AF #1218 Restoration Project

Just wondering why do you want to replate it? Chances are you may not get it back as tight as it was done at the factory. I have done a few restorations on pre war engines and have just cleaned up the frame with a dremal and a wire brush bit. Once you have the shell back on you won't see it anyway. Your call of course just not sure if it would be worth the extra work?

I agree with Chris. No need to go through all that trouble just to re-plate the motor side frames. I just picked up a Lionel Standard Ga Super Motor that looks the same, its is filthy with a film of dust, grime and rust. I'm going to mask off the field windings and lightly bead blast it and it will come up beautiful but with a slight haze instead of a full shine. Once it has wheels on it and its tucked up into a loco frame/body you'll never know. Above all, have fun with it.

 

Gandy

Gotta agree... I don't see a real need to open the motor frame up. May be a real headache to reassemble. Since you don't have a big powerful press and new pins (like they would at the factory) you'd probably have to devise some method of using machine screws.

Since it appears the logical decision would be not to take the frame apart, I will go with that.  I am thinking about dipping the whole assembly in mineral spirits to get rid of the dirt and grime.  I will probably then go back over it with the dremmel and some metal polish. 

 

I have a few more questions regarding this project, but is getting late, and I have to get up early tommorrow morning. 

Hello Lionel16.........

While you're at it might as well as replace the axle bearings.  New bearings would make it run quieter and smoother just a thought.

 

the woman who loves toy trains

Tiffany

 

 

   Go to the auto body shop and get a bottle of PPG acryli clean. Its an auto wax and grease remover and i could not work on trains without it. Its fairly mild, and will really melt off the goop stuck to the loco. Plus it doesnt hurt the paint! 

 

   If you did decide to pull the plates apart, just drill and tap them and reattach that way, otherwise you would have to make new which is easy with a lathe. But without, forget it!

 

 Good luck, nice to see someone younger than me that cares about the old stuff.

Always glad to help. Keep us updated on your progress.

Yes, please keep us updated.  I have some junk stuff that I bought a couple weeks ago and I am going to tinker with restoring it and would love to hear how you do yours.  

 

Brian

Also be aware that areas you hit with a Dremel may then be suspect to rust, especially if the plating is gone. So try to apply some kind of protective layer, wax or some chemical rust preventative.

Nick, congrats on graduating college!

 

While I can't offer any advice on your restoration, hope you keep posting to this thread as you go, as I love to follow restoration projects.

 

Jim

I decided to repaint the 1218 with 4678 AF Hamiltonian Red provided by Train Enamel.  I went ahead and repainted the whole shell  except the trim around the windows.  I have noticed that on most of these locomotives that were painted in red, AF painted the windows yellow.  What would be a good match for this yellow?  In hindsight, it would of probably been easier to paint the windows first before finishing the rest of the shell.

 

   AF painted the windows after the loco was painted. They just painted it over the main coat with a brush. No need to leave that bare. 

 

   I would do it in gold or yellow since you did her in red. Just get some testors yellow enamel. Should be close enough. Just get some orange too and mix them together until it comes close. Paint looks good!