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Red plastic rod?

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Red plastic rod?
Posted by arkady on Monday, January 18, 2010 3:29 PM
Does anyone know of a source for small-diameter transparent red plastic rod? For some reason Lionel doesn't put rear marker light lenses on its 027 observation cars anymore. I've made my own for my NYC and PRR observation cars, but I used up my small stock of transparent red plastic in the process. If I ever do any more, I need a source for new lens material. Anyone know where I can get it? Thanks.
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Posted by Kooljock1 on Monday, January 18, 2010 6:15 PM

 They're back on the new Post War Conventional Classics cars!  Try a Lionel parts dealer like Olsen?

Jon Cool

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Posted by arkady on Monday, January 18, 2010 8:11 PM
Kooljock1

 They're back on the new Post War Conventional Classics cars!

Post-War Conventional Classics, eh? I had to look them up to learn more about them. It's not clear to me if those passenger cars are available individually, or only as part of a set.

Try a Lionel parts dealer like Olsen?

I tried a couple of online parts dealers, though not Olsen. I'll give them a look.
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Posted by 8ntruck on Monday, January 18, 2010 10:11 PM

You might try looking at some of the small Lego kits.  I think I remember some small diameter clear red plastic parts in some of the Legos my kids had years ago.

Another source might be the sprue from model car kits.  A lot of the 1/25 scale cars have clear red tail light lenses and the sprue they are attched to is generally about 1/8" in diameter.

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Posted by arkady on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 9:33 AM
8ntruck

You might try looking at some of the small Lego kits.  I think I remember some small diameter clear red plastic parts in some of the Legos my kids had years ago.

Okay, thanks, i'll look into that.

Another source might be the sprue from model car kits.  A lot of the 1/25 scale cars have clear red tail light lenses and the sprue they are attched to is generally about 1/8" in diameter.

Funny you should suggest that! That's exactly where I've been getting my red plastic up to now -- from the leftover parts of automotive kits I put together in my teenage years (I never throw away any parts that might someday be put to good use).

Trouble is, it's been a lot of years since I last put together a car kit. Be kind of overkill to buy one just to use the clear red plastic bits. But if I can't find a better source, I may be driven to that.

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Posted by chuck on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 11:17 AM
Tamiya makes transparent acrylic paints in red, green, yellow, orange, blue, and "smoke". You might be able to use clear plastic and paint the color on. Red Sharpies make a pretty good "stain" for clear plastic (this is what I used to use if I hosed out a red part and only had a clear piece on the model cars).
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Posted by bfskinner on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 1:20 PM

There are supply houses that specialize in plastics. There used to be one within walking distance of where I worked. What a goldmine! They sold over the counter as well as by mail-order, but the real prize were the many bins that they had on display containing all sorts of bits and scraps. I bought sheet Teflon that I use to this day for lubrication-free washers, among other things.* I cut it into circles with a pair of dividers and punch a hole in the center. I haven't been in one for years, so I don't know what's available or where, but here is one link. You can probably "Google" more. 

http://www.piedmontplastics.com/

*Some day I am going to try using the sheet Teflon to replace the aluminum spacer-disk between the throttles on my Lionel Type KW transformer, to try to minimize the degree to which moving one throttle-lever influences the other.

 

bf
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Posted by Boxcar Bill on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 5:13 PM

E-Mail North Lima Train Works and order part #2332-12.

 

Bill

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Posted by 8ntruck on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 8:49 PM

If you have a local hobby shop, you could always leave word there letting the model car guys know that you are looking for the red sprue.

I agree, buying a kit for the bit of red plastic is too much - the 1/25 scale kits are somewhere between $20 and $30 nowadays!

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Posted by hscsltb on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 9:25 PM

Lego red light sabres from the Star Wars kits. You can buy them seperately at the Lego web site.

Harold Brown
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Posted by underworld on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 12:17 AM

 Well, I replied to your post early yesterday evening, but it seems to have disappeared. I mentioned a few other parts dealers similar to Olsen's. I'm not a representative of either company, but have seen what they have to offer and thought I would list them as suggestions. Don't know what happened to the post, but if you are interested in other sources either for this or any future needs, please feel free to send me a PM and I will give you their contact information. Possibly posting their information here isn't allowed.

 

     underworld  
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Posted by arkady on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 5:23 AM
Boxcar Bill

E-Mail North Lima Train Works and order part #2332-12.

Is part number #2332-12 a single lens, or some kind of two-lens unit? Their website says it's incomplete till mid-February, so I can't look it up.
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Posted by traindaddy1 on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 8:46 AM

Hey Guys:   Thanks a lot!    Big Smile  I was perfectly satisfied with my N. Y. Flyer Passenger observation car until read this post.  In fact, I had to look at the car to see just what you were talking about. Confused  Now, I see. Smile

Guess, since I have become a "player" instead of a "modeler", I don't pay much attention to details. Sleepy 

Anyway, as always, thanks for the information.  (Next time I buy something, I'll take out my magnifying glass)     Luv the Forum.  Bow

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Posted by Boxcar Bill on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 8:54 AM

Single lens. You need two per car.

 

Bill

Factory Trained Lionel Service Tech.
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Posted by arkady on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 10:24 AM
Thanks to all who responded. I've gotten some excellent leads on this matter.
the 1/25 scale kits are somewhere between $20 and $30 nowadays!
Thirty bucks? Good Lord, I used to pay $1.50 for one when I was a kid.

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