Hey Y'all,
Another purchase I am considering at my LHS is a Lionel Santa Fe 2343 F3 A-A Set for $250 (I'm seeing a Postwar Pricing Pattern here). They run marvelously, but, the Powered A Unit was re-painted All Red and was given some funky decal on top of the nose. The paint on the un[ainted A Unit is just plain bad.
I remember ads from L&L Screen Painting Co. that showed a 2343 Set they had restored and it looked marvelous, like, well like it had just come out of the Lionel Factory.
Are there any others who can restore trains as good as that?
Cheese
Nick! :)
I just spoke with Len Carperelli, the other day to get an idea of what it cost to redo Sante Fe F3s.
He's a great guy to speak to and is definitely still around
Mike S.
Cheese,
You might want to consider a different set of Santa Fe F-3's. $250.00 seems a little steep for a set of 2343's. For $270.00 you can get a set from Williams that will have perfect paint, but without the postwar motors. I would think for $250.00 you could find a reasonable postwar version with decent paint and lettering. Not sure this is a good deal.
Hmmm,
Now that you mention it, I might have to think this over some more.
But a Williams is not an original Lionel, plus you have that big gap between the frame and the pilot on the Williams model. Servicability is another issue. Lionel parts are plentiful and easy to come by. My thinking is that you can never go wrong with an original.
I know,
Thats why I want the original. I called the man just now. He agreed to put the 2343's on layaway and I am going to pay for it little by little as not to spend alot at one time and to please my dad who thinks I spend to much on trains. (He likes Lionel, but not so much when I plop down a bunch at one time).
Can anyone contact this Mr. Len Carpparelli and see what just a re-paint of a 2343 F3 A-A would cost?
The units are wonderfull operators as I have probably said before and the horn works. There is a bit of rust on the bottom, but that can be fixed.
Oh, also ask what a B-Unit repaint would go for as I am considering buying the B-Unit he had in a second hand box that wasn't on display.
I had Len paint me up a set of A-B Texas Special shells about 10 years ago. The cost was $50 for each shell I believe. Give the man a call. He's very easy to talk to.
Jim
Hmm,
Thats not bad at all. I'll give him a call after work today. I have to take my first payment on the 2343's and the 3461 Log Dump to my LHS. $45 out to put a small dent in the coverage. Next thursday I get my paycheck. Hmm. I think something between $50 and $25 is in order for the next payment.
Just use your best judgement with this particular set, but I'll tell you that the price seems high. I've purchased 2343 AAs in the G-/G+ running condition for $140.00 - $170.00 on eBay, and the paint was all original. A custom paint job may cost you an additional $100 at bare minimum. So you'll have spent $350 on this set and there is no guarantee that you'll get that money back when, or if, you decide to sell.
I say this because you may see something else you really want 6 months from now, so consider the set's desirability. Know that for $275, you can get a nice all original 2343 AA in the VG range on eBay, and it would appeal to a larger crowd of potential buyers if you ever wanted to sell. I sucessfully purchased several of these sets, just know your bid limit and be patient!
Good luck!
Well,
Really the original price was $300 but me and the shop owner struck a deal up and he agreed to take $250 for it.
The units run great, it just needs a re-paint. I know it might cost me $100 to have it re-painted professionally, but who cares. Its really a labor of love because those 2343's are now back in the world of presentable and operable Toy Trains.
Oh, don't worry, I'll never sell them.
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