Joined
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16,705 Posts
Hi Guys,
Well ... It's official ... I have a problem ... an addiction, really. I've tried to resist, but I can't stop succumbing to the temptations that taunt and haunt me daily. It's not normal, I know. I need to break the vicious cycle. I want to live a life without being compelled to repair these bloody things, but I just can't quit cold turkey. I need help. They say the first step in "getting clean" is admitting to yourself that you have a problem. So, here goes: "I ... have ... a ... problem!"
My latest vice ... yet ANOTHER Lionel 1681 prewar tinplate loco. This is now my third ... well, two and a half, really. The middle one is a shell, only, with no motor.
This latest one has a motor, is teamed with a tender, a gondola, a tanker, and a caboose ... all the victims of a FLOOD. Really. The ebay seller said they were submerged for quite some time. I bought the lot for $36, which is likely way too much, but that's what addicted people do.
They arrived in the mail today. The bad news: the paint is literally jumping off all over. The slightest touch, and it flakes off. Some rust underneath, but not disasterous. The good news: all of the tinplate metal has held its shape quite well, with very few dents or bends. No broken tabs (from what I've seen), and no missing parts (with the exception of the loco drive rods and front truck).
I have no idea if I'll be able to get the loco motor to work. I'm not sure if the armature and/or field are fried. It needs a full rewire, at least. The gears and armature turn, though, so that's a good sign.
T-Man ... here's a comment/question for you ...
This loco is a 1681 (no E) ... I wasn't sure if it had an e-unit or not, because is DOES have a toggle on top of the loco, just like my 1681E that has an e-unit.
Well, when I opened the loco up, I "discovered" my very first viewing of Lionel manual switch (installed originally in lieu of a e-unit). See the first photo, below. Have you guys seen these before? It's essentially a disc that can rotate about 1/4 turn (via the manual toggle). When it does, it pivots a pair of contact plates that flip-flop the circuitry of current direction going to the armature (or field ... I'm not sure which yet). Pretty simple technology, but nice. Give the user the option to toggle forward or reverse.
All of the cars had lithographed original paint, each with simulated (litho) details like rivets, windows, doors, etc. Everything's gotta be stripped to bare metal and then repainted (with the exception of the tanker top, I think). I have no idea how I can attempt to reproduce even some of the litho detail? Does anyone know if somebody makes decals for old stuff like this? My other (crude) option is to try to pen in the line details with a fine-point Sharpie pen (after base color repaint). Other ideas from anyone???
Anyway ... I don't think much of this will materialize anytime too soon. I've still got to finish my 259E loco, and (hopefully) shake my demons for at least a little while.
TJ
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Well ... It's official ... I have a problem ... an addiction, really. I've tried to resist, but I can't stop succumbing to the temptations that taunt and haunt me daily. It's not normal, I know. I need to break the vicious cycle. I want to live a life without being compelled to repair these bloody things, but I just can't quit cold turkey. I need help. They say the first step in "getting clean" is admitting to yourself that you have a problem. So, here goes: "I ... have ... a ... problem!"
My latest vice ... yet ANOTHER Lionel 1681 prewar tinplate loco. This is now my third ... well, two and a half, really. The middle one is a shell, only, with no motor.
This latest one has a motor, is teamed with a tender, a gondola, a tanker, and a caboose ... all the victims of a FLOOD. Really. The ebay seller said they were submerged for quite some time. I bought the lot for $36, which is likely way too much, but that's what addicted people do.
They arrived in the mail today. The bad news: the paint is literally jumping off all over. The slightest touch, and it flakes off. Some rust underneath, but not disasterous. The good news: all of the tinplate metal has held its shape quite well, with very few dents or bends. No broken tabs (from what I've seen), and no missing parts (with the exception of the loco drive rods and front truck).
I have no idea if I'll be able to get the loco motor to work. I'm not sure if the armature and/or field are fried. It needs a full rewire, at least. The gears and armature turn, though, so that's a good sign.
T-Man ... here's a comment/question for you ...
This loco is a 1681 (no E) ... I wasn't sure if it had an e-unit or not, because is DOES have a toggle on top of the loco, just like my 1681E that has an e-unit.
Well, when I opened the loco up, I "discovered" my very first viewing of Lionel manual switch (installed originally in lieu of a e-unit). See the first photo, below. Have you guys seen these before? It's essentially a disc that can rotate about 1/4 turn (via the manual toggle). When it does, it pivots a pair of contact plates that flip-flop the circuitry of current direction going to the armature (or field ... I'm not sure which yet). Pretty simple technology, but nice. Give the user the option to toggle forward or reverse.
All of the cars had lithographed original paint, each with simulated (litho) details like rivets, windows, doors, etc. Everything's gotta be stripped to bare metal and then repainted (with the exception of the tanker top, I think). I have no idea how I can attempt to reproduce even some of the litho detail? Does anyone know if somebody makes decals for old stuff like this? My other (crude) option is to try to pen in the line details with a fine-point Sharpie pen (after base color repaint). Other ideas from anyone???
Anyway ... I don't think much of this will materialize anytime too soon. I've still got to finish my 259E loco, and (hopefully) shake my demons for at least a little while.
TJ
