Buy/Make Anything Cool Lately (Tinplate Version)

Super cool find !!!  I don't know on the cars but very nice find.

I was notified by this via YouTube, so it is not a video by me. David Argent once was also on this forum and some of you might know the special builds and restorations he does. Here is his latest:

Regards

Fred

Last Sunday I went to the Greenberg’s Model Train Show at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in NJ.

I went for the two days and on the first I found this Lionel Prewar 150 under a table and was able to purchase it for $20.00.
The Train needs some TLC like new paint (As it was repainted) and new wiring as there are bare wires and shows as a short. These motors are very robust and should work fine.

Price was right and will rep[lace the pickup rollers with a repro that comes in parts and will accept the original badge, new repro couplers, new repro head light, new repro bell.

Not sure of the paint scheme but since it was a repaint I will strip it and may do a Lionel scheme paint job. Frame will be blue shell will be orange with a blue roof, blue window trim, blue doors on the sides and ends with orange wheels and orange cow catcher. Shell will be re stamped with the NY Central and 150 as was the original.

I would not call this a restore project but a Fantasy Engine Project

A unique structure for my layout, a General Electric cardboard building that was made as a store display piece. Speaking to antique lighting collector Marv Byers at the Toy Show I learned that GE had a whole series of these buildings for store display. You would put a light bulb inside and it that illuminated features like the sign through the pin holes in the cardboard. Pity these weren't available in tinplate! Also included is a shot of another one I saw (but did not buy) at the Glendale Toy Show. I found mine like new (still flat) on Ebay. 

Just my little clockwork Marx Seaboard diesel and some minty Hafner buildings from the 1200 accessory set. 

John Smatlak posted:

A unique structure for my layout, a General Electric cardboard building that was made as a store display piece. Speaking to antique lighting collector Marv Byers at the Toy Show I learned that GE had a whole series of these buildings for store display. You would put a light bulb inside and it that illuminated features like the sign through the pin holes in the cardboard. Pity these weren't available in tinplate! Also included is a shot of another one I saw (but did not buy) at the Glendale Toy Show. I found mine like new (still flat) on Ebay. 

John, 

I noticed this in a video of your layout last week and had to look it up. Thanks for sharing the details. The pinhole effect is cool. The graphics look like tin lithograph. It fits in nicely. I saw the other building in a Google image search too. I hadn’t really heard of GE Mazda, so it was interesting nostalgia research. I agree it would be nice to have in tin.

Here’s another version, and I think I found at least one other version of the house.

George

My first candle-powered accessory! A Bing signal box (switch tower) with candle holder inside for lighting (and smoke). Really like the colors and litho on this one. I've hunted for it in the Bing catalog book but can't quite find one that's an exact match, although there were clearly a number of variations.

Alongside is my Hafner UP clockwork streamliner. I cleaned/oiled it and ran it for the first time in many years. It easily makes two circuits around my O gauge loop. I also tried to get the headlight working (battery powered), but so far no luck. I cleaned all the contacts and the bulb checks out fine, but no light when it's all put together. A video of the streamliner zipping by the tower is included below. Enjoy.

Hello John,

your signal box has the GBN diamond sign, this was made before 1919.  Here pictures from the 1912 UK catalog.

This is similar to yours, but with signal

This is yours, the catalog picture shows a other roof but was made with the same roof like the model with signal.

Arne

Arne posted:

Hello John,

your signal box has the GBN diamond sign, this was made before 1919.  Here pictures from the 1912 UK catalog.

This is similar to yours, but with signal

This is yours, the catalog picture shows a other roof but was made with the same roof like the model with signal.

Arne

 

Arne- many thanks, and excellent point about the change in logo. Looking through the Bing catalog reprint book it was also interesting to note that the candle illumination lasted until at least 1928- noting this similar structure in the catalog of that year.

Darstaed illuminated E2 extended engine shed from the UK.

Not easy to find since the double ones have been sold out for years. I was looking at vintage Hornby, but for price, condition, and extra features, I went with the Darstaed.

George

that is beautiful George! Shame you can see all the interior detail all the time. Almost would want to do a clear side on it.

Steamer posted:

that is beautiful George! Shame you can see all the interior detail all the time. Almost would want to do a clear side on it.

Actually, this one does have clear windows as opposed to the Hornby. The Hornby has no interior detail and does not have real windows. I didn't get a great picture due to some reflection, but you can definitely look through the windows on the Darstaed to see the neat graphics inside. When I get it on the layout and get it lit up, I'll get some more pictures of that.

If I ever want to hide the interior detail from the outside, it would be relatively easy to add a tinted film to the inside.

George

USTTC Caboose and fun little car from Michael’s.

A strange visitor has arrived....

I guess you could say I made this; I upgraded the lighting on my JAD Lines Hiawatha, thanks to lighting products from Evan Designs and royztrains.com. This was a fun project and it really improves the overall appearance of an already beautiful train. 

John

sorta not yet. Found a Postwar Tie Ejector chassis at one of our local antique shops. It was marked 10% off, so at $12 I got it. Really didn't know why other than the price. Was thinking of making some kind of MOW Doodlybug or something.....

I have a junk box refuge 1682 body.....

Fits rather well

Steamer posted:

Wreck-de-tie-fighter?.... I mean wrecktifier?... I mean rectifier?  

Or does being a "boxer" make it a wrecktifighter?

Or is the coopla a diesels radiator?

Hmm... What was it that there wheel arrangement would B called again? 🤔

                  😬

Paint it black or blue with a flaming yellow text and call it it a.......a.....

Burnin' ya' rectifier 😬

Steamer, can the cabin cars shell be clearanced and coop lifted opened to allow filling of a homade bin? (does the mech work?) Even a good styrene copy seems possible looking at a good one. 

It was missing the pickup collector, but I fabbed one from the parts bin...and the fjector mech works like a charm.

If I get what you mean, make a bin to use it as a tie ejector? I have a bin off a work caboose I could use.....still not sure where I'll end up with this.

New to me British tinplate. Trying to test it but don’t have wide enough curves on the test track. She runs on the straights.

George