cleaning a die-cast Bucyrus-Erie 250

[Budliner]

I seem to be having trouble getting this cast bucyrus clean

It was easy on a smooth part of the top. it cleaned up nice

but the detail section is hard to get the old glue off, and the metal is turnig black as I buff

wow I think Im messing this thing up I was tring to get the boom cleand

first the string from the main cables tangled up

then the boom mounts had been broken previously (I got that fixed)

 

what can I use on this delicate model crane

seems like brasso is a bad choice

I googled cleaning cast and got nothing good

 

I was hoping someone knew the trick for this 250 toner

 

K

 

 

[dknelson]

I have no practical advice to give, but the model is very interesting.  Is this the old Athearn kit when it was metal rather than plastic?  You do not mention a scale. 

Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

I think you're going to have to experiment some, so I'd try some white vinegar in a small area and see if that works or maybe that inexpensive jewelery cleaner. Another possibility is lime away, but that stuff is strong and may stain more than clean. Good luck, Mike.

[csmith9474]

Is that a Red Ball crane? It looks like there is going to be a re-release on the Red Ball cranes.

http://www.mrrwarehouse.com/MRW-Made/Red_Ball_1.htm

[Budliner]

thanks all its a HO

and I got it for $9

been working hard to get it back in action

brass wheels

I was told it was brass but someone had no clue

I will try some of the ideas posted on the back side that is still lose

here it is before I got it

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=484&item=320009979595

772-4305 BUCYRUS ERIE 200TON WRECK CRANE  wow $40 nice

and a few more photos later tonight

 

K

[Budliner]

Is that a Red Ball crane? It looks like there is going to be a re-release on the Red Ball cranes.

http://www.mrrwarehouse.com/MRW-Made/Red_Ball_1.htm

 

oh no..  csmith you had to tell me

oh well thats $47 I had to do it

 

I had to\

 

772-4305	Bucyrus Erie 200T Wreck Crane HO	1	$39.95	$39.95
			Shipping: BESTWAY:	$7.00
			Sales Tax:	$0.00
			Total:	$46.95

K

[csmith9474]

Is that a Red Ball crane? It looks like there is going to be a re-release on the Red Ball cranes.

http://www.mrrwarehouse.com/MRW-Made/Red_Ball_1.htm

 

oh csmith you had to tell me

oh well thats $47 I had to do it

 

I had to\

 

772-4305	Bucyrus Erie 200T Wreck Crane HO	1	$39.95	$39.95
			Shipping: BESTWAY:	$7.00
			Sales Tax:	$0.00
			Total:	$46.95

K

 

I think that was a pretty good deal for 9 bucks!! I wouldn't mind pickin' up one of those new kits for the heck of it. It looks like they got rid of the wood from the kits, though.

[Budliner]

I think thats what pushed me over the edge

no wood and added brass

it was strange when I clicked the link it sead 772-4308

when I paid, it sead 4305

hmm typo

I will post a shot of both that I have (if I ever get it)

ya 9 plus shipping for the old one

 I guess $39 s ok for a new one

now I need the flat car that goes with it

 

K 

[csmith9474]

Just in case you didn't know, that flat car that goes with it is referred to a "boom car". Knowing that should make it a little easier to track one down.

Keep us posted on your progress. It should make a nice looking crane once it is painted and all that jazz.

[Budliner]

heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy smitty

I looked and searched but no diecast boom car

so I sent an email to red ball or the link you sent

and we will see

 

: O)

[csmith9474]

This would be a good start.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/Funaro-HO-NYC-M-O-W-Boom-Car-6620_W0QQitemZ170001973485QQihZ007QQcategoryZ484QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Budliner]

wow thats the badest boom car I have seen

but I wanted to get cast metal (thats definetly a match though)

I  but I did a quich search and was able to get a price on most of Fernaro equiptment and looks like

there around $29, thay cant be cast.    looks great ,good eye 9474

I did get an email stating the crane I ordered now , will be out "during the coming season"

I didn't read the fine print my fault

they did take my order (and credit card) but I guess I will not be getting that 200 toner too soon

I was surprised!!!  that it was avalible, when I saw the pay here... I was under the imprsion that they had the model  to sell ...

I guess they can take the charge , but did they close the batch and charge me for somthing that I will get next season

bummer:  well looks like its a great christmas gift for myself,

I bet my sister will get it for me (I always get her somthing)

oh ya I got an email that the red ball boom car for the cast 200 ton is not in stock (sheeeees)

whats the wait time on that thing

 

ken

 

 

ok

[csmith9474]

From what I waw, the Red Ball crane will be released sometime between now and December (late 2006).

[steamage]

I bought an old Athearn all zinc metal crane at a swap meet years ago. After assembly I cleaned it by spraying with Formula 409 and and water before painting. After painting I strung up the sheaves using high quality fishing line. It is one of my favorite models I own, and far nicer than the plastic one sold nowadays.

[rrebell]

The best one out there is by Tichy, unless of course you can afford brass, in fact I just bought my secound one, great detailing

[MisterBeasley]

I've got this one in my collection.  It's over 50 years old (but, so am I) and I got it from a yard sale "box-o'-trains" when I was a teenager.  I can't find any identifying marks on it.

It is all metal, and weighs as much as a locomotive.  The trucks are 3-axle.  (One is broken, so that's my first repair on it.)  The wheels are plastic, but I may have replaced them myself when I was a kid.  The boom and hook are both operated on pulley systems, which are strung with heavy black thread.  The winches are turned with a metal key inserted through a hole in the side of the crane, which can be seen in the picture.  (Unfortunately, I've lost the key, so that's something else I'll have to fabricate.)

Any suggestions on who might have made this one?

 

[Budliner]

hey..........  that one looks solid, nice no wood!!

sweet........  that one has a more detail boom too

thanks for bringing her out MR B

I guess bowser ???

cool deal with the key I'd love that on this unit

or some motor power to the winch

your going to need the center dbl hook its that main hook,

 mine is missing too

I seen a brass set of hook but it sold for over $30 darn

 

Ken

[Budliner]

well it looks like I was charge for a model thats not going to be out for some time

looks like december it is as its september and I got nadda

 

:o(

K

[dknelson]

I've got this one in my collection.  It's over 50 years old (but, so am I) and I got it from a yard sale "box-o'-trains" when I was a teenager.  I can't find any identifying marks on it.

It is all metal, and weighs as much as a locomotive.  The trucks are 3-axle.  (One is broken, so that's my first repair on it.)  The wheels are plastic, but I may have replaced them myself when I was a kid.  The boom and hook are both operated on pulley systems, which are strung with heavy black thread.  The winches are turned with a metal key inserted through a hole in the side of the crane, which can be seen in the picture.  (Unfortunately, I've lost the key, so that's something else I'll have to fabricate.)

Any suggestions on who might have made this one?

 

 

MisterBeasley I think that what you have there is the old old Athearn  all metal die cast model. 

Dave Nelson

[Budliner]

stil have not receved the cast crane

this stinks  whats up with redball

looks like  got jilted

late 2006 more like maby next year ...

 

 

Ken

[selector]

Two things to try: acetone, or paint/varnish stripper like the kind you use to refinish older furniture.  If you use acetone, you won't need to do any other treatment prior to repainting.  Acetone cleans up metal so well that autobody shops use it to pre-clean prior to priming bare metal.

[Budliner]

select

that acetone evaporates so fast wow

I will give that a try

I did not think of that as theres no paint on it but good tip

K-

[selector]

K., yeah, you gotta use it sparingly and outdoors.

For getting any oxide off the metal, you'd have to work it in a nitrogen bath (or, at least, in a vacuum or with oxygen greatly reduced in the vicinity).  I'm sure that is not practical, so any acid will get it off, but it will quickly discolour I fear.

Saaay, how about that Mag Polish stuff that CMR Products and others swear by for cleaning track.  If you get it clean with that, you could always give it a quick primer coat until you get set up for the real paint job.  It would stop any oxidation.  Just a thought.

[Budliner]

thanks selector

its a tricky thing working with the cast

I sent an email to redball and now it looks like I wont be getting there crane too soon

he sead maby this year and no boom car from them sooooo

 I did pickup a tichy boom car for $7

its been started but looks complete

I think this will get paint but not sure what color they are

 

K 

[Budliner]

well still no bucryus

man its been months

anyone order this thing like me

darnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

[Budliner]

months later still no train

this has to be the worst company in the world

why take my money 5 months in advance!!

 I need a refund

 

K

 

[AntonioFP45]

Budliner,

Glad to see your posts.  Selector's suggestions about the acetone and paint stripper were on the mark.  Did you get some good results? 

If these chemicals did not do the job, one option that usually works well in a case like this is plastic/glass bead blasting (not sand blasting). This process does strip off paint and other unwanted material without scoring or "pok-marking" the metal surface.   If you don't have your own bead blaster, there are businesses that for a fee, bead blast items for customers.  

BTW:  How are you coming along with the brass AEM-7? 

[Budliner]

hello AntonioFP45

happy new year thanks for taking time to respond

I have been changing and things are hectic

I have been trying to refund this redball crane and its like pulling teeth

cant get them on the phone and got no responce to my emails

I don't recomend them

Ken

I did see micromark had a few models for only $20