Repairing an old and broken brass loco.

[ACL1504]

At the last Expo, Bob Leonard (RWL)  and I had a very lengthy conversation about the old thread I did on the subject named above. My comment and thought process was to have all those interested parties be referred to the old thread. However, I see that all the photos on the old thread are gone and no longer can be accessed. This may have happened when Jimmy D. had the big server crash. Not sure but that was then and this is now.

I'm not entirely sure who all on this forum are brass aficionados or have worked, repaired, painted brass as it is becoming a lost art of sorts.

I know Bob Leonard(RWL), Karl Scholtz(postalkarl), Thom (tct855) and I have all painted and worked on brass at one time or another. Thom is the one who is lucky enough to paint and weather the F&SM locos for George Sellios.

I want to say that I'm certainly not an expert but I do know my way around brass and can make a fairly decent repair. So on to the re-posting of the original thread on Jimmy D's old forum. It's hard to believe the original thread was posted on September 2009.

Continued in a few.

[ACL1504]

I purchased and old brass 0-8-0 loco several months ago off Ebay and yes, it is most definitely a basket case. The loco came to me as you see it in the following pictures. The photos show the damage and what I needed to repair.

The front and rear foot boards were bent and broken off the frame. The cab roof was unsoldered and almost folded over onto itself or as least curled curlded on the sides. The drawbar was bent. The loco had no journal springs, no brake shows, a damaged steam chest and was extremely dusty! Also, there was no bottom underframe plate.

In one of the photos you can see a journal spring magnetized to the old open frame motor. The steam generator was bent forward and the old whistle needed to be upgraded.







Continued in a few.

[ACL1504]

I intend to make the repairs and install a new Sagami or equivolent can motor. I'll install DCC with sound. I'l use a Tsunami sound decoder for light steam locos. I'll strip and clean the locomotive and then paint it for the Seaboard Air Line. NOTE: I actually decaled it for the AB&C RR. The Atlanta Birmingham and Coast RR.
Also, I'll add a few detail items that most people and painters forget about installing on the loco to make it more realistic.

You are welcome to follow me in this quest and comments, positive or negative, are most welcome.

[tct855]

T~,
           I remember this thread. Wow 2009 you say? Boy life is like a roll of toilet paper, the more you get into it, the faster it seems to go!  Look forward to the refresh again on this build.  Thanx Thom...

[jimmillho]

I remember this when you first did it, and I am going to watch it again

Jim

[jbvb]

I've repaired and reworked a few brass locos for better operation, but nothing that had taken this kind of whack.  I recall the original thread, but I'll be watching this one too.

[GPdemayo]

I'll watch again also.....

[ACL1504]

T~,
           I remember this thread. Wow 2009 you say? Boy life is like a roll of toilet paper, the more you get into it, the faster it seems to go!  Look forward to the refresh again on this build.  Thanx Thom...

Thom,

Thanks for checking on this thread as well. I like your toilet paper analogy.

Tom

[ACL1504]

I remember this when you first did it, and I am going to watch it again

Jim

Butty Jim,

Thanks for following along. I was looking at the loco the other day and couldn't remember all that I did do. It's a refresher for me as well.


Tom

[ACL1504]

I've repaired and reworked a few brass locos for better operation, but nothing that had taken this kind of whack.  I recall the original thread, but I'll be watching this one too.

James,

Thanks for following along on the adventure for the second time. I actually forgot all the stuff I did to repair this one.

Tom

[ACL1504]

I'll watch again also.....

Butty Greg,

Thanks for checking in and joining the train watching crew.

Tom

[tct855]

Tom,
         Thanks. ha.  T.P.'s my friend. I guess it's because I'm sooo full of it. ha.  I just love following threads where modelers work (create or repair) with brass!  I'm all eyes & ears!  Thanx Thom...

[jbvb]

I frequently use my own forum postings as notes to my future self...

[deemery]

I frequently use my own forum postings as notes to my future self...

How very Marty McFly of you :-)


dave

[ACL1504]

I frequently use my own forum postings as notes to my future self...

James,

You have a point, I think I'll go back and print the treads that are detailed.

Tom