembled incorrectly.

The push rod can be positioned to accommodate different brake linkage arrangements. On a real-life AB brake cylinder, an inner piston pushes this rod out in order to apply the brakes on a freight car, but the piston is not fastened to the push rod directly, allowing for an intentional level of play between the piston and push rod.  Our brake cylinder portrays the piston in its retracted, or released, position, meaning that the piston rod is not visible.  Unlike the piston rod, the push rod itself is not smoothed to a surface of polished steel, and thus the model push rod should be left in its rough, weathered state.

The recommended plastic for these brake parts is Versatile (formerly Strong and Flexible) nylon.  The grainy finish compliments the durable nature of real railroad brake equipment.

If you wish to purchase a complete set of 1/8 scale AB brake components, instead of just the brake cylinder, a separate product page for a complete set can be found from our main Shapeways store page.


Note: This brake cylinder will not hold air pressure and cannot be used to distribute braking forces for a freight car.  It merely looks really good.