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I just bought a 437 that someone began--and then abandoned--a restoration of.  The building is almost completely disassembled, and a poor previous paint job has been primered over.  

Until I actually have the tower in hand, I don't know my exact approach, but I suspect it will begin with a clean strip.  This process will leave me with options as to the new paint scheme.  I would like to duplicate an original paint scheme, but I don't know which one I'd like to use.

So please show me some pics of your 437s.  I'd like to survey a variety before settling on a choice.

Thanks muchly in advance!

Last edited by palallin
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Thank you!!

Let's see:  that roof is Peacock, and the windows frames are orange, I think.  The door is red (too bright for maroon?), the base Mojave, the lower walls Terra cotta.  Are the upper walls cream or yellow?  I think the middle floor/cornice is ivory.

I especially appreciate the photo of the label on the bottom, which my piece lacks.

OK, this is interesting.  It arrived today, and there are a couple curious colors here.  What's left of the upper walls paint (inside) looks much darker and more yellowish brown, sort of like a mustard color.  Did Lionel use something like that?

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The windows were apparently peacock and the roof pea green.  the base was Mojave, and the lower walls were Terr Cotta, so they matched what I expected.  there is just a hint of ivory (or maybe cream:  too little left to get a good idea) left on the upper floor/cornice.

  The door and the round part Under the bay window were apparently maroon.  (Riddle uses the term "vermilion in one of his descriptions, but no pic.)

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So I think I will try to come close to the original scheme.



I am not going to try to take it any further apart.  I can feel how delicate the tabs are already.  Reassembly concerns me.

I will try to finish the exterior stripping mechanically with a wire wheel in a dremel.

It came with the knife switch panel and all 6 switches as well as a pair of switch controllers and the necessary screws.

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The later version with the orange roof w/ cream sides is a rare bird I think. Didn't one in the OB just sell for big money at a recent auction?

As an aside, the early versions had the knife switches mounted to a block of painted wood whereas the later ones used what looked like fiber board of some kind. The fiber board is often warped.

Edit: Here's the auction result...

https://connect.invaluable.com...ower-hard_B514848A52



.

Last edited by G-Man24

Wow.  Just wow.  That is a beautiful piece but so far out of my league, I closed down the window lest I somehow get it dirty or scratch it by looking at it.

And the thing is, I briefly considered duplicating the paint scheme, but I don't think it looks as good as the two-color ones. 

Well, I sure appreciate ALL the posts so far.  Keep posting anything of interest.  It will be a couple more days before I can shop for paints!

UPDATE:

I am just about finished with painting (just two parts left); I hope to begin reassembly this weekend.

I have read about the problems likely to happen if I rebend the tabs.  In fact, I repainted a #92 once, years ago, and lost a handful of tabs.  I know I am going to lose one on this 437 no matter what (it's on the base and VERY weak).

I have also read about an alternate technique of twisting the tabs.  I *think* I understand this notion, but I'd like to be sure.  So instead of bending, I use a pair of pliers to turn the tab from side to side rather than bend over.  Am I on the right page there?  Can anyone who has done it offer advice one how much twist and when to stop?  Will the tab tear at its base?

Minor set-back:  I pout the middle floor/cornice together with the upper story, and the colors just didn't work.  Either the colors in the can are off (all the other colors are spot on, so I doubt it), or I chose the wrong combination (that'd be me all over).  The upper walls are Buff and the cornice was Cream.  In low light, I could hardly see a difference; in bright light, the Cream looked more like sour baby burb-up when next to the buff.

I am running out of time dedicated to this project because of a change in my schedules, so I grabbed a can of Antique White Krylon I had in the cabinet and gave the cornice a light coat.  I'll see what the pairing looks like tonight.  I'm hoping it both lightens and whitens the piece.  I still hope to assemble this weekend.

On a happier note, the Peacock windows look great against the Buff walls.

OK, here we are!  I do NOT intend to imply this was a good job.  Some steps were rushed; others were botched.  I haven't wired it yet, and I still need to find a few screws.  I did not do anything but clean the chimney as it is lithographed, and I'd rather have the original finish than a paint job there.

It arrived mostly disassembled, partly stripped, parlty over-painted with home latex, and starting to hint at rust in some places.

I think it will look fine on the shelf or the floor layout.

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Last edited by palallin

Thanks for the compliments, gentlemen!  They mean a great deal coming from you guys. Much of the credit for the paint job goes to Train Enamels.  I *really* like those paints!

Rich, the tab twisting ended up working just fine; thanks for the tips.  I only lost the one that I knew was going to break.  One had already been lost on a window.  Otherwise, they all remain intact.  Twisting the ones one the bottom floor was really tough, partly because they were still in great shape and partly because I couldn't get my meaty hand in their with pliers   I reread Peter Riddle's materiel on the 437 before the reassembly, and his notes on the sequence were invaluable.

JD2035RR, I am not sure, to tell you the truth.  I haven't cleaned them up yet--no remote switches yet, either.

Which actually brings me to another question for the wizards here:  what screws are used to attach the light mount in the upper story?  I have examples of all the other screws to work with, but neither of the two up top came with it.

Last edited by palallin

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