train show "junk"

Err, . . . I'm with your wife on this one!

Mannyrock

Jim,

I normally have two tables at this show, but did not yesterday, Good people run it, the Central Operating Lines (COL) club.

As respects to buying "junk", it is one of my favorite things to do when it comes to pre-war tinplate. Below are pics of a Standard gauge set I made a couple years ago - average price paid for these cars was $15. Seven junkers yielded these five cars and a roadside diner.

I also made this Standard gauge Diner (In honor of my baby brother, Buddy, who passed two years ago at the young age of 56) from a left over junker :

Don't let 'em laugh at you for buying "junk" - but please save some for me!

The junk boxes under the tables were always my favorite attraction at York.          j

I wouldn't be involved with O-gauge and tinplate if it wasn't for the affordable "junk" that I can repair to build fun operable vintage trains. Sunday afternoons are bargain time. Occasionally, vendors just leave their unsold stuff behind with a "FREE" sign. Don't knock it !

But I haven't been to a train show since 2019 because of  Covid, and am wary of the future. I honestly don't need any more train stuff at this point, anyhow. I have a backlog of parts and projects.

I think it highly depends on whether you have an airbrush setup or not.

I'm with John.  Please save some for me !!

Depending on my mood at the time, I'd have paid at least $20, maybe 40.

I see bodies for a Lionel 150 series and another that I think is not Ives or Lionel - wrong shape cooling grids at corners of the hoods.  Problem with those is that it's easier to get bodies than motors.  In my awaiting restoration collection now are 13 bodies and only 10 motors of that vintage of Lionel engines.

But the piece de resistance is the three 604 observations..  If all six insets are there then all you need are trucks, couplers, window material, paint and observation platforms to do a  good restoration - the hard part is finding observation platforms.  Hennings has repros for the 612 - just checked my 612 and 604 and find those railings to have same dimensions and slight difference in the tabs, so they could be used.

Right now I'm restoring the 603-603-604 Red Comet.  Dry transfers are available for those cars from J&A and each set can do two observations.

Very timely topic for me Jim.  I did the same thing yesterday with a local guy whose cleaning out his collection.  Here's a sampling of what I got.

Did someone mention Junk especially train junk?!!!

I love the stuff, I really enjoy restoring these broken down old cars and engines.

For me it is the most enjoyable aspect of the hobby.

@illinoiscentral posted:

I think it highly depends on whether you have an airbrush setup or not.

Michaet T,

All of my custom cars (including the samples shown in my post earlier today, above), engines and buildings are rattle can painted.

No need for an airbrush.

I have some junkers awaiting fresh paint myself:  a previous owner repainted them using metallic paint, so everything has been stripped, primed and ready.  Bought rubber stamps and new window material as well.  At this point, though, I’m not sure I want to restore them to their original colors or try something different... just nothing metallic!

There is "junk" and then there is "junque"! :-)

I do have a new airbrush I guess I'll get plenty of practice now and like I said have the motors for the 261 and the 150 body.I have enough stuff now to keep me busy for a while.I like making a diner out of one of them sounds like a good idea.

"Junque" is reportably more redeemable than "junk"!

Among other items, I have a #345 Culvert Unloader that I made from parts gleaned from under the tables at York, along with much of my wife's Standard Gauge rolling stock. We've saved a lot of money that way.

@Tinplate Art posted:

"Junque" is reportably more redeemable than "junk"!

French is a useful language.

Instead of talking about being able to turn a sow's ear to a silk purse  (aka restoration), you can refer to "une oreille du cochon"

@Lionelski posted:

Jim,

I normally have two tables at this show, but did not yesterday, Good people run it, the Central Operating Lines (COL) club.

As respects to buying "junk", it is one of my favorite things to do when it comes to pre-war tinplate. Below are pics of a Standard gauge set I made a couple years ago - average price paid for these cars was $15. Seven junkers yielded these five cars and a roadside diner.

I also made this Standard gauge Diner (In honor of my baby brother, Buddy, who passed two years ago at the young age of 56) from a left over junker :

Don't let 'em laugh at you for buying "junk" - but please save some for me!

@Lionelski posted:

Michaet T,

All of my custom cars (including the samples shown in my post earlier today, above), engines and buildings are rattle can painted.

No need for an airbrush.

John .......really nice work.

I use the airbrush for my work .......you are an artist with those rattle cans. 🤓

There is a humorous sign available that states:

"we buy junk & sell antiques"

Like beauty, it is all in the eye of the beholder.

Thanks for the kind comments Dallas Joseph

I loves me some junk, and my workshop shows it! 

Mitch