2018 restoration question

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone
I have a question/need advice. I have an old 2018 runner. The cab roof has a slight bend and the jewel holder has a slight crunch. Is it safe to take my torch and heat the shell up and bend the cab roof and straighten the jewel holder or is it opening up a can of worms? The cab roof has a bend of maybe 1/16". I was thinking of repainting the shell in Krylon flat black, new dry transfers and dullcoat to seal, with new jewels and rebuilt smoke unit. Will all of this devalue the engine or should I just repair the smoke? Will heating the shell weaken it? Opinions please-
Thanks
Tom

[mitchelr]

I remember reading an article that was written about a restoration much like you describe. I will search back issues and try to find it.. I think it was in CTT.

[mitchelr]

[8D] I found it. It was in the November 2005 issue of Classic Toy Trains, page 66. The author used another unbent engine to make a jig out of hardwood and then used heat from a propane torch and hammer to gently bend the cab back to the correct shape.

[:D][:D] I was so lucky. It was in the first back issue I opened up. Sometimes things just work out right.[8D][8D]