Below are some pictures of my Lionel prewar #8 standard gauge loco that I have been working on.
I have been asking a lot of questions on the #8 in various post and thank you all for the information.
So, I m doing a complete paint strip and repaint on a #8 shell and a frame that I picked up from eBay from two different sellers. Stripped the paint off the shell, then decided to paint it in a orange and blue Lionel paint scheme.
The shell has been painted orange and blue and the brass insert window areas have been painted blue with the name and number plates left brass and buffed/cleared. The frame has been painted black. The cowcatcher was painted orange along with a orange strip on frame.
Yes I know these are not traditional colors but the shell and frame were basically junk and does not have any collector values , Just wanted to have fun.
See attachment for photos
Purchased a super motor (newer version) from a forum member Chris Lonero (Pete from Kansas stated that he rebuilt the motor). Chris also included another #8 frame and earlier #8 shell (strap headlights).
The wheels were removed and have been painted orange (pain to mask the wheels).The motor was re-wheeled at one time with loco type wheels, left them on as you really cannot see what type they are. The supper motor was completely rewired with super flex silicone jacketed stranded wire), replaced brushes and a new switch and contact assembly with the Lionel nameplate was added.
On the contact assembly I took it apart and drilled a hole through the fiber board for the wire connection. The hole was drilled away from the armature then the contact assembly where the hole was drilled was tinned with solder then reassembled. Then I soldered a wire through the hole to the contact assembly. This allows a positive connection to the contact assembly. All other wire connections are with a terminal/heat shrink. I also added a interior light on one end of the engine this has a resistor in series to lower the voltage so it is just a hint of illumination. The terminal block on top is to put all wires from the contact assembly and lights to the switch. This allows for easier disassembly for repairs.
The engine shell also had new cast headlights installed as well as new grab rail stanchions. A larger pantograph replaced the small original, only the hole in the middle mounts it to the frame as the two end screw are just screwed into the pantograph and the extra was cut off on the bottom. This was done just to hide the original mounting holes on the pantograph.
The last picture shows my new # 8 with another #8 engine painted in graphite that I picked up from Pete in Kansas.
Now I start on my two #35 and one #36 passenger cars painted in the orange and blue Lionel paint scheme.
Question: Why is Standard Gauge so addicting?
