|
|
 Posted - February 19 2015 : 5:05:15 PM
|
After I finished the last 2-8-0, I couldn't find the third. Ends up I gave up when I couldn't find the tender floor, so it was in a box, unrestored, but solid. Also was a Super Mikado (fully sprung). The boiler is lead..soft. Soaked it in brake fluid overnight, blasted all the bits this morning. Now in paint, then I start putting them both back together again.
Dave   
|
Country:  United Kingdom ~
Posts: 350 ~
Member Since: April 26 2013 ~
Last Visit: May 18 2024
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 19 2015 : 5:07:15 PM
|
More....   
|
|
Country: United Kingdom ~
Posts: 350 ~
Member Since: April 26 2013 ~
Last Visit: May 18 2024
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 19 2015 : 6:28:52 PM
|
 I look forward to seeing more of what you do with these things.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
|
Country:  USA ~
Posts: 3533 ~
Member Since: February 17 2014 ~
Last Visit: January 11 2023
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 19 2015 : 8:49:41 PM
|
Those are some nice models.
I notice that there are windows on the front of the 2-8-0's cab. I didn't think that model came with windows there. Is that a modification or did it come that way?
Carpe Manana!
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2416 ~
Member Since: September 17 2013 ~
Last Visit: February 09 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 19 2015 : 9:35:05 PM
|
I forgot to do that on the second one, but I drill out the front and use jeweler's files to make front cab windows. I think it looks a lot better.
And more realistic.
The super Mike is on it's wheels. Gotta address that front coupler. It's just held up with a pin from the top. Nothing to hold it up. 
|
|
Country: United Kingdom ~
Posts: 350 ~
Member Since: April 26 2013 ~
Last Visit: May 18 2024
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 19 2015 : 10:51:15 PM
|
quote:I drill out the front and use jeweler's files to make front cab windows. I think it looks a lot better.
Originally posted by ScaleCraft - February 19 2015 : 9:35:05 PM
|
It certainly is an improvement. Looks like a tight little corner in which to drill and file, though. Must have taken some patience and a steady hand.
Carpe Manana!
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2416 ~
Member Since: September 17 2013 ~
Last Visit: February 09 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 19 2015 : 10:58:27 PM
|
Start from the front..steady. Remove the cab back, file mostly from the back.
The Mike is really not do-able, as the front wall is at least 1/4" thick lead.
Dave
|
|
Country: United Kingdom ~
Posts: 350 ~
Member Since: April 26 2013 ~
Last Visit: May 18 2024
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 20 2015 : 12:05:02 AM
|
| Test ran both on the bench tonight, lubed, adjusted, both purr. Nice old engines!
|
|
Country: United Kingdom ~
Posts: 350 ~
Member Since: April 26 2013 ~
Last Visit: May 18 2024
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 20 2015 : 09:28:21 AM
|
quote:Test ran both on the bench tonight, lubed, adjusted, both purr. Nice old engines!
Originally posted by ScaleCraft - February 20 2015 : 12:05:02 AM
|
 That's pretty sweet.Unfortunately though, I've seen and heard these things are prone to zinc pest at one point or another so be careful.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 3533 ~
Member Since: February 17 2014 ~
Last Visit: January 11 2023
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - February 20 2015 : 12:00:55 PM
|
Oh, I know. We used to call it "zamac rot". Well aware.
In fact, the photos started with a fabrication of a tender floor from 11 pieces of brass to replace a rotted and exploded Zamac floor.
I've even had...I think AHM steamers through here, plastic boilers but Zamac weights...exploded, split boilers.
Drive the weight out, reglue and clamp the boilers, grind and file the weight down then coat it with super glue to keep moisture out, and re-assemble.
Depends on when the item was made (and you cannot flip it over to inspect manufacture date) and how much cigarette ash from the workers got put into the mix.
I've even had Mantua part explode. Last one was the front half of a 2-8-2 frame.
Athearn parts...did a NOS boxcar a year or so ago. Metal and wood. EVERY Zamac part was crumbled. Brake parts (including brake wheel) roof end platforms.
Dave
|
|
Country: United Kingdom ~
Posts: 350 ~
Member Since: April 26 2013 ~
Last Visit: May 18 2024
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - March 05 2015 : 10:11:21 PM
|
The tender is done. Had to obtain one more truck, as the sprung trucks on it were passenger car trucks. I had one Varney six-wheel tender truck, got one more...have the drawbar, just need to install it. Soon as the Yardbird is done. 
|
|
Country: United Kingdom ~
Posts: 350 ~
Member Since: April 26 2013 ~
Last Visit: May 18 2024
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - March 08 2015 : 7:24:44 PM
|
quote:Oh, I know. We used to call it "zamac rot". Well aware.
In fact, the photos started with a fabrication of a tender floor from 11 pieces of brass to replace a rotted and exploded Zamac floor.
I've even had...I think AHM steamers through here, plastic boilers but Zamac weights...exploded, split boilers.
Drive the weight out, reglue and clamp the boilers, grind and file the weight down then coat it with super glue to keep moisture out, and re-assemble.
Depends on when the item was made (and you cannot flip it over to inspect manufacture date) and how much cigarette ash from the workers got put into the mix.
I've even had Mantua part explode. Last one was the front half of a 2-8-2 frame.
Athearn parts...did a NOS boxcar a year or so ago. Metal and wood. EVERY Zamac part was crumbled. Brake parts (including brake wheel) roof end platforms.
Dave
Originally posted by ScaleCraft - February 20 2015 : 12:00:55 PM
|
Ah, good old fashioned zinc rot  Never had those problems with old Athearn parts, except that the roofwalks (once they lost the sense to make them of brass, and switched to casting zamac ones) get VERY brittle. The worst in my experience are the old New One/Aristocraft steamers. Got an 0-8-0, not running, picked it up for the first time... took one look at the tender and wondered why it was shaped funny... zinc rot cracks over the entire thing warped it pretty well 
I was once told by a real old-timer that to prevent zinc rot, you were always supposed to "pickle" your zamac castings by soaking in vinegar for a day or two. What's the basis behind this, and any idea if it works?
--CRC
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 930 ~
Member Since: January 25 2012 ~
Last Visit: August 23 2023
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - March 08 2015 : 7:52:42 PM
|
Vinegar supposedly changes the composition...but only the surface. I found paint, fully, helps.
Athearn...I don't think you've ever had or seen the remains of their Bucyrus crane. I'd love to have one...but it would take a dozen hulks to maybe get enough non-exploded parts to make one solid unit. I have a new Athearn wood and metal kit NYC Pacemaker boxcar. I decided to build it.
Every single Zamac part was exploded. Triple valve, brake cylinder, brake air reservoir, brake gearbox and wheel, rood walk ends. Toast.
I saved the underbody parts by soaking in super glue, drilling, mounting with pins. Had to find replacement roof walk ends, had someone else's brake gearbox and wheel.
My first Yardbird...Uncle bought it new in about 1948, if I remember the story correctly...I ended up with it in 1965 or 1966.
Main and side rods exploded. Toast. I could have made new ones of brass, but at the time I had too many other things going on, so it moved with us while in the Navy, two houses here, sat in the back of my sock drawer. Found Dan at Yardbird Classic, he had the bits, so I finished it....that was the start of the restoration of all the family die cast locomotives and the obtaining of more.
Just put the handrail stanchions in the new Yardbird, should be ready for paint soon.
Dave
|
|
Country: United Kingdom ~
Posts: 350 ~
Member Since: April 26 2013 ~
Last Visit: May 18 2024
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
Home
Forums
Events Calendar
Forum Admins & Mods
Register
