Trains.com

Repairing Brent's Trains

6937 views
70 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Carmel, NY
  • 373 posts
Posted by ezmike on Monday, November 5, 2007 8:56 AM

JIm,

 From the photos you couldn't tell but I guess live and in-person it was different.

Mike

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 5, 2007 6:32 AM
No problem!  I really do appreciate the work you've done!
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Monday, November 5, 2007 6:28 AM

 

The paint may be dry, but it isn't cured, Brent. I don't want to risk having bubble wrap leave impressions in the paint. 

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 5, 2007 6:25 AM
 Jumijo wrote:

I'll let these cars sit for a few days to a week so the paint cures before mailing them back to Brent.  



LOL!!! More likely you want to run them some more! Wink [;)]

No problem... I had to dismantle the carpet central yesterday so I could ship Kurt's order to him... so it will be a couple weeks before I am able to run trains again...

Can't wait to see them, from the images, they should look very nice!
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Monday, November 5, 2007 5:14 AM

 

Mike, I wasn't happy with the tender repair the first time. The hole's outline was still slightly visible, and the rivets were too large and not perfectly aligned. So I sanded down all the rivets and did them over. They are now much closer in size to the rest of the tender's rivets, and they all line up perfectly. 

The biggest surprise to me was how easy it was to use the airbrush. I had purchased a Badger single action a few months back at a going out of business sale at a price I couldn't pass up. I'd always wanted one and the time and price was right. I am very happy with my purchase.

I'll let these cars sit for a few days to a week so the paint cures before mailing them back to Brent.  

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Carmel, NY
  • 373 posts
Posted by ezmike on Sunday, November 4, 2007 8:16 PM

Jim,

 Both the passenger car and tender looked great. You mentioned possibly re-doing the tender. Did you? If so, were you satisfied this time? It looked pretty darn good the first time, IMHO.

Mike 

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 173 posts
Posted by railfan23 on Sunday, November 4, 2007 8:06 PM
Great job Jumijo. It has been fun watching the project from start to finish.Smile [:)]
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Sunday, November 4, 2007 1:50 PM

My first experience with an airbrush was a successful one. I managed to match the silver on Brent's passenger car. It looks a little better than when I received it.

Before:

 

After:

That concludes the restoration of Brent's trains. Brent, thanks for giving me the opportunity to learn some new things. I hope you will be happy with the repairs.

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Carmel, NY
  • 373 posts
Posted by ezmike on Friday, November 2, 2007 8:51 AM

I didn't think so. I have a 6466 and 6026, and they are very different.

Mike

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Friday, November 2, 2007 5:55 AM

 

Mike,

The steps from the smaller tenders are not the same as the larger ones. I checked last night.  

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Carmel, NY
  • 373 posts
Posted by ezmike on Thursday, November 1, 2007 9:19 PM

Jim,

It would be really nice to meet you.

Mike 

 

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Thursday, November 1, 2007 4:40 PM

 

Mike, I'll be at the Springfield show in January. Hope to see you there.

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Carmel, NY
  • 373 posts
Posted by ezmike on Thursday, November 1, 2007 3:35 PM

JIm,

I have a repro NYC shell that I'm going to use until I can find a donor shell for the LL shell. For me the best place to do that is going to be a show because my local train shop tends to overprice PW stuff in general especially anything related to a tender. There is one train/toy event coming up in December & February that I plan on going to that's about 45 minutes away otherwise, there a re couple of shows sooner but most of them are an hour and a half to two and a half hours away. Then there's aways Springfield in January. So anyway, I'll just keep my eyes open for one when I attend a show.

Thanks for the offer and everything else. Keep in touch.

Mike

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Thursday, November 1, 2007 12:32 PM

 

Mike, don't go out of your way or spend a lot of money looking for a donor shell. Patience most often pays off. Look around at shows for damaged or clean shells. These things have a way of surfacing with a little looking. Don't disregard the very inexpensive, smaller, non-whistling tenders either. I believe their steps might be the same as the longer shells. A very nice one shouldn't set you back more than $5.00. I'll research that tonight and see if the steps are the same.

Run the tender with a repro shell until an original comes along. Then move forward with the repair. If I had a donor step, I'd certainly be willing to fix the tender for you, or send it to you so you could learn by doing the repair yourself.

I'm going to a show in a few weeks. I'll keep my eyes open for a shell for you.

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Carmel, NY
  • 373 posts
Posted by ezmike on Thursday, November 1, 2007 12:17 PM

Yep, I realize that they are the same shell, that was just my exacting in detail nature to post the actual tender it was from. Actually, I have both a Pennsy and NYC repro shell (even though I do not believe Lionel produced a NYC 2046/2671). The Pennsy does look more like the original PW. A repro shell is one way to go or if I'm feeling creative I can attempt the repair from a junk shell.

I appreciate your input.

Mike

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Thursday, November 1, 2007 10:44 AM
 ezmike wrote:

Sorry guys, I didn't get a chance to shoot the pics last night.

Its now just one tender, as the seller of the other tender is sending me a complete PW 2046W shell without any prior repairs.

The remaining tender shell is a PW 2671W shell. If you are looking at the tender from the rear it is the right step.

Mike

These are both the same shell, save for the lettering. Some 2671s have Lionel Lines, others have Pennsylvania. All 2046w shells are Lionel Lines. But a step from one will replace the other's.

Repro Pennsy shell's lettering seem to look more like original pw than the Lionel Lines versions. 

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 1, 2007 10:34 AM
Mike,
There is one up for auction in EBay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/LIONEL-2671W-PENNSYLVANIA-TENDER_W0QQitemZ170163342578QQcmdZViewItem

Here is a place that may have a repro shell...
http://mytrainpartsusa.com/PAGE8.html
  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Carmel, NY
  • 373 posts
Posted by ezmike on Thursday, November 1, 2007 10:25 AM

Sorry guys, I didn't get a chance to shoot the pics last night.

Its now just one tender, as the seller of the other tender is sending me a complete PW 2046W shell without any prior repairs.

The remaining tender shell is a PW 2671W shell. If you are looking at the tender from the rear it is the right step.

Mike

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 1:58 PM
Mike,
I would recommend repairing the one step, and if it turns out good, make a mold of that step and then cast a new step to use on the other tender.

Honestly, the pics and knowing what tender we are talking about would really help.

Brent
  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Carmel, NY
  • 373 posts
Posted by ezmike on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 1:44 PM

Jim,

That joke was pretty good.

I'll take pics of the shells in question tonight and post them. The camera isn't the greatest but I think it will be okay.

 One of the shells is missing the step, it is gone. The step on the other shell broke off but I still have it. So it is a candidate for repair. In fact it looks to me like both steps on this shell were repaired at one time but not very well. I probably can clean that one up and use a little plastic weld cement, model putty and paint and be good to go. The other shell requires a replacement step.

Stay tuned.

Mike

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 11:27 AM
 lionroar88 wrote:
 Jumijo wrote:
 ezmike wrote:

Jim,

 That's what I thought, the wider blade would seem to add some stability and allow a deeper cut.

Exactly. 

 

I did notice that the repro steps are slightly different. Finding donor PW shells is a little tough.

You could repair the step, depending on what is wrong with it. Why not post a nice, clear photo of the damaged area? Then we can see what you are up against.



Would it be possible to make a mold of the steps on a good shell, then cast a new set of steps?

Yes indeedy doodlie.

The easiest way would be with resin in a rubber mold. I'd like to see a photo of the damage. He might not need to cut anything off. This might be a candidate for damage repair instead of damage replacement. I replaced my steps because I had no choice. They were gone.

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 10:21 AM
 Jumijo wrote:
 ezmike wrote:

Jim,

 That's what I thought, the wider blade would seem to add some stability and allow a deeper cut.

Exactly. 

 

I did notice that the repro steps are slightly different. Finding donor PW shells is a little tough.

You could repair the step, depending on what is wrong with it. Why not post a nice, clear photo of the damaged area? Then we can see what you are up against.



Would it be possible to make a mold of the steps on a good shell, then cast a new set of steps?
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 10:20 AM
 Jumijo wrote:

A Halloween Joke

A cabbie picks up a Nun.

She gets into the cab, and notices that the VERY handsome cab driver won't stop staring at her.

She asks him why he is staring.

He replies: "I have a question to ask you but I don't want to offend you."

She answers, "My son, you cannot offend me. When you're as old as I am and have been a nun as long as I have, you get a chance to see and hear just about everything. I'm sure that there's nothing you could say or ask that I would find offensive."

"Well, I've always had a fantasy to have a nun kiss me."

She responds, "Well, let's see what we can do about that: #1, you have to be single and #2, you must be Catholic."

The cab driver is very excited and says, "Yes, I'm single and Catholic!"

"OK" the nun says. "Pull in to the next alley."

The nun fulfills his fantasy, with a kiss that would make a hooker blush. But when they get back on the road, the cab driver starts crying.

"My dear child," says the nun, "why are you crying?"

"Forgive me but I've sinned. I lied and I must confess, I'm married and I'm Jewish."

The nun says, "That's OK. My name is Chief Eagles and I'm going to a Halloween party."
 



LOL!!!!!!!!
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 9:08 AM

A Halloween Joke

A cabbie picks up a Nun.

She gets into the cab, and notices that the VERY handsome cab driver won't stop staring at her.

She asks him why he is staring.

He replies: "I have a question to ask you but I don't want to offend you."

She answers, "My son, you cannot offend me. When you're as old as I am and have been a nun as long as I have, you get a chance to see and hear just about everything. I'm sure that there's nothing you could say or ask that I would find offensive."

"Well, I've always had a fantasy to have a nun kiss me."

She responds, "Well, let's see what we can do about that: #1, you have to be single and #2, you must be Catholic."

The cab driver is very excited and says, "Yes, I'm single and Catholic!"

"OK" the nun says. "Pull in to the next alley."

The nun fulfills his fantasy, with a kiss that would make a hooker blush. But when they get back on the road, the cab driver starts crying.

"My dear child," says the nun, "why are you crying?"

"Forgive me but I've sinned. I lied and I must confess, I'm married and I'm Jewish."

The nun says, "That's OK. My name is Chief Eagles and I'm going to a Halloween party."
 

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 9:00 AM
 ezmike wrote:

Jim,

 That's what I thought, the wider blade would seem to add some stability and allow a deeper cut.

Exactly. 

 

I did notice that the repro steps are slightly different. Finding donor PW shells is a little tough.

You could repair the step, depending on what is wrong with it. Why not post a nice, clear photo of the damaged area? Then we can see what you are up against.

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Carmel, NY
  • 373 posts
Posted by ezmike on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 8:44 AM

Jim,

 That's what I thought, the wider blade would seem to add some stability and allow a deeper cut. I did notice that the repro steps are slightly different. Finding donor PW shells is a little tough. My LHS doesn't part with tenders easily regardless of condition since he gets more lonely engines than pairs, as you know, engines and tenders are often separated over time because they are not thought of as a set, resulting in high prices even for non-whistling tenders or damaged shells.

Well, the search is on.

Mike

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 12:08 PM

 

Mike the repro's steps are slightly different than the original pw steps. I used a donor pw shell. And I used the wider saw blade. Just go slow and take your time.

As an aside, I'm not 100% pleased with the hole repair on Brent's tender. Once the World Series hulabaloo is over, I intend to re-do the repair.  

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Carmel, NY
  • 373 posts
Posted by ezmike on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 11:59 AM

Jim,

 Thanks, both saw blades are fine tooth but one is wider to fit in the mitre box. Now to find donor shells. Do you use PW shells or repros? I have two PW shells missing the same step!!

Mike

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Sunday, October 28, 2007 6:36 AM

 

Here's Brent's tender behind my 736. This photo shows the repainted letters.

 

Before:

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month