Hey all! Today, on the first real summer day, this came in the mailbox:
A Shay in HO of Katsumi manufacturing! But it has been in kept in the foam ..... for maaaany years apparently.
Lots of tarnish, discolorations and these small foam pieces and oil everywhere! Good that I only paid $50 for it. The buffer beam had come loose, but was luckily found in the foam in the box.
So much dirt and crud are there....
After some washing it looks a little better.
A whole lot to do, but I think it might look okay when finished.
Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:
My Railroad
My Youtube:
Graff´s channel
Graffen, one of my "other interests" is restoring old turn of the century hand torches. They are mostly brass, and in very bad shape. To remove the dirt and rust I soak the parts in a 50/50 solution of molasses and water. I does an amazing job. Hopefully your shay just has surface grime and oxidation with no pitting.
Good Luck
Steve
Sometimes I have to let parts sit in it for a week depending...
Life is tough, but it's tougher if your'e stupid.
Graffen,
Some tips:
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/brass
Take Care, Good Luck!
Frank
Graff:
Given your modelling skills of course it will look OK. The challenge will be to turn it into a good runner!
By the way, those gears look worse than the bottom of my BBQ! Good luck!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Sandblasted and tested.
Oh, come on, Graffen - you are taking the mickey out of us! It´s a new one!
Excellent job of restoration!
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Any pitting?????? I have noticed that some colors of the old foam pit worse than others, might be the chemicals that form the colors. Love the shay and I do own one of those and they run great, unfortunately I paid $200 for mine, still a great price but I love your deal!!!!!!!!!!
Graffen:
The bottom of my BBQ cleaned up better than I expected too!!!
Seriously, great work and I like the price!
A small update.
I received the new Mashima motor the other day. The worm gear was therefore removed from the old motor and was attached to the new one. The worm required a small bit of solder to lock it to the motor axle, it was attached like that on the old motor.
I fabricated a motor bracket that I soldered to the frame. There was some small interference between some of the interior parts on the body and the motor, but it was easily solved with the Dremel!
The test drive was VERY smooth, with a small hickup when changing direction! It was sourced to the crank shaft that rocks in the holders, so I have to shim it a bit....
It sure is a wonderful transformation that makes a lemon into a jewel! I will add some pics tomorrow.
http://youtu.be/TwkG79T32ws
Test drive.
Well it is getting to be quite to my liking. I have done a bit more on the locomotive. Soldered together a toolbox that I mounted on the walkway and secured the crankshaft with som plasticard shims:
This is how it looked stripped before painting:
I painted the locomotive with a transparent Etch Primer and then used a custom mixed dark gray color (Humbrol). I painted it gray as I think it looks better.
I baked the body and the trucks in the oven at 65 ° C for 20 minutes. It makes the color very hard and adheres well.
Now it is to be assembled, have the decals mounted and all the details painted and to be weathered!
http://youtu.be/I_3usiWYt-Q
Latest video
Found some small sticks to make the firewood from:
It is rosehip branches that I sawed into small lengths and cleaved.
I have begun the detailing and finishing. In addition to the tools that you see in the picture above, I have put figures on each side to hide the motor a bit more.
Now there is just a little weathering, decoder installation, lights, glass and decals left to do.
It's getting there....