Removing red tape from Lionel 6470 exploding box car

[azflyer]

I acquired a Lionel train set ( box x-501na ) that has a 247 B&O along with some other cars. In the set it has a red 6470 exploding box car. The person that had the set had the car tape together with red tape from the 1960’s I removed the tape without to much of a problem. Now, how do I remove the residue from the tape, without destroying the cars lettering? Also how does this car work...It looks like a mouse trap trip? I would like to donate it to the boys and girls club in town when its all up and running. I’m American Flyer guy, so I have little use for Lionel ( three rail ) at my old age. I do have some Lionel / Flyer two rail trains and cars with rail sound I enjoy very much. 

[Train-O]

AZ-Flyer,

I believe a mild solution of dish washing detergent and warm water, but be careful of it's application and if, you rub the adhesive by hand, be very gentle of the painted markings.

Don't scrub, or use any abrasive, even a soft paper towel should be patted on the items. 

Better, yet let the pieces air dry with the marked sides up, on a paper towel.

I found out years ago that recycled telephone plastic bodies were washed in a solution of regular dish washing detergent, because the composition of the detergent makes the plastic supple, almost like new.

Afterward, the items were forced air dried and then buffed-up, looking like 'BRANDEE' new.

Remember, as Lou Costello said, in "Buck Privates;"  "Ah, Ah!"  "Gently!!!!"  He then commenced an 'About Face' and fell, anyway!

You set the car up like a mouse trap!!

The actuating rod is carefully set down against the spring's tension and held by another small metal tab.
The ends are held in place by a screw, at each end.
The insides, of the car's sides, near the bottom edge, have little red plastic tabs, which line up with holes in the car's frame.  Two red plastic tabs close to each other on the inside of one side and on the inside of the other side are two red plastic tabs spaced further apart from one another.
These red plastic tabs will fit into the corresponding holes in the car's black metal frame.
The sides are placed on the frame and rest in the recesses of the ends and lastly the roof is carefully set on the top of the sides and ends, all of which are on the black metal frame of the car.

There should be a long whitish metal rod with a head, looking like a long nail, or even a nail, that gets placed into a hole in the roof and lines up with and goes into, a hole in the car's black metal frame.  This rod holds everything in place, of the mouse trap.  

Then, a white soft plastic missile is shot into either side of the car and everything springs apart!

 

Good luck:    http://www.trainshoppe.com/images/6470f.jpg

Ralph

[ivesboy]

I would use lighter fluid. Wont harm the plastic. CTT mentioned this a few times with postwar plastic. Use in a well ventilated area and dont smoke. DISCLAIMER>>>>>

[phillyreading]

The Lionel 6470 exploding boxcar was meant to be used with the Minute Man missile launching car, or other missile launching car. To set the spring loaded mechanism you must be careful to get the rod to seat inside the catch, the little piece (looks like an L with a notch in it) that will release it when the side of the boxcar is pushed in upon. The side of the boxcar that has the word DANGER inside a circle is the one that triggers this car's mechanism to release and explode. Try to hit the side of the boxcar a little bit to the right side of the center of the simulated sliding door and that should release the trip mechanism.

If you are not used to the noise this car makes when it goes off, it may scare you at first. KEEP fingers away from this car!! One reason that Lionel may not make this car anymore could be a safety reason.

Lee F.

[DennisB-1]

Try Goo Gone. It's specifically made for removing grease, stickers, gum, tar, crayon, tape etc. As always, test on a small area first but I doubt you'll have any problems.

 

[azflyer]

Well like they say "you hit the nail on the head". I could not figure out how this exploding box car stayed together, while going down the track. The link to the pics nail it down.

"There should be a long whitish metal rod with a head, looking like a long nail, or even a nail, that gets placed into a hole in the roof and lines up with and goes into, a hole in the car's black metal frame.  This rod holds everything in place, of the mouse trap".  

Also I want to thank everyone for all your replies to removing red tape. 

[Train-O]

AZ-Flyer,

How did you make out with the tape removal?

Ralph

[8ntruck]

Way back when, I made a metal pan out of a piece of tin can on my exploding box car.  The metal pan was placed unnder the place where the spring loaded arm stops.  I'd put a cap gun cap there, so when ther car got hit, there would be an extra report, and a puff of smoke.