Lionel 681Repaint or not-need opinions?

[Dr. John]

Tom, that sounds like a smart plan.

Could you post some before and after pictures for us? How are you planning on re-lettering?

Inquiring minds want to know!

[Jumijo]

Tom,

Please e-mail me since you have no contact info listed in your profile. I'll shoot you off an e-mail with the stamp info.

Jim

[Anonymous]

Hi Jim,
What is the contact for the Rubber Stamp guy?
Thanks
Tom

[philo426]

Go ahead and re-paint and re-letter it.Since it is not in collectible condition than make it look sharp.

[Anonymous]

Hey guys-
Thanks for all the great advice. I think I will do the restore-the Krylon Semi flat is the paint I use. I am only repainting it because the playwear are not mine and have no sentimental value. (ebay engine) My dad has an old Marx Vandy that I rebuilt for him and we left all the scratches alone-just waxed the engine to preserve and shine it up. I will never repaint that one or ones that my son and I dinged because those are memories of fun playing with trains. I am happy because my 7 year old says he will never parts with the trains. Hopefully that will never change!
Thanks
Tom[:)]

[Jumijo]

As far as increasing or decreasing the value, you could look at it this way - a restored musclecar, say a 1967 Corvette, is certainly worth more than one that hasn't been restored and has seen better days. I think the same can be said for toy trains. A nicely restored toy train is going to be worth more to a buyer. Yeah, original condition is nice, and I do like the look of an old Lionel with some scratches and patina. But one that looks and runs like new is not going to be ignored!

I hope that if you do decide to restore the train, you document the process with photos and share them with us, along with any questions you might have. I'm not a mechanical genius by any stretch. But I could certainly help you with the cosmetics.

Jim

[Jumijo]

Tom,

If you do decide to repaint it, please let me make a suggestion. Instead of using dry transfers, use a rubber stamp like the factory did. I can give you the name and number of a guy who sells the stamps and ink (which I think is water soluble until it dries, which is nice if you make a mistake. Just wipe it off with a wet rag and re-do it). I have a re-painted 2025 that someone did an outstanding job on. It looks like brand new. The one thing that detracts from its look are the dry transfers. I intend to remove them and rubber stamp the correct silver color "2025" onto the cab.

Krylon satin black or flat black, depending on your preference are great paint choices.

Best of luck!

Jim

[Frank53]

play wear adds character.

[jakeoregano]

For the trains I inheirited, I won't alter the finishes, since all those play scratches are memories for me. It's a tough call for some. I tend to agree with comments by 'msacco' and 'More to restore'. I have both original and restored items that I've purchased in my little collection. I don't intend to sell them ever so it doesn't matter to me if the finish is original or not, as long as the restore was well done. Regardless of value, a poorly done restore is ugly to look at.
I'd say if you really want to, go for it and refinish it if it will make you happy to look at it. I doubt you will affect the value much one way or the other unless you were to really botch it up.

Good luck.
Dwayne

[EIS2]

It depends. If the restore looks professional, the value increases. If it looks like the repaint was done with a mop and a bucket, the value plummets.

Regards...
Earl Staley

[More to restore]

Well Tom,

This is actually a personal choice.
It really depends on what YOU think is more important: a beautiful looking 681 or the conservation of value.
Personally, I do not believe in value conservation much. It has been pointed out previously on this forum a few times that the vast majority of Lionel toy products merely have kept their value over the decades, they did not loose their value. Now, your 681is not perfect anymore: lost some lettering and paint on the edges. So, you have lost value already. Which is logic, because it is a toy and should be played with. So, if you are not going to sell it yourself, then I would just do what like with it. According to Greenberg's price guide a "good" 681 comes at 120 USD, so that is the current value. It would not stop me from making it beautiful again. Moreover, I think that kids should earn their own income when they have grown up.
But again, it is a very personal decision and we can have merely a vote of what we should do.

[msacco]

This can be a tough decision but it's certainly a personal one as well. My rule of thumb is iif it bothers me looking at it the way it is, then I repaint.
As far as value goes IMHO unless it's a really valuable engine and/or variation you don't have to worry. There are a thousands of turbines around but only ones in excellent plus and like new condition (boxes help of course) will increase in value. It's a great engine and Lionel sold a lot of them.
I have two turbines one in runner condition and one on the display shelf that gets some run time but is close to like new.

Mike S.

[Anonymous]

I have an old 681-runs great, smokes great. The lettering is almost rubbed off and lots of missing paint on the edges, etc. Shell is perfect. The loco is a runner. Will I increase its value or decrease if I repaint and dry transfer 681 decals on it? What do you guys think? I am never going to sell it, but I dont want to detract the value for my kids when it is some day theirs. I did this on a basket case 2055/685 chassis and a 8603 shell and made it into a 685 and it looks great, cannot tell except for the old sound of steam hole in the cab.
Thanks for the advice
Tom