Another Brass Repair, Detailing and Painting Southern Ms-4 Class 2-8-2

[ACL1504]

Back in the early 90's there was a whole bunch of brass on Ebay. Since the late 80's the brass and secondary brass market has gone up and down like a Yo-Yo! I'm talking about the price and not the availability.

Back then, the late 80's to early 90's, brass commanded a fairly decent price. These were locos in really great condition.

On the other hand, brass locos in disrepair and in very poor condition were another story. These were also abundant on Ebay and commanded a very low price and often didn't sell at all  or rarely sold. You can still find these on Ebay if you look and are patient for one to show up.

This is a thread of one of those low priced brass locos, the Southern Ry. Ms-4 class Mikado, 2-8-2.

More in a few.

[ACL1504]

I'm spoon feeding you the narrative here as the first part of this story needs to be told so you get the entire history of the loco, including the Ebay story, the repairs and painting.

The Southern Ry. Ms-4 class, 2-8-2 Mikado by PFM is one such story. This model was imported by PFM, Pacific Fast Mail, in 1978 at a retail price of $225.00. Samhongsa was the builder.

By now, you have figured out that I got the model off Ebay and made the repairs. So you have a picture in mind, here is how it looked when it came to me.





More in a few.

[GPdemayo]

I'll be watching.....wasn't that photo taken on the old layout? 

[ACL1504]

This model was released in two versions. One version had the Elesco feedwater heater and the other version had the  Worthington FWH.

This model has the Elesco FWH on top of the smoke box. A total of 750 were made, 400 with the Worthington FWH and 350 with the Elesco FWH. Oddly enough, the model with the Elesco FWH  sold for $10.00 more. The model with the Worthington FWH sold for $215.00.

I found the listing as "Southern brass type train with coal car"! The woman listing in on Ebay said she picked it up a an estate sale.

I'm interested now as who wouldn't want a brass type train with a real "coal car"! You just have to love this next part of her narrative. It read as follows -

There is no box, parts may be missing, have no idea if it runs, it is offered with no track, and no caboose type car".  She went on to say she believes is has a very nice color to it.

I'm  not being derisive, but just stating what she listed. Not this model but ones like it were selling on Ebay for just over $400.00 at the time.

I saw it as a diamond in the rough. She had it listed for $119.00 and by it now for $149.99.

I bought it for the "buy it now" price of $149.99 and it had been listed for 5+ days and no bids.

[ACL1504]

I'll be watching.....wasn't that photo taken on the old layout? 

Greg,

These photos were taken back in 1995, three layouts ago.  Good eye! I don't think you saw that layout.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Keep in mind, I never would have purchased the model if I didn't think I could fix it. Also, after looking at all the photos she had listed I realized it wasn't in that bad of condition.

Looks can be deceiving and the paint job made it look bad and probably turned many buyers away.

Here are a few more "as purchased" pictures of this diamond in the rough.






More in a few.

[ACL1504]

I purchased the loco for two reasons. I wanted to see if I could make all the repairs. I already had two of this model so if all else failed, I could use it down the road for parts.

Secondly, I wanted to fix and repaint and resell it on Ebay.

For some reason, I chose to document this repair. I did this back in 1995 and it was prior to any forum on the internet and no DCC.

If I were to do this same repair today, I'd have taken an additional 100 pictures.

Here are the rest of the pictures of the loco.

Can anybody see anything wrong with it. Khaki, you don't count.

[ACL1504]

[ACL1504]

[ACL1504]

In the next day or so, I'll go over all that is wrong and what I had to repair. I made 12 -13 repairs on this little jem.

By the way, I think it does have a nice little color to it.

Tom

[tct855]

I purchased the loco for two reasons. I wanted to see if I could make all the repairs. I already had two of this model so if all else failed, I could use it down the road for parts.

Secondly, I wanted to fix and repaint and resell it on Ebay.

For some reason, I chose to document this repair. I did this back in 1995 and it was prior to any forum on the internet and no DCC.

If I were to do this same repair today, I'd have taken an additional 100 pictures.

Here are the rest of the pictures of the loco.

Can anybody see anything wrong with it. Khaki, you don't count.


KPI,   
        Nothing I do ever counts unless she gets pregnant! Then all bets are off! ha.  But I do see a truck load of things I'd do... KPII

[ACL1504]

KPI,

Go ahead and list what you'd do or see. You of course would probably re-jacket the boiler and line the firebox with HO scale bricks.


KPII

[tct855]

KPI,
         lol, Man that hurt! You should have just kneed me in the jewels, that way I could have at least flinched. 
                                                                                                                                                                   KPII...

[ACL1504]

KPI,
         lol, Man that hurt! You should have just kneed me in the jewels, that way I could have at least flinched. 
                                                                                                                                                                   KPII...

KPI,

Yea, the truth does hurt doesn't it! LOL X 10!

KPII

[ACL1504]

You are the original KPI!

I'm the backup, KPII