Buy/Make Anything Cool Lately (Tinplate Version)

John Smatlak posted:

A nifty item from the York meet- a custom built Lionel standard gauge interurban by Karl Rammling. Karl added new ends to a 418 Parlor car of 1923, as well as a bell and trolley pole. An old-school chain drive provides power from a Lionel motor, using two-axle trucks. An E-unit was added for reverse. Some photos on my layout. plus a video pulling a similar obs car from my collection for a two-car train. Runs great- needs to have the ends painted to match, but otherwise I really like the patina.

That's a great find for sure !  Good chance I would have bought it if I saw it first.  I have a similar version started in my project box and I'm   trying to find a power truck for it  now.  That seems to be the hardest part to find. 

Starting tear down and assessment and restoration of D291

Follow on a thread just for this display I started

John Smatlak posted:

Jagrick posted:

Jagrick posted:

This is a paper clip tray Lionel put out/had made in the 1930's. They also made a paper weight depicting a 402 for the 25th anniversary (I have one of those as well). I have reproduced the Lionel streamliner as above from pewter and now will do the same with the airplane.

you can see how the 2 cast pegs on the airplane fit in the holes on the 752

Very cool! Had not seen this one before.

I was pleasantly surprised to find one of these paperweights / executive desk trays on a seller's table at York. No airplane on mine, but still very cool. Sitting behind it is my Wells "Golden Streak" floor toy streamliner. Has anyone got a picture of the version of the desk tray that has the 402?

Today, I am mostly making early Bing O gauge couplings. The photos show some of the stages in the process, firstly the parts as they come from water jet cutting, Then deburred and shaped, next assembled and finally blackend by heating in a gas torch flame and dropping in oil. Got a few bits of stock that need these, so making use of the second extra day off work this weekend.

Big  Mark, I suspect a few of us might be interested in buying some of those!, they look great

Dennis Holler posted:

Big  Mark, I suspect a few of us might be interested in buying some of those!, they look great

 

That's exceedingly kind of you to say so Dennis. I'm afraid none available for sale though, I used to produce a small range of Bing, Carette and Märklin couplings for O and 1, but I can't get the bits cut out anymore. If that should change at sometime in the future, I'll let everyone know.

Cheers, Mark

John Smatlak posted:

John Smatlak posted:

Jagrick posted:

Jagrick posted:

This is a paper clip tray Lionel put out/had made in the 1930's. They also made a paper weight depicting a 402 for the 25th anniversary (I have one of those as well). I have reproduced the Lionel streamliner as above from pewter and now will do the same with the airplane.

you can see how the 2 cast pegs on the airplane fit in the holes on the 752

Very cool! Had not seen this one before.

I was pleasantly surprised to find one of these paperweights / executive desk trays on a seller's table at York. No airplane on mine, but still very cool. Sitting behind it is my Wells "Golden Streak" floor toy streamliner. Has anyone got a picture of the version of the desk tray that has the 402?

 I will send you a picture of mine. U have toyed with the idea of reproducing in pewter but not enough interest in these to warrant anymore seems like

bigmark75f posted:

Dennis Holler posted:

Big  Mark, I suspect a few of us might be interested in buying some of those!, they look great

 

That's exceedingly kind of you to say so Dennis. I'm afraid none available for sale though, I used to produce a small range of Bing, Carette and Märklin couplings for O and 1, but I can't get the bits cut out anymore. If that should change at sometime in the future, I'll let everyone know.

Cheers, Mark

 

Maybe a template file for the cuts?

Adriatic posted:

bigmark75f posted:

Dennis Holler posted:

Big  Mark, I suspect a few of us might be interested in buying some of those!, they look great

 

That's exceedingly kind of you to say so Dennis. I'm afraid none available for sale though, I used to produce a small range of Bing, Carette and Märklin couplings for O and 1, but I can't get the bits cut out anymore. If that should change at sometime in the future, I'll let everyone know.

Cheers, Mark

 

Maybe a template file for the cuts?

I couldn't make them that way Adriatic, my brain would go numb with the boredom! I only started making these many years back because the guy who used to make and sell them made them by hand as you suggest, and they cost a fortune to buy from him, £10 each, and I'm talking 20 years ago. So I spoke with a friend whos business is water jet cutting, and away I went.

Cheers, Mark

Two Tone Blue 381e with Proto 3

Plasma would work until you needed a critical dimension such as laying out a motor side plate and ensuring the gears all meshes correctly. With each of those there is a tolerance and you have to chooose to center on the profile or stay to one side. I’m trying to get a response from a local firm to see what they would charge for a std sized sheet of parts. I do know over in the UK there is a bit of cortage industry at leadt one guy will laser cut live steamer frames and other parts if you provide the file etc. I got laser cut frames for an LBSC Bat which were very nice but of course shipping would be tough for a few parts.

Craignor posted:

Two Tone Blue 381e with Proto 3

That is one, beautiful set! 

George

Technically this is not a train accessory, but it is tinplate, and I think people will appreciate it. It certainly goes well with the trains; it's a Metalcraft Zeppelin and a mooring mast that I'm not sure who made. At the moment it's been attached to the top of our Lionel station. The Detroit Leland Monorail can be seen circling below.

Thats Awesome @John Smatlak  I am very much a zeppelin man !

( at one stage I used to own and operate a 16 foot radio controlled airship )

I picked up a Mark Clockwork version from I think the 1930's for very much the same task of circling the skies !

A bit over 10" long

The zeppelin is very cool !!   Yesterday I went with the tried & true and bought a very nice Lionel 2065 that runs nice. My 5th one, I think.  Sure didn't need it but the price was right.

What can I build out of this MTH NYC 999 Empire State Express chassis?  

That's all I got, but it is the high 86" driver version  Would have to make a maybe a tin boiler and cab and tender??  That or wait for an MTH boiler to be listed. Although I am a deep rooted PRR fan, this is one NYC engine that I love, Huge drivered 4-4-0's and this one has just the perfect stance for my tastes...

let your fingers tip toe thru that closet of yours and you may be amazed what you find....

you could start with a piece of PVC pipe for a boiler....

Dennis, I would try to rebuilt the body with brass, or maybe finding a similar model in old style casting. It's a great looking model. 

Daniel

Dennis Holler posted:

What can I build out of this MTH NYC 999 Empire State Express chassis?  

That's all I got, but it is the high 86" driver version  Would have to make a maybe a tin boiler and cab and tender??  That or wait for an MTH boiler to be listed. Although I am a deep rooted PRR fan, this is one NYC engine that I love, Huge drivered 4-4-0's and this one has just the perfect stance for my tastes...

Thomas Branch Line or a Shawnee?

Dennis Holler posted:

What can I build out of this MTH NYC 999 Empire State Express chassis?  

That's all I got, but it is the high 86" driver version  Would have to make a maybe a tin boiler and cab and tender??  That or wait for an MTH boiler to be listed. Although I am a deep rooted PRR fan, this is one NYC engine that I love, Huge drivered 4-4-0's and this one has just the perfect stance for my tastes...

Would it fit into an AHM Casey Jones kit body? Maybe that would defeat the "tinplate-ness" of it?

Make a "track inspection" car out of it. Some had like a passenger car body over it. A lot easier to scratch build than a loco body. Thee are pictures of them in books.

Dennis Holler posted:

What can I build out of this MTH NYC 999 Empire State Express chassis?  

That's all I got, but it is the high 86" driver version  Would have to make a maybe a tin boiler and cab and tender??  That or wait for an MTH boiler to be listed. Although I am a deep rooted PRR fan, this is one NYC engine that I love, Huge drivered 4-4-0's and this one has just the perfect stance for my tastes...

Dennis, I have a well busted Marx Wm Crooks shell I’d be happy to send you. The domes and stacks are still good.

Steve

Thanks for the offer Steve, I'm gonna try and make a tinplate boiler/cab for it.

Alright, I've missed so many of these cars over the last year or so but now I finally managed to win one!  The MTH Altoona Lager Beer car in tinplate!!  Several times I was on one but either forgot to bid or the bidding got to high.  Maybe I got lucky this time. 

That’s Ann awesome beer car @Denis Holler. Nice pick up. That is actually cool enough to make me consider MTH tinplates, seriously. Don’t have anything against them but they just never seemed to fit with my engine and rolling stock- that one could!

Got a few things over the last ten days, haven’t had a chance to get to post much. I will limit descriptions to the metals but you’ll see some larger shots too.

First up: picked up these diecast figures and sign at Henning’s yesterday. Station figure and boy with a camera? They fit well and look  somewhat decent with my O scale figures. The sign says “please do not scorch. Police Station one Mile”. In the background is a repainted 657 caboose I got last Thursday. At first I didn’t know it was repainted(was rushed for time) which got me kinda ticked off. Then when I realized that was a color that was never even originally made- even more mad. Calmed down though, However, and it’s actually pretty nice. Since it was  $8 I figure if I can’t find a  place for it I can at least harvest the couplers.

Next, focusing on the green car on the single tubular track. Ives 551 Chair Car from eBay, description said it was Pretty beat up and it is but not as bad as described. Nice addition to my Ives/Bing American Market consist led by an Ives 3250 or Lionel 254e. I have a latch and slot coupler on the 254e and the long coupler on the chair car fits in their snug and securely. 

Never thought I’d write a paragraph being so stoked about couplers ha. In the front in the bag in the pic above: 2 reproduction early Ives Tab/slot couplers I got at Henning’s. One has that “T” shape to fit through the base, has a more narrow slot but longer tab- this one is now on the other end of the Chair Car is the hook/link/auto coupler could go back to its original car. The other I bought has the circular part that you twist and has a shorter tab but bigger slot.

Above: Got this postwar #35 lamp pole in a junk bin in a bag with another, much larger pole. Anyway, still works, hoping to find a top for it, preferably the crowned one it should have. For now it has the red light bulb because it’s a warning light at a small military outpost.

below- repainted caboose up close. 

below: Sunoco 1680 tank car. Was missing one truck and was already fitted with the knuckle. Fine with that though becuse now I can add to my major Gas and Oil company consist with a different SUnoco car.

More to come once I get home

Look what the postman brought this week (via international air freight).  A No. 813 Cattle Car in orange and pea green with copper journals (Type II) from 1931-34 and a No. 816 Coal Car Hopper in red with copper journals (Type III) from 1931-34.

These might be relatively easy to buy in the US, but they're impossible to get here in Australia.  So sorry to my US friends to have depleted the total pool of available supply by two cars!

I’m very happy with the cattle car which is in great condition for its age.  The paint is amazing.  I was hoping the hopper car would be the lighter red color but it’s not and looks to have been repainted.  That's what can happen when you rely on a seller's low quality photos.  Oh well, it's still a nice addition to the pre-war collection.

StevefromPA posted:

Got a few things over the last ten days, haven’t had a chance to get to post much. I will limit descriptions to the metals but you’ll see some larger shots too.

 In the background is a repainted 657 caboose I got last Thursday. At first I didn’t know it was repainted(was rushed for time) which got me kinda ticked off.

 

 

 

 

 

I haven't put the TCA "restored" stickers on my tinplate yet. I guess I need to get around to that. It might be easier to put stickers on the ones that are original though! 

George

George S posted:

StevefromPA posted:

Got a few things over the last ten days, haven’t had a chance to get to post much. I will limit descriptions to the metals but you’ll see some larger shots too.

 In the background is a repainted 657 caboose I got last Thursday. At first I didn’t know it was repainted(was rushed for time) which got me kinda ticked off.

 

 

 

 

 

I haven't put the TCA "restored" stickers on my tinplate yet. I guess I need to get around to that. It might be easier to put stickers on the ones that are original though! 

George

Haha. Please don’t do that, George. The reason i was just minorly ticked off was because the tag didn’t indicate it was repainted in a non-original color, i.e. that caboose was never offered in brown in the prewar era.

Also, where do you live in Australia? i lived in Brisbane & studied at University of Queensland for 5 months back in 2012. Made my way up to Cairns and down to Sidney, Frasier Island, the Whitsundays, flew out to Fiji Love Aussie, should I ever gain the ability to move there I will. But now that you mention the train deficit I’m getting second thoughts lol. But seriously.

That said, those are 2 very nice pre war freight cars, I really like the stock car especially. And I have no clue why but those prewar hopper cars are really hard for me to find in my area of the states, I’ve never looked but anywhere I go that has prewar items I check out the pieces. Between shows, flea markets, antique markets or shops, hobby shops, shows, etc... I just never have come across one.

Again, nice gets and enjoy life down under!

Picked the first two up on Friday. The destination sign if by Bing, I believe(possibly Märklin). The roof, sides, signs are original. Unfortunately the base appear to have been replaced. Still, I was happy to find this guy

Thr 2nd item is a Bing crossing sign with bell. Unfortunately no lettering on the sign and lacks the pole mechanism. But again, like this piece. The reason I was upset the Coty Destination sign lacked the original base was because I love the original based by Bing, Märklin, Issmayer, Carretes, etc... just something about the colors and texture. 

question on this one as well- how does one attach it to the tracks? Lol

below: 2 Metal Masters buses(can you spot the difference. And a Hubly Kiddie Toy with the paper insert that shows the cars underbody stil intact.

@StevefromPA  I think the crossing bell's two outer mounts slip under a rail and the wheel flanges strike and push down on center contact arm, repeatedly tolling the bell as the the train rolls past. 

Adriatic posted:

@StevefromPA  I think the crossing bell's two outer mounts slip under a rail and the wheel flanges strike and push down on center contact arm, repeatedly tolling the bell as the the train rolls past. 

Thanks @Adriatic ! Just need to find a pole to put on the back to make the bell ring.

And here is an original BING model, the same than yours, maybe it could be helpful for a restoration,

Daniel

StevefromPA posted:

Picked the first two up on Friday. The destination sign if by Bing, I believe(possibly Märklin). The roof, sides, signs are original. Unfortunately the base appear to have been replaced. Still, I was happy to find this guy

This is model 678/0 from Karl Bub, made 1924-1934.

Greetings

Arne

@Arne Thank you! I was looking to verify another item I just purchased(surprise for later in the week) and then was looking for the destination sign on this website:

https://www.historytoy.com/toy...-all-article-numbers

Couldn't find it under Bing. Karl Bub was my next go to manufacturer. The help is much appreciated. Any thoughts on the shield with the bell I purchased? The base is marked with the Bing logo and the base style is also consistent with other prewar, European makers 

Gotthis guy in the mail today. Body is in excellent condition. Wheels and couplers are new but I love the  lower profile:

Was able to add it to my prewar consist(Ives 3250, Flyer 1123, Ives Chair Car 551, 2 ives gravel cars #63, Bing NYC 253, Bing PRR Obs. #529):

FRENCHTRAINS posted:

And here is an original BING model, the same than yours, maybe it could be helpful for a restoration,

Daniel

@FRENCHTRAINS I’m sorry I didn’t see your post above Arne’s. That is EXTREMELY helpful- thank you for posting that! Very much appreciated!

-Steve

StevefromPA posted:

Picked the first two up on Friday. The destination sign if by Bing, I believe(possibly Märklin). The roof, sides, signs are original. Unfortunately the base appear to have been replaced. Still, I was happy to find this guy

Thr 2nd item is a Bing crossing sign with bell. Unfortunately no lettering on the sign and lacks the pole mechanism. But again, like this piece. The reason I was upset the Coty Destination sign lacked the original base was because I love the original based by Bing, Märklin, Issmayer, Carretes, etc... just something about the colors and texture. 

question on this one as well- how does one attach it to the tracks? Lol

below: 2 Metal Masters buses(can you spot the difference. And a Hubly Kiddie Toy with the paper insert that shows the cars underbody stil intact.

Pictures a bit dark, but it looks like two different front wheel openings.

Steve

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

StevefromPA posted:

Picked the first two up on Friday. The destination sign if by Bing, I believe(possibly Märklin). The roof, sides, signs are original. Unfortunately the base appear to have been replaced. Still, I was happy to find this guy

Thr 2nd item is a Bing crossing sign with bell. Unfortunately no lettering on the sign and lacks the pole mechanism. But again, like this piece. The reason I was upset the Coty Destination sign lacked the original base was because I love the original based by Bing, Märklin, Issmayer, Carretes, etc... just something about the colors and texture. 

question on this one as well- how does one attach it to the tracks? Lol

below: 2 Metal Masters buses(can you spot the difference. And a Hubly Kiddie Toy with the paper insert that shows the cars underbody stil intact.

Pictures a bit dark, but it looks like two different front wheel openings.

Steve

Winner! Yes then front bus has exposed front wheels while the rear bus has covered front wheels.

Dennis Holler posted:

Alright, I've missed so many of these cars over the last year or so but now I finally managed to win one!  The MTH Altoona Lager Beer car in tinplate!!  Several times I was on one but either forgot to bid or the bidding got to high.  Maybe I got lucky this time. 

 

nice! 2800 series?

Another off the bucket list today

Scored some well worn but mostly intact Hornby No.1 Pullman cars , these are a little longer and fancier than the Std Pullmans of the period , and cost 3 1/2 times as much!

Luckily this one is all three names Niobe, Cynthia, and Corsair ....

Standard Hornby issue

Annnnd the No.1's

StevefromPA posted:

 

Also, where do you live in Australia? i lived in Brisbane & studied at University of Queensland for 5 months back in 2012. Made my way up to Cairns and down to Sidney, Frasier Island, the Whitsundays, flew out to Fiji Love Aussie, should I ever gain the ability to move there I will. But now that you mention the train deficit I’m getting second thoughts lol. But seriously.

That said, those are 2 very nice pre war freight cars, I really like the stock car especially. And I have no clue why but those prewar hopper cars are really hard for me to find in my area of the states, I’ve never looked but anywhere I go that has prewar items I check out the pieces. Between shows, flea markets, antique markets or shops, hobby shops, shows, etc... I just never have come across one.

Again, nice gets and enjoy life down under!

I live in Melbourne, which is a fair distance from the tropical north you describe.

I was happy to find a pre-war 816 hopper car with latch couplers in reasonable condition. Sellers of some of the better examples are asking for quite a bit of money. I've read that Lionel used two different shades of red paint through the production run after they ceased the olive green. However when buying online it's hard to know what you arrive in the post.

Fatman posted:

Another off the bucket list today

Scored some well worn but mostly intact Hornby No.1 Pullman cars , these are a little longer and fancier than the Std Pullmans of the period , and cost 3 1/2 times as much!

 

I do not agree, but by Hornby collectors these Pullman cars are not considered fancy but ugly (according to the Hornby Companion series books). They were made between 1935 and 1941. They were not re-introduced after WWII; “it was felt that Britain had suffered enough without reviving this unsatisfactory monstrosity”. 

Of course you still need a Pullman Composite car like this:

Regards

Fred

LOL!  Yes @sncf231e

I do need one of those composite cars ( Aurora or Ansonia ) and again is there anything you dont have Fred ? LMAO!

Probably a good thing I collect what I like rather than the things authors in a book like

I have a habit of buying things not quite to "normal" public taste

For instance my motorcycle LOL I have a 2003 BMW Scarver and all my mates call it "The Ugly Bike"

But I think its sexy

And instead of a cool Vespa I also have a 1957 DKW

I just think the No.1 carriages  make a nice change from the smaller MO series and form a "bridging" between the single and dual bogie Pullmans ?

The world would be very boring if we all thought the same things were beautiful

Trainlover160 posted:

Dennis Holler posted:

Alright, I've missed so many of these cars over the last year or so but now I finally managed to win one!  The MTH Altoona Lager Beer car in tinplate!!  Several times I was on one but either forgot to bid or the bidding got to high.  Maybe I got lucky this time. 

 

nice! 2800 series?

Yes, 2814

O Gauge Guy posted:

I was happy to find a pre-war 816 hopper car with latch couplers in reasonable condition. Sellers of some of the better examples are asking for quite a bit of money. I've read that Lionel used two different shades of red paint through the production run after they ceased the olive green. However when buying online it's hard to know what you arrive in the post.

OGG... there are 3 colors just so you know.  1) The warm tone red which you already have, 2) A cooler toned red (usually with Nickel trimmings, and, 3) A blood red from 1935 only.

You will see mix trim and trim/color combos I've not listed in red hoppers. Happy Collecting.

Picked this up at York. It must have been the fish hook that caught me but couldn't resist the character this car has. What's left of the chain is still on the drum. The gent who sold it stated it's post war Gnadler made in Czechoslovakia but that's about all I know.

John, that looks very Marklinesque to me although isn't the name you mentioned the same that made the railway cannon?

Not mine, but I would love to run into one!!!

O Gauge Guy posted:

StevefromPA posted:

 

Also, where do you live in Australia? i lived in Brisbane & studied at University of Queensland for 5 months back in 2012. Made my way up to Cairns and down to Sidney, Frasier Island, the Whitsundays, flew out to Fiji Love Aussie, should I ever gain the ability to move there I will. But now that you mention the train deficit I’m getting second thoughts lol. But seriously.

That said, those are 2 very nice pre war freight cars, I really like the stock car especially. And I have no clue why but those prewar hopper cars are really hard for me to find in my area of the states, I’ve never looked but anywhere I go that has prewar items I check out the pieces. Between shows, flea markets, antique markets or shops, hobby shops, shows, etc... I just never have come across one.

Again, nice gets and enjoy life down under!

I live in Melbourne, which is a fair distance from the tropical north you describe.

I was happy to find a pre-war 816 hopper car with latch couplers in reasonable condition. Sellers of some of the better examples are asking for quite a bit of money. I've read that Lionel used two different shades of red paint through the production run after they ceased the olive green. However when buying online it's hard to know what you arrive in the post.

Was lucky enough to visit Freemantle for a few days in 1990 while in the Navy, and boy let me tell you I LOVED it there!  People were fabulous and made a great purchase on a huge sheepskin rug  for a great price.  I only wish I had taken time to find a hobby shop and some old trains!!  Alas, I was very thirsty as most young Navy types are or were! lol

Dennis Holler posted:

John, that looks very Marklinesque to me although isn't the name you mentioned the same that made the railway cannon?

Not mine, but I would love to run into one!!!

Dennis, it is a Gunthermann railroad gun from 1938-40. When the train stop the barrel raise, it fires one shot and the barrel return in position. Not so easy to find one in working condition, I am still looking for one...

Daniel

FRENCHTRAINS posted:

Dennis Holler posted:

John, that looks very Marklinesque to me although isn't the name you mentioned the same that made the railway cannon?

Not mine, but I would love to run into one!!!

Dennis, it is a Gunthermann railroad gun from 1938-40. When the train stop the barrel raise, it fires one shot and the barrel return in position. Not so easy to find one in working condition, I am still looking for one...

Daniel

That is really neat!

Bought this to restore. After inspection, it looks like it is going to be a bigger job than anticipated. I thought it was just removing the wood glued to the roof an repainting it.

Now I see that the frame was hand painted and some paint got on the litho.

George

John H. Shetler posted:

Picked this up at York. It must have been the fish hook that caught me but couldn't resist the character this car has. What's left of the chain is still on the drum. The gent who sold it stated it's post war Gnadler made in Czechoslovakia but that's about all I know.

I can't confirm it is Gnadler, just picked up a pair of coaches a few weeks back. Fairly large pieces but they were stamped underneath and have simple T&S couplers.

I just acquired an O gauge 3 rail set marked LOMA. I can find little information other than it was likely made in Austria and I'm guessing in the 40's or 50's. The cab was badly bent to one side and it was a challenge to straighten. The set is surprising made mostly of aluminum that is riveted together. The roofs, wheels, and car frames are steel. The engine has holes simulating headlights, but no provision for sockets. The hook couplers face upwards. The motor has a manual reverse and after a full service, it now runs but very slowly even on 21 volts AC. I suspect it may require higher voltage? Any additional information most appreciated!

Eric

TCA, LCCA, Ives Train Society 

Reproduction O scale Ives 800 trolley. Non-powered, but could certainly be motorized (the floor is made to be pierced to insert an Ives motor). These were offered this Spring through the Ives Historical Society and were made up by Jerry Loman, Sunset Trains and Toys of Kalkasha, Michigan. I picked up mine at the York meet. In the background of the first and last photos is another little goodie I picked up a York, a Jep substation building.

Some neat photos of the real deal: http://www.ivestrains.org/CD/O...tmlfiles/No800_1.htm

George S posted:

Bought this to restore. After inspection, it looks like it is going to be a bigger job than anticipated. I thought it was just removing the wood glued to the roof an repainting it.

Now I see that the frame was hand painted and some paint got on the litho.

George

You can do it George!

Jim O'C posted:

John H. Shetler posted:

Picked this up at York. It must have been the fish hook that caught me but couldn't resist the character this car has. What's left of the chain is still on the drum. The gent who sold it stated it's post war Gnadler made in Czechoslovakia but that's about all I know.

I can't confirm it is Gnadler, just picked up a pair of coaches a few weeks back. Fairly large pieces but they were stamped underneath and have simple T&S couplers.

Nice cars Jim. Here's some more of the crane car, the blueish gray color on both pieces look very similar. The green on the springs/trucks of the crane really seem off but no reason to suspect redone..

It was a rainy day here today, and a good opportunity to install the the 7 additional Glenn Snyder shelves I picked up at York.

York pickup saved me a lot of money on shipping.

John H. Shetler posted:

George S posted:

Bought this to restore. After inspection, it looks like it is going to be a bigger job than anticipated. I thought it was just removing the wood glued to the roof an repainting it.

Now I see that the frame was hand painted and some paint got on the litho.

George

You can do it George!

I’m more hopeful today. I got the paint off the litho. I used Goof Off. Not for the faint of heart as it is an aggressive solvent. Mineral Spirits was taking too much rubbing and the friction was damaging the litho. 

The trucks were sloppily painted black from the outside. They were originally tan.

The ladders must have been painted black too. They were originally brass. The brass is gone now except for a few spots.

There is even paint on the journals!

George

Jim Waterman just told me that he has finished the 10-car Standard Gauge Olympian Hiawatha set I ordered from him.  Each car in the consist is unique and is based on the original Milwaukee Road drawings.   The paint scheme Jim applied is the simplified 1948 tri-color (orange, maroon, black) livery with the colors of the paint matched to the colors used on the MTH/Lionel tri-color Milwaukee Road Super 381 Bipolar engine, which will be the primary locomotive I plan to use to pull the set.  Attached below is a photo of the set's Standard Gauge Skytop Sleeper observation car.

I will post more photos of the other cars as soon as I have them.

Bob Nelson

navy.seal posted:

Jim Waterman just told me that he has finished the 10-car Standard Gauge Olympian Hiawatha set I ordered from him.  Each car in the consist is unique and is based on the original Milwaukee Road drawings.   The paint scheme Jim applied is the simplified 1948 tri-color (orange, maroon, black) livery with the colors of the paint matched to the colors used on the MTH/Lionel tri-color Milwaukee Road Super 381 Bipolar engine, which will be the primary locomotive I plan to use to pull the set.  Attached below is a photo of the set's Standard Gauge Skytop Sleeper observation car.

I will post more photos of the other cars as soon as I have them.

Bob Nelson

These are beautiful! I love the black top. It really sets off the orange and red, unlike the gray.

Enjoy! 

George

Picked these guys up betweenthursday and Sunday:

1st up- Ives: Ives Railway Lines #52 Parlor Car. Didn’t realize how small this was compared to my Ives 551 Chair Car, 63 gravel cars, or Bing 523 NYC  Coach And Bing 529 PRR obs. Still, I like the car:

next up, Märklin 17280 postal/baggage car(lighted- which makes me feel it was modified in addition to the paint being semi-immaculate):

Fiinally, a surprise pick-up at a LHS that rarely  sells Tinplate or anything German. Was happy to come across it. Here we have a Bub 413e cloackwork and 62541 hopper:

The size of the Loco and Hopper are closer to OO than S or O. That said, they fit on some Sakai 2 rail track as well on O- gauge track. Any info on the last 2 would be appreciated. I know Karl Bub has an I’ll-fated venture into S Gauge but these don’t seem to be of that sort.

A new American Flyer O gauge accessory, and a question about brushes on Flyer O gauge. This colorful yellow lithographed girder bridge has the rather whimsical inscription "Sold & Known Everywhere-East-West-North-South and Foreign". Also newly arrived, a Flyer 423 steamer is seen above. 

A question about Flyer brushes- when I got this locomotive it didn't run. Applying a little pressure on one of the brushes got things to start turning, so I took off the wires and removed the tiny little outer cap (that rests in the end of the spring) and then the spring inside each brush tube. I then turned the engine on its side and gave it a few taps expecting some carbon brushes (or remains thereof) to fall out. Nothing came out. I tried a little lifting from the commutator side using a flat rule, but nothing comes out. So I re-tensioned the one spring that was obviously weak, put it back together and it started running fine. Since it started running I didn't want to explore further and take off the brush plate. Question- what's in those brush tubes? A conventional carbon brush? a brass one?

Thanks!

navy.seal posted:

Jim Waterman just told me that he has finished the 10-car Standard Gauge Olympian Hiawatha set I ordered from him.  Each car in the consist is unique and is based on the original Milwaukee Road drawings.   The paint scheme Jim applied is the simplified 1948 tri-color (orange, maroon, black) livery with the colors of the paint matched to the colors used on the MTH/Lionel tri-color Milwaukee Road Super 381 Bipolar engine, which will be the primary locomotive I plan to use to pull the set.  Attached below is a photo of the set's Standard Gauge Skytop Sleeper observation car.

I will post more photos of the other cars as soon as I have them.

Bob Nelson

Bob, that’s a lot of cars. What are you going to pull them with?

Steve

Found a big set of Adolf Schuhmann from the 30s in like new condition.

Greetings

Arne

Spectacular Arne !

Wow!  That's fantastic condition for age Arne.  I can't believe the gleaming track.

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

navy.seal posted:

Jim Waterman just told me that he has finished the 10-car Standard Gauge Olympian Hiawatha set I ordered from him.  Each car in the consist is unique and is based on the original Milwaukee Road drawings.   The paint scheme Jim applied is the simplified 1948 tri-color (orange, maroon, black) livery with the colors of the paint matched to the colors used on the MTH/Lionel tri-color Milwaukee Road Super 381 Bipolar engine, which will be the primary locomotive I plan to use to pull the set.  Attached below is a photo of the set's Standard Gauge Skytop Sleeper observation car.

I will post more photos of the other cars as soon as I have them.

Bob Nelson

Bob, that’s a lot of cars. What are you going to pull them with?

Steve

Steve,

I had Jim match the paint colors to those used on my tri-color Milwaukee Road "Super" 381.  With it's two motors and weight, it should pull several of the cars if not all of them.  If not, and I still need more power, I will couple to the consist my other two-motor Milwaukee Road "Super" 381 in the UP livery.  If that is still not enough power, I will add my tri-color, two-motor Milwaukee Road  381 up front.  If that won't pull the entire 10-car consist, I  might even add my all-black Milwaukee Road Brute to the train.  If that isn't enough power, I am open to suggestions!

Bob Nelson

navy.seal posted:

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

navy.seal posted:

Jim Waterman just told me that he has finished the 10-car Standard Gauge Olympian Hiawatha set I ordered from him.  Each car in the consist is unique and is based on the original Milwaukee Road drawings.   The paint scheme Jim applied is the simplified 1948 tri-color (orange, maroon, black) livery with the colors of the paint matched to the colors used on the MTH/Lionel tri-color Milwaukee Road Super 381 Bipolar engine, which will be the primary locomotive I plan to use to pull the set.  Attached below is a photo of the set's Standard Gauge Skytop Sleeper observation car.

I will post more photos of the other cars as soon as I have them.

Bob Nelson

Bob, that’s a lot of cars. What are you going to pull them with?

Steve

Steve,

I had Jim match the paint colors to those used on my tri-color Milwaukee Road "Super" 381.  With it's two motors and weight, it should pull several of the cars if not all of them.  If not, and I still need more power, I will couple to the consist my other two-motor Milwaukee Road "Super" 381 in the UP livery.  If that is still not enough power, I will add my tri-color, two-motor Milwaukee Road  381 up front.  If that won't pull the entire 10-car consist, I  might even add my all-black Milwaukee Road Brute to the train.  If that isn't enough power, I am open to suggestions!

Bob Nelson

Bob, if that is not enough power, you accidentally welded the wheels of the passenger cars to the track.  Watch out for a coupler breaking and those beast engines speeding around the track! 

George

SAVED FROM THE JUNK BOX.  I bought a junk box a few month ago and it contained a 92 floodlight but it was missing the lights and the paint was starting to flake. I tried selling it for parts but no one was interested so... I bought a couple of Marx floodlights and adapted them to the 92 to give me a 4 light tower, and of course I had to repaint it. It came out pretty good for a junk item.

Above is how it looked when I started.

Now it looks better.

that looks great Pete!

navy.seal posted:

Jim Waterman just told me that he has finished the 10-car Standard Gauge Olympian Hiawatha set I ordered from him.  Each car in the consist is unique and is based on the original Milwaukee Road drawings.   The paint scheme Jim applied is the simplified 1948 tri-color (orange, maroon, black) livery with the colors of the paint matched to the colors used on the MTH/Lionel tri-color Milwaukee Road Super 381 Bipolar engine, which will be the primary locomotive I plan to use to pull the set.  Attached below is a photo of the set's Standard Gauge Skytop Sleeper observation car.

I will post more photos of the other cars as soon as I have them.

Bob Nelson

One of the Olympian Hiawatha cars in the 10-car consist that Jim has built for me is a crew dormitory car.  This has gotten me thinking about what life must have been like for the crews assigned to the Olympian Hiawatha and other transcontinental trains.  Did they make back to back to back runs on the train or did they have time off between trains?  It must have been a hard life. 

Does anyone know the title of a good book which discusses the life of crew members working aboard a transcontinental train?

Bob Nelson

This finally arrived today from Ireland. For awhile, I thought customs in NYC was going to keep it.  It’s a large Marklin pedestrian bridge. 

It needs a little cleaning and there are some places where there are little glue circles from figures being positioned. 

George

George S posted:

This finally arrived today from Ireland. For awhile, I thought customs in NYC was going to keep it.  ...

I'm not familiar with the customs process.  I've bought a handful of things from Europe/GB/Ireland without incident, but don't know if it's just been dumb luck.

What happened, how did you resolve it, and any tips for avoiding it in the future?

Thanks.

George S posted:

This finally arrived today from Ireland. For awhile, I thought customs in NYC was going to keep it.  It’s a large Marklin pedestrian bridge. 

It needs a little cleaning and there are some places where there are little glue circles from figures being positioned. 

George

I’ve bought a few things from that guy, he seems to have a lot of interesting items.

Dennis Holler posted:

George S posted:

This finally arrived today from Ireland. For awhile, I thought customs in NYC was going to keep it.  It’s a large Marklin pedestrian bridge. 

It needs a little cleaning and there are some places where there are little glue circles from figures being positioned. 

George

I’ve bought a few things from that guy, he seems to have a lot of interesting items.

He was great to work with. Glad I inquired about shipping because it was quoting some ridiculous amount. 

George

Mallard4468 posted:

George S posted:

This finally arrived today from Ireland. For awhile, I thought customs in NYC was going to keep it.  ...

I'm not familiar with the customs process.  I've bought a handful of things from Europe/GB/Ireland without incident, but don't know if it's just been dumb luck.

What happened, how did you resolve it, and any tips for avoiding it in the future?

Thanks.

I haven't had many problems. I bought something at the same time from England and it came through Philly. It hardly even stopped at the port. This one hit the NYC ISC on April 24 and sat there until Monday this week. It said "processed through ISC NYC" and then nothing. I actually went on the US Postal Service website and filled out a lost / missing item report. I read someone else did that and it worked. It could be just coincidence, but it moved almost immediately to "Arrived at QUEENS NY DISTRIBUTION CENTER". I read online that sometimes customs has questions about an item and just sits on it. Providing the info in the missing item report to the USPS gets it going. No guarantees though.

George

Arne posted:

Found a big set of Adolf Schuhmann from the 30s in like new condition.

Greetings

Arne

Really like these- amazing condition. Nice find.

George S posted:

I haven't had many problems. I bought something at the same time from England and it came through Philly. It hardly even stopped at the port. This one hit the NYC ISC on April 24 and sat there until Monday this week. It said "processed through ISC NYC" and then nothing. I actually went on the US Postal Service website and filled out a lost / missing item report. I read someone else did that and it worked. It could be just coincidence, but it moved almost immediately to "Arrived at QUEENS NY DISTRIBUTION CENTER". I read online that sometimes customs has questions about an item and just sits on it. Providing the info in the missing item report to the USPS gets it going. No guarantees though.

Thanks for the info.  Glad to hear it wasn't anything serious.

I stayed at a B&B in Wales and learned that the owner was a train nut (mint Triang from his youth).  He said that another guest from America once sent him a box of toy train stuff after his visit.  The sender labeled the box "train parts".  Customs thought they were parts for a real (not toy) train and charged a duty of over 100 GBP. 

Mallard4468 posted:

George S posted:

I haven't had many problems. I bought something at the same time from England and it came through Philly. It hardly even stopped at the port. This one hit the NYC ISC on April 24 and sat there until Monday this week. It said "processed through ISC NYC" and then nothing. I actually went on the US Postal Service website and filled out a lost / missing item report. I read someone else did that and it worked. It could be just coincidence, but it moved almost immediately to "Arrived at QUEENS NY DISTRIBUTION CENTER". I read online that sometimes customs has questions about an item and just sits on it. Providing the info in the missing item report to the USPS gets it going. No guarantees though.

Thanks for the info.  Glad to hear it wasn't anything serious.

I stayed at a B&B in Wales and learned that the owner was a train nut (mint Triang from his youth).  He said that another guest from America once sent him a box of toy train stuff after his visit.  The sender labeled the box "train parts".  Customs thought they were parts for a real (not toy) train and charged a duty of over 100 GBP. 

The UK government charges  " Value Added Tax" on all "luxury goods", so food and clothes, for instance don't attract VAT, but toy trains do.

Cheers, Mark

Japanese MO streamliner. This colorful new arrival is about 8.5" long overall. It's actually a wind-up floor toy but it seems to fit well with the tinplate theme. Can't find much information on this piece, it's definitely neat looking! In the rear corner is a maker's mark "MO" inside a diamond, along with "Made in Japan". The front has a reddish marble for a headlight. 

The MO is posed alongside my Wells "Golden Streak" and a few other miscellaneous smaller streamliners (there's also a Lionel scale Hudson in the background).

255E for $35.  Straight frame is worth the cost alone!

Think I have enough parts to put this one back together..

navy.seal posted:

Jim Waterman just told me that he has finished the 10-car Standard Gauge Olympian Hiawatha set I ordered from him.  Each car in the consist is unique and is based on the original Milwaukee Road drawings.   The paint scheme Jim applied is the simplified 1948 tri-color (orange, maroon, black) livery with the colors of the paint matched to the colors used on the MTH/Lionel tri-color Milwaukee Road Super 381 Bipolar engine, which will be the primary locomotive I plan to use to pull the set.  Attached below is a photo of the set's Standard Gauge Skytop Sleeper observation car.

I will post more photos of the other cars as soon as I have them.

Bob Nelson

Here are some pictures of some of the other cars. Set ships today. Seem to have missed the RPO car, but similar in look to the dorm car.  Overload?

Jim

Dennis Holler posted:

255E for $35.  Straight frame is worth the cost alone!

Think I have enough parts to put this one back together..

Now that's a challenge = but doable and will be a very nice loco. I suspect the motor might even run after doused in a vat of oil.

Jim

navy.seal posted:

navy.seal posted:

Jim Waterman just told me that he has finished the 10-car Standard Gauge Olympian Hiawatha set I ordered from him.  Each car in the consist is unique and is based on the original Milwaukee Road drawings.   The paint scheme Jim applied is the simplified 1948 tri-color (orange, maroon, black) livery with the colors of the paint matched to the colors used on the MTH/Lionel tri-color Milwaukee Road Super 381 Bipolar engine, which will be the primary locomotive I plan to use to pull the set.  Attached below is a photo of the set's Standard Gauge Skytop Sleeper observation car.

I will post more photos of the other cars as soon as I have them.

Bob Nelson

One of the Olympian Hiawatha cars in the 10-car consist that Jim has built for me is a crew dormitory car.  This has gotten me thinking about what life must have been like for the crews assigned to the Olympian Hiawatha and other transcontinental trains.  Did they make back to back to back runs on the train or did they have time off between trains?  It must have been a hard life. 

Does anyone know the title of a good book which discusses the life of crew members working aboard a transcontinental train?

Bob Nelson

Bob - did you check the MILW group on groups.io? Still a bunch of former MILW employees and lots of stories out there. I'm sure that info could be had with a well placed question.

Jim

Jim Waterman posted:

Dennis Holler posted:

255E for $35.  Straight frame is worth the cost alone!

Think I have enough parts to put this one back together..

Now that's a challenge = but doable and will be a very nice loco. I suspect the motor might even run after doused in a vat of oil.

Jim

It's definitely not the worst I ever found!!

You may remember this old 260E I bought years ago, paid $50 for it along with an AF STD piper tender.  Someday..... lol

Maybe I should just ratrod the 255E lol

Jim Waterman posted:

navy.seal posted:

navy.seal posted:

Jim Waterman just told me that he has finished the 10-car Standard Gauge Olympian Hiawatha set I ordered from him.  Each car in the consist is unique and is based on the original Milwaukee Road drawings.   The paint scheme Jim applied is the simplified 1948 tri-color (orange, maroon, black) livery with the colors of the paint matched to the colors used on the MTH/Lionel tri-color Milwaukee Road Super 381 Bipolar engine, which will be the primary locomotive I plan to use to pull the set.  Attached below is a photo of the set's Standard Gauge Skytop Sleeper observation car.

I will post more photos of the other cars as soon as I have them.

Bob Nelson

One of the Olympian Hiawatha cars in the 10-car consist that Jim has built for me is a crew dormitory car.  This has gotten me thinking about what life must have been like for the crews assigned to the Olympian Hiawatha and other transcontinental trains.  Did they make back to back to back runs on the train or did they have time off between trains?  It must have been a hard life. 

Does anyone know the title of a good book which discusses the life of crew members working aboard a transcontinental train?

Bob Nelson

Bob - did you check the MILW group on groups.io? Still a bunch of former MILW employees and lots of stories out there. I'm sure that info could be had with a well placed question.

Jim

Jim,

groups.io?  I am not familiar with that site.

Bob

started tinkering with the Marx 898 shell that was in the box of goodies Greg sent me. I had gotten a  Saki motor in another deal, and it fits like a glove. Even had a Wedge tender sitting on a storage track. Does anyone know if there is a source for Sakai motor parts? One of the brushes is missing...they are rectangular shaped, and one of the brush springs is MIA as well. I filed a regular brush down enough to fit the brush holder, and the motor runs pretty good.

I found a few lead animals as add to my collection. Here all include the new.

Arne

Arne,

  A nice collection of animals...the only things missing are a barn, milk cans and some scale eggs.

Tom 

Come to think of it...you are probably assembling a lithographed barn as I type away! 

Tom

George S posted:

John H. Shetler posted:

George S posted:

Bought this to restore. After inspection, it looks like it is going to be a bigger job than anticipated. I thought it was just removing the wood glued to the roof an repainting it.

Now I see that the frame was hand painted and some paint got on the litho.

George

You can do it George!

I’m more hopeful today. I got the paint off the litho. I used Goof Off. Not for the faint of heart as it is an aggressive solvent. Mineral Spirits was taking too much rubbing and the friction was damaging the litho. 

The trucks were sloppily painted black from the outside. They were originally tan.

The ladders must have been painted black too. They were originally brass. The brass is gone now except for a few spots.

There is even paint on the journals!

George

Ahhh, that’s better!

I had to remove paint from all four sides of each journal too.

George

yeah but imagine the fun some kid had slopping all that paint on there. At least he didn't blow them up like Little Gomez would have.

Steamer posted:

yeah but imagine the fun some kid had slopping all that paint on there. At least he didn't blow them up like Little Gomez would have.

I hope he had fun, but he clearly lost interest... Glad he didn't use an M80 or Kerosene like we did on Matchbox cars!

George

Repaired this broken lionel dealer display semaphore that had broken at the point that rested in the fulcrum, basically in two pieces. Carefully delaminates the fiber board and preserved the printed parts and glued in a core of 1/4” plywood to replace frayed fiberboard I removed. Now making stand for it

Just bought a nice little 060 steam engine made by ETS in Czechoslovakia. Those ETS trains are very neat models and quite running engines.

Daniel

That is very cool Daniel, i’ve always likes the ETS trains, much like an o gauge Marklin Maxi. Here are my two newest Bing cars, the little pullman is very nice and clean. I’m bidding on a lot that has an AF 1117 caboose roof and cupola, I would use the cupola and make a new roof for this Bing caboose.

Dennis Holler posted:

That is very cool Daniel, i’ve always likes the ETS trains, much like an o gauge Marklin Maxi. Here are my two newest Bing cars, the little pullman is very nice and clean. I’m bidding on a lot that has an AF 1117 caboose roof and cupola, I would use the cupola and make a new roof for this Bing caboose.

 

@Dennis Holler very nice Bing pick ups! The little Pullman certainly is very nice and clean. Really like the Pennsy 8 wheel caboose. Haven't picked up any Bing cars with 8 wheel trucks yet, but on my to do list. Again- awesome finds!