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A Dorfan standard gauge saga. At a TTOS meet last year I purchased a Dorfan 3920 locomotive that had a very nice restored shell mated together with a McCoy motor. To accommodate the McCoy motor all of the original mounting bosses inside the shell (where the gears and motor elements once attached) had been ground off. As noted the shell was as nice as they come for Dorfan, but unfortunately it had been repainted in an awful shade of tan.It ran well but looked pretty drab.

I decided to repaint it and started off with red in mind. I prepped the existing paint with ultra fine steel wool and then sprayed it with a nice Flyer red from the Collector's Color paint line. Unfortunately that paint (literally) never dried. I eventually baked it which caused it to start drying, but it also made it bubble. In the end I concluded that the tan paint that I painted over was incompatible with the new lacquer-based paint.

After ignoring it for a while, I decided to do it over in black (also from Collector Colors and no problems drying), sanding down the red and then applying a primer coat. Along the way I opted to paint the doors in the dark red, based on the Ives 3240 paint scheme which is one of my favorites.

In the end I'm quite happy with it, I don't think Dorfan ever offered the 3920 in black, but I like it. And with the McCoy motor it has plenty of pulling power. I may also replace the very unusual stanchions at the four corners- these should have been flag holders, but whomever rebuilt it before me put some unusual turned brass pieces in there instead.

Dorfan 3920 repaint 1Dorfan 3920 repaint 2Dorfan 3920 repaint 3Dorfan 3920 repaint 4Dorfan 3920 repaint 5Dorfan 3920 repaint motorIMG_7621

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John Smatlak posted:

A Dorfan standard gauge saga. At a TTOS meet last year I purchased a Dorfan 3920 locomotive that had a very nice restored shell mated together with a McCoy motor. To accommodate the McCoy motor all of the original mounting bosses inside the shell (where the gears and motor elements once attached) had been ground off. As noted the shell was as nice as they come for Dorfan, but unfortunately it had been repainted in an awful shade of tan.It ran well but looked pretty drab.

I decided to repaint it and started off with red in mind. I prepped the existing paint with ultra fine steel wool and then sprayed it with a nice Flyer red from the Collector's Color paint line. Unfortunately that paint (literally) never dried. I eventually baked it which caused it to start drying, but it also made it bubble. In the end I concluded that the tan paint that I painted over was incompatible with the new lacquer-based paint.

After ignoring it for a while, I decided to do it over in black (also from Collector Colors and no problems drying), sanding down the red and then applying a primer coat. Along the way I opted to paint the doors in the dark red, based on the Ives 3240 paint scheme which is one of my favorites.

In the end I'm quite happy with it, I don't think Dorfan ever offered the 3920 in black, but I like it. And with the McCoy motor it has plenty of pulling power. I may also replace the very unusual stanchions at the four corners- these should have been flag holders, but whomever rebuilt it before me put some unusual turned brass pieces in there instead.

Dorfan 3920 repaint 1Dorfan 3920 repaint 2Dorfan 3920 repaint 3Dorfan 3920 repaint 4Dorfan 3920 repaint 5Dorfan 3920 repaint motorIMG_7621

John

I don't see black in the Greenberg book, but I would imagine black 3920's were made. Maybe John Wheeler is watching and will chime in.

Steve

Saw this at a consignment shop today.  Decent craftsmanship in a one of a kind piece, even if the person making it didn’t really know what they were modeling.  If the tracks had actually made a semicircle inside the structure it probably would have come home.  It looked close to o gauge but I am not totally sure it was.  Any way, thought I would share 0D173C9E-01C6-4E16-83D7-5C80ECDE97669208ECEA-D883-4091-B593-81B8AA91C456

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Last edited by jhz563
jhz563 posted:

Saw this at a consignment shop today.  Decent craftsmanship in a one of a kind piece.  If the tracks had actually made a semicircle inside the structure it probably would have come home.  The looked close to o gauge but I am not totally sure it was.  Any way, thought I would share 0D173C9E-01C6-4E16-83D7-5C80ECDE97669208ECEA-D883-4091-B593-81B8AA91C456

That is a very interesting piece... I'm guessing someone's interpretation of a roundhouse?  The track appears to be American Flyer "O" gauge clockwork train track, at least as well as I can identify from the picture.  Very cool.  I would have been tempted to bring it home.

MNCW posted:

I think you should make an offer!

Tom

The problem is, I have no idea what I would do with it.  If the three tracks weren’t all dead ends I could do something.  But two rail tracks in such a weird configuration just don’t jump out to me as something I can think of how to work into a track plan.  If anyone is really interested I can send you the name of the shop I saw it at.

Been here and there the last couple of days, culminating with the Hamburg train meet this past Sunday.

 

bought a few Bub pieces off this sale gentleman last time, he was one of the few who had anything European. The last car(the red coach) is one I bought last time.

Now for the new ones: The front car is a baggage car, it’s quite plain compared to the other KBN baggage car that I have(green, numbers, says “Nuremberg”c has a KBN and Bing logo). This one has no logo. Also, one the couplers is, for lack of a better word, upside down with a t-shaped slit. The blue coach in the middle is the same way, the connection holds up rather well. Neither car has any KBN markings on it, whatsoever, any idea why? Further, why are these couplers different?

EA4FBBCE-F4DE-4FF0-B737-C3BF99549FA6

Next picked up the SP caboose with the stupid Marx knuckle coupler ha. But I had to get that one since I have the 6000 AA units. I believe i’m Just missing a Wabash gondola and the set will be complete?5F4FCE68-4113-4782-9726-D9AE7388E5B3

its the figures on the right that caused me to post this. They’re all Diecast. The officer in blue, he’s an officer on my layout at least ha, is newer as is the hunter up front. The figure in between is a policeman writing out a ticket but he’s serving as an immigration official for refugees on my layout right now. In the back right, he’s the most interesting. I collect toy soldiers as well. I’ve never seen a toy soldier that old at a size that is somewhat compatible with anything in the O train realm, Tinplate or not. Most soldiers are 54mm and appropriate for g-scale. While this figure is bigger than  most, he’s an interesting figureAnd one I’m happy to have added to my layout.9EF5C78A-8940-4132-8859-9F9775591CCD

hunter protecting his trailer(man I love that thing!)

0DE5E3E3-D4C5-4113-8389-B3609AFF45AA

Im including this picture because of the 250 watt Z which was, iirc, late prewar and early postwar. Got a good deal on it and a warranty. Can never have too much power! My dad and I visited the Reading Train Museum after the show which was really cool- that’s what you see on the right.093BB865-D946-475C-802A-23330BC507DB

finally, immigration official on the right as the last of refugees make their way across the foot bridge. On the left is the soldier I spoke of previously. 5A4B1148-1846-45D1-B371-6CBFFB3D9A9E

While I didn’t get the 2 things that  i wanted(one of which was supposed to be there), I bought A LOT of pieces(figures, transformers) that give me more options going forward.

 

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Sorry I didn’t know a better way to describe it ha. It’s something I’ve seen before but have never run any trains with that coupler. The red Bub coach in that picture had one on when I bought it. I tried to adjust it but it broke when I tried to twist it, of course, considering how old it was. Both the freight car and the blue coach have that coutlet and then a repro Ives tab and slot type coupler. I don’t mind though, for compatibility purposes. 

Thank you @Jim O'C for the information. It’s just something I haven’t seen on a prewar European Train before. I’m used to the Bing, Bub, some Hornby, Basset-Lowke, etc...with the hook and swinging bar or the vertically moving, downward facing hook with the ring around it like Fleischmann. The swinging bar actually attached pretty well to The hook on Lionel’s dreaded “hook and latch” coupler.

I finally acquired a Dorfan 610 derrick. I'll post pictures when I get it and finish cleaning it up. Looks like there is lots of caked on dust and grime to remove but otherwise in good shape. Question, was this derrick car ever made with a maroon roof? All I see in online photos is a roof in a shade of green. I'm wondering if mine was repainted?

Also, is this the Greenberg book on Dorfan?

Greenberg's Guide to Early American Toy Trains

George

Last edited by George S
George S posted:

I finally acquired a Dorfan 610 derrick. I'll post pictures when I get it and finish cleaning it up. Looks like there is lots of caked on dust and grime to remove but otherwise in good shape. Question, was this derrick car ever made with a maroon roof? All I see in online photos is a roof in a shade of green. I'm wondering if mine was repainted?

Also, is this the Greenberg book on Dorfan?

Greenberg's Guide to Early American Toy Trains

George

Yes, the Greenberg's Guide to Early American Toy Trains covers Dorfan, Hafner, and Carlisle & Finch

There’s a very nice set of Dorfan O gauge cars available on the big auction site right now including the 610 derrick. They look to be in really nice condition with original boxes. Looks like a couple of brake wheels are missing. Most have the brass journals. They priced for their condition in case anyone is interested. To be clear, this is not my auction. I just noticed it.

George

StevefromPA posted:

Been here and there the last couple of days, culminating with the Hamburg train meet this past Sunday.

 

bought a few Bub pieces off this sale gentleman last time, he was one of the few who had anything European. The last car(the red coach) is one I bought last time.

Now for the new ones: The front car is a baggage car, it’s quite plain compared to the other KBN baggage car that I have(green, numbers, says “Nuremberg”c has a KBN and Bing logo). This one has no logo. Also, one the couplers is, for lack of a better word, upside down with a t-shaped slit. The blue coach in the middle is the same way, the connection holds up rather well. Neither car has any KBN markings on it, whatsoever, any idea why? Further, why are these couplers different?

EA4FBBCE-F4DE-4FF0-B737-C3BF99549FA6


 

That´s no Bub, was made by Distler in Nurnberg in the late 30s.

 

Greetings

Arne

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

A teaser, the box only contains an engine and tender. Will unpack later when I get home.

Steve

7A5B57E5-66AA-4552-82C4-07921D5CC685

An engine and tender from Home Depot? It must be a coal fired generator to go with your collection of cleaning supplies! Oh wait, you said you were selling that. Now I'm puzzled...

George

John Smatlak posted:

A Dorfan standard gauge saga. At a TTOS meet last year I purchased a Dorfan 3920 locomotive that had a very nice restored shell mated together with a McCoy motor. To accommodate the McCoy motor all of the original mounting bosses inside the shell (where the gears and motor elements once attached) had been ground off. As noted the shell was as nice as they come for Dorfan, but unfortunately it had been repainted in an awful shade of tan.It ran well but looked pretty drab.

I decided to repaint it and started off with red in mind. I prepped the existing paint with ultra fine steel wool and then sprayed it with a nice Flyer red from the Collector's Color paint line. Unfortunately that paint (literally) never dried. I eventually baked it which caused it to start drying, but it also made it bubble. In the end I concluded that the tan paint that I painted over was incompatible with the new lacquer-based paint.

After ignoring it for a while, I decided to do it over in black (also from Collector Colors and no problems drying), sanding down the red and then applying a primer coat. Along the way I opted to paint the doors in the dark red, based on the Ives 3240 paint scheme which is one of my favorites.

In the end I'm quite happy with it, I don't think Dorfan ever offered the 3920 in black, but I like it. And with the McCoy motor it has plenty of pulling power. I may also replace the very unusual stanchions at the four corners- these should have been flag holders, but whomever rebuilt it before me put some unusual turned brass pieces in there instead.

Dorfan 3920 repaint 5

I really like the Dorfan standard gauge cars as well. Someday I will need to add those to my collecting list... I like the electric engine too.

George

Jim O'C posted:
Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

A teaser, the box only contains an engine and tender. Will unpack later when I get home.

Steve

7A5B57E5-66AA-4552-82C4-07921D5CC685

The elusive Dorfan 3920 display model?super loco news story

That would be awesome! I wonder how many kids tried to climb on it? Today, they wouldn't be able to take a picture of the display without at least two kids fighting to get on.

George

@Arne you’ve helped me out so much in identifying products, thanks for another assist. I thought it was Bub b/c the frame design around the wheels looked so similar to a KBN I posted previously(the green baggage car with the Bub & Bing logos). May I inquire, kindly, how you recognized they were Distler?

If the lingo in the last sentence seems odd, I’ve been watching the “John Adams” mini-series.

Arne, Thanks again!

Steve

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

A teaser, the box only contains an engine and tender. Will unpack later when I get home.

Steve

7A5B57E5-66AA-4552-82C4-07921D5CC685

 

Steve “Papa” Eastman teasers bring out a joy in me greater than when I was on the McFarlane sports forums 10+ years ago and they’d post NEW PRODUCT teasers. I have no idea what it could be but am excited to see!

StevefromPA posted:
Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

A teaser, the box only contains an engine and tender. Will unpack later when I get home.

Steve

7A5B57E5-66AA-4552-82C4-07921D5CC685

 

Steve “Papa” Eastman teasers bring out a joy in me greater than when I was on the McFarlane sports forums 10+ years ago and they’d post NEW PRODUCT teasers. I have no idea what it could be but am excited to see!

It is unpacked, but there was some minor damage in transit so pictures will be later this evening. It’s repaired, just putting it back together.

Steve

StevefromPA posted:

@Arne you’ve helped me out so much in identifying products, thanks for another assist. I thought it was Bub b/c the frame design around the wheels looked so similar to a KBN I posted previously(the green baggage car with the Bub & Bing logos). May I inquire, kindly, how you recognized they were Distler?

Arne, Thanks again!

Steve

Hello Steve,

Bub had made similar coaches, but the frame is different. Distler had made very own frames.

Greetings

Arne

George S posted:
Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:
POC914NUT posted:

It was hard for me to not to ruin the suspense! I can't wait to see it in person!

Cant wait to run it on your loops. Should be more fun than going back and forth 5 feet.

Steve

That is so awesome! Is that a Waterman special from the Harmon Lines tooling?

George

Yes, a Hamon Challenger by Waterman. 

Steve

Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

Ok folks, here’s the contents of the big box. For size reference, that’s a six foot table it’s sitting on. Can’t run it on the home layout. Strictly club meets and shows. The height won’t go under my mountain which would not be hard to fix, but the cab swing will destroy the walls

Steve

DFAC2FC0-9A22-4C13-948B-6FE872622411

Steve is it just me or is your table saging in the middle? 

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