Lionel 736 Berk in "Good Condition" can I restore???

[ben10ben]

It was/is fairly common even on mint and like new pieces for the pilot to be a lighter color than the body. Pilots were often chemically blackened, while bodies were always painted.

http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=726

http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=773

http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=675

http://www.postwarlionel.com/cgi-bin/postwar?ITEM=646

[FEClionel]

Hey guys! After some cleaning it appears that the pilot is a lot lighter in color and does not match the boiler. I think it looks worse now. Is it taboo to repaint this engine. After all it spent 50+ years in an attic - the running gear and motor are super low miles but the body took a beating from heat and dust. What do you all think. If so what is the best way to prep the body so the finish would look factory fresh and not covering any of the factory details.

[ben10ben]

You may be able to get some more life out of the paint. Take the shell off, remove the handrails(they're held on with cotter pins), remove the boiler front, and dunk the whole thing in warm, soapy water. Scrub everwhere but on the numbers with an old, soft toothbrush, and dry it off. Put a few strategic drops of 3-in-1 oil on the shell, and rub them in with a soft cloth until you get a fairly even luster all over the shell. This should restore the appearence fairly well.

[Back2Trains]

You have a great engine here. My 736 is my favorite steam engine. If it looks good aside from the problems you mentioned, touch it up and enjoy it. Be sure to do the mechanical maintenance(cleaning and oiling). The parts you need should be available from Olsens Toy train Parts or Warren's Trains, or perhaps locally if you have a good hobby shop around.
Jim

[SPFan]

FEC, It doesn't sound like the engine would require a complete repaint and renumbering. You could touch up the chipped areas. I use Floquil Engine Black and adjust the sheen using various amounts of flat and glaze until it matches. I am not sure how small the dent is but if its less than say 1/8" you could fill it with hobby putty and paint over. Practice before using it on the engine.
The numbers were never silk screened but stamped on. You can get rubber stamps at Olsen's Toy Train Parts or Dry Transfers from the traindoctor.com. Have fun.

Pete

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

FECLionel, The Doctor is in !!! My Greenberg price guide says that in good condition it is worth $295.00, How ever this price is for both loco & tender. Replacing the drive rod is not a big deal. As to restoring it? This is a question for wiser heads than me. Find a proper tender is the easer thing at this point. It also came with a 2046w and a 736w
tender. Good luck in any case !

Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble, Yet Strangly [}:)] Doctor !!!

[FEClionel]

Hey guys I found a very low miles 150-51 version 736 w/o the2671w tender. It has a slightdent iat the rear of the cab and is missing a drive rod and small amount of paint on smoke stack. Otherwise it is no badly chipped or scratched - beside he half inch area of paint loss were the dent is on cab. It is low miles and runs super! It is the 1950-51 version with balloon silver 736 #'s - however they are a bit faded. My question here is how di i restore it? Should I repaint and renumber the item and if so what is the best paint and how do i renumber it?-transfers, decals or send to someone to silkscreen them back. Also my next challenge is to find the correct tender. Next question is what do you think its worth as described in the condition I found it. I want to know if I paid too much.