Broken tabs

Sadly the only way I know of repairing the missing/broken tabs is to attach a new one on the inside of the body.  Best means of attaching would be super glue or an epoxy, as that should not leave evidence on the exterior of the body.  

I have seen people solder new tabs on as well as epoxying / soldering the body together on the outside, neither of which provides an invisible means of repair.

NWL

Wish someone would manufacture repair tabs similar to the drawing listed (not the best did it quick in VISEO).
What this would allow is that there would be a offset to allow for the material thickness of the metal used on the body. This could be soldered on or glued on with JB Weld.

Making out of brass would be good as it could be annealed to make it softer in the bending process.

A machine to stamp out and bend at the same time would be good, tooling would be costly but if someone is in this business they could make some extra cash.

One should not solder replacement tabs on.  The heat of the soldering process will ruin paint and lithography and then you will have junk.

Nation Wide Lines posted:

One should not solder replacement tabs on.  The heat of the soldering process will ruin paint and lithography and then you will have junk.

Correct Nation Wide Lines and only solder when you are doing a repaint.

I agree with the glue,silicone, or epoxy. Use sparingly, and you can still remove the body without too much effort.

RonH posted:

Wish someone would manufacture repair tabs similar to the drawing listed (not the best did it quick in VISEO).
What this would allow is that there would be a offset to allow for the material thickness of the metal used on the body. This could be soldered on or glued on with JB Weld.

Making out of brass would be good as it could be annealed to make it softer in the bending process.

A machine to stamp out and bend at the same time would be good, tooling would be costly but if someone is in this business they could make some extra cash.

With the tolerances on the tinplate I have and have seen, not sure if the offset would even be needed, but this is a great idea.

handyandy posted:

RonH posted:

Wish someone would manufacture repair tabs similar to the drawing listed (not the best did it quick in VISEO).
What this would allow is that there would be a offset to allow for the material thickness of the metal used on the body. This could be soldered on or glued on with JB Weld.

Making out of brass would be good as it could be annealed to make it softer in the bending process.

A machine to stamp out and bend at the same time would be good, tooling would be costly but if someone is in this business they could make some extra cash.

With the tolerances on the tinplate I have and have seen, not sure if the offset would even be needed, but this is a great idea.

Good point, but it will help in keeping it square when gluing of soldering.

Thanks for all the help. I had thought of firing up my old Weller but was afraid the heat would discolor the chrome.  I think I’ll try the JB Weld route. Perhaps making the replacement tabs a tee shape to increase the bonding surface on the inside of the body. Any other ideas?

Use to be able to get them for Hornby in the UK from Maddock Toys but it appears they are no longer available

Ref No: TA.3 Category: Tools and accessories Description: Soldering tabs, tinplate. Pack of 10 Price (£): No longer available

 A few years ago I had an older Ives station that someone had replaced the sheet metal base. The original wall tabs were long gone.

The repair consisted of a new longer replacement "tab" afixed to the station walls with a pin and epoxy.

(very small hole drilled through the station wall , and " new " tab, then epoxy tab onto inside of wall , insert pin and bent)

The slots in the replacement base were cut to fit the "new" tabs. New tabs were inserted and bent over. 

Sadly I sold the station a few years back so no pics to show.

The pin heads were small and barely noticable, the original unknown owner did some nice sheet metal fabrication creating the base too.

If you epoxy new tabs to the side walls, maybe bend them into an L shape.., drill a hole thru the floor and the tab and secure with small  flat head self tap screws.

Best to do what ever you can to keep them out of the scrap pile and on the rails.

I got in touch with Maddock Toys. 
you are correct, tabs are no longer available. The fellow who manufactured them sadly had passed away. 
they are trying to find someone to take over the process but, so far no takers.