@RickO asked me earlier how I did the improved coal load found on several Lionel & Kline tenders......there are several models that can use this improvement. This is super fast, super easy to do, and can even be fun to do, since the results are dramatic, and instant...needed materials are
Brennan's real anthracite coal ( comes in various sizes I like #5)
5 minute epoxy ( I like the Devcon brand but any 2 part clear is fine)
masking tape ( 1 1/2” blue Scotch brand low release is best)
a tray that the tender will fit into upside down covering the coal load
small hunk of Scotchbrite ( steal this from your wife)
isopryl alcohol ( 70% or 90-91% is fine)
lint free rag or shop towels ( don’t go nuts, anything clean will do)
1 inch or 1 1/2 short bristle paint brush ( cheap as can be, it’ll be toast when you’re done)
to begin, examine the coal bunker edges, you can easily differentiate where the bunker ends, and the cast in coal load begins....this is where our tape line will be...I like to do two tapings, first is to prep the surface, get it clean and free of dust & oils...so I tape off my coal bunker....I tape off in single sided overlaps to make removal of the tape super easy when I do the glue part....so this practice run makes a perfect chance to get it right when it counts....now that it’s taped, and my tape edges are good and secure, I’ll scuff the cast in coal load with the scotchbrite...don’t worry, your gonna see the cast in pile take on a dull almost green tint as the scotchbrite tries to turn to powder on the really rough surface.....you can’t get every nook and cranny, so just lightly scuff up the surface...next I take a clean rag, and just lightly dampen one spot on the rag, clean the cast in load with the rag, staying away from my tape with the wet spot....now we have a clean, and prepped surface and the outer portion of the shell is unharmed......I remove this first layer of tape, as I want fresh clean tape with a nice clean line ( I may have bumped my tape line with the scotchbrite or the rag) ....now I’ll re-tape my coal bunker line, using the idea of easy tape removal as my guide.....be sure to press the tape really well against the bunker line...Prepare for the coal load by first pouring the coal into the tray....be sure the coal is mounded in such a fashion that it’s a good thick mound for pushing the tender down onto...now that our tape is set, out coal bed is prepared, we can mix the epoxy....2 generous, be it fat table spoons of each part is what I use...Mix this thoroughly with the brush for a good 30 seconds........now apply the epoxy to the cast in load generously, but not sloppy!...spread it all the way to the edges....you want a nice, thick coating, you’ll know you got it right when the cast in load almost appears leveled off...now for the fun part....flip the tender over right on top of your new mound, push it down in, rocking side to side, front to back...smother the top of the tender...put some light pressure on the tender as you do this, this will mash the new coal really well into the epoxy....leave it sit upside down for about 30 seconds or so...let the epoxy seep and do it’s thing....now flip the tender back over on some newspaper or whatever you’d like to catch excess...do not tap or shake off excess!..we want the coal in the bunker!....examine your work, looking at corners & edges, see any naked spots? Grab a pinch of coal and pack it in there...using a finger tip, mash down any coal that looks funny sticking up....I usually press down with a finger tip every inch of the new load..don’t let the epoxy set completely, usually about 3-4 minutes after I’ve mixed the epoxy, I begin removing tape, pull the tape inwards towards the coal bunker, so any glue doesn’t sling down onto the sides of the tender shell...allow the epoxy to fully cure for a good couple hours, and then turn over the tender and dump off the excess.....you’ll see very little fall off if you follow these steps.....I know it’s a lot of writing I did, but the whole job only takes about 10 minutes to complete....heck, the glue only gives you 5 minutes..😉
Pat
