Lionel 2018 Model Locomotive

Yup, press fitted...Look in the inside of the shell and see if you can see where the bell is,  if you can see the bottom of the molded pin, tap it out, I use a ice pick...

OR tape it off real good, Use some painters tape cut into thin strips about an inch long, or put a dab of vasoline on it, paint won't stick to it...

Marty

EricaAnn posted:...

I still own the first locomotive I ever got, my venerable Lionel 2018. She's from 1959 and still runs like a champion, thanks to a bit of TLC over the decades, but like a lot of well loved objects, she looks, well how can I put it...a bit too well played with.

I have considered repainting her due to the vast number of nicks, scratches and missing paint that has occurred over the past 59 years. ...a proper job of refinishing her...

If I may suggest, EricaAnn, are you sure you want to do that? Don't every one of those marks memorialize a time in your life when you were happy playing with your trains? Is it a shiny, new-looking train you want, or do you want to preserve something precious to you that was with you for several decades of your life?

Here I am pictured with my father's trains. One is gone, now. And one remains with me (inner loop.) There isn't any part of the train that isn't marked somehow, some from my playing and marveling. I wouldn't even think of painting it. The train is part of my life's journey, with me, still, because of what the train has meant to me, and had meant to my parents, not because it runs well or is bright and shiny.

Just a personal perspective I offer to you for your consideration.

Forgive me if my sharing this perspective with you is an intrusion.

FrankM.

I would say don't repaint it. A lot of memories in there. But if you do, just tape off the bell.

Moonson posted:

EricaAnn posted:...

I still own the first locomotive I ever got, my venerable Lionel 2018. She's from 1959 and still runs like a champion, thanks to a bit of TLC over the decades, but like a lot of well loved objects, she looks, well how can I put it...a bit too well played with.

I have considered repainting her due to the vast number of nicks, scratches and missing paint that has occurred over the past 59 years. ...a proper job of refinishing her...

If I may suggest, EricaAnn, are you sure you want to do that? Don't every one of those marks memorialize a time in your life when you were happy playing with your trains? Is it a shiny, new-looking train you want, or do you want to preserve something precious to you that was with you for several decades of your life?

Here I am pictured with my father's trains. One is gone, now. And one remains with me (inner loop.) There isn't any part of the train that isn't marked somehow, some from my playing and marveling. I wouldn't even think of painting it. The train is part of my life's journey, with me, still, because of what the train has meant to me, and had meant to my parents, not because it runs well or is bright and shiny.

Just a personal perspective I offer to you for your consideration.

Forgive me if my sharing this perspective with you is an intrusion.

FrankM.

Will Ebbert posted:

I would say don't repaint it. A lot of memories in there. But if you do, just tape off the bell.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts gentlemen. I have to agree with you. It is for this very reason that I haven't repainted her to date.

It may be one of Lionel's lower end locomotives, but she's my first and the start of my life long love affair with model trains. I wouldn't part with her for anything!

My 2018 was included in a train set I received for Christmas 1959. I believe Lionel marketed it as the "Coal King" set. I still have all of the original freight cars, tender and caboose and have always considered them "the untouchables". Never to be messed with other than washing them a few years back to remove a half century of dirt and grime. A few repairs along the way with time period correct parts and their still running.

My 2018 is always on my Christmas layout and with this coming year, she'll be entering her 59th season of service and can still pull twelve O scale freight cars along with her tender without hesitation at 83 MPH! It's from that time period of when we made things better, not cheaper.

Maybe her paint job is not in that bad of shape after all as shown in the attached photos.

BTW...love the photo FrankM 

That paint job is in great shape! As an aside, if you really are interested in trying your hand at painting a locomotive, you could pick a 2018 or similar locomotive up on ebay and paint it for a "before and after".

Will Ebbert posted:

That paint job is in great shape! As an aside, if you really are interested in trying your hand at painting a locomotive, you could pick a 2018 or similar locomotive up on ebay and paint it for a "before and after".

Will,

I have painted a number of locomotives in my career so she wouldn't be my first by any means. I have seen repainted 2018's and for some reason, the people that repainted them did them a great disservice with some pretty poor paint jobs.

This is a locomotive I recently repainted. Not my 2018 but my 5405 Hudson I bought used.

The wear on your 2018 looks fairly minor to me. It gives your locomotive age and character. If I picked it up, and therefore had no attachment to it, I would not consider repainting it.
If it was mine from childhood, so much more reason not to.

Some folks I know like to say: "it's only original once".

But of course it is your train.

I love how your 2018 looks.  I have just gotten into O scale, but I still have the first engine I ever remember...Lionel HO 14074 SP Steamer set from 1962.  It was my dads and it is on my untouchable list.   The smoke and whistle tender is what got me hooked on trains.  Regardless of the scratches and now non running ability, I wouldn't do anything to it...it is just how I remember no matter what scratches are on it.

I love how yours is still your Christmas Train...that is part of what makes this such a great hobby!  Thanks for reminding me of why I love trains!

Great looking, and preserved loco! May you continue to enjoy it for many more years!

Hi Erica Ann,

  Your locomotive looks great. it's up to you what you ultimately want to do, but the paint looks fine and you have the original numbers...if it was mine, I would leave it as is. Can you let us know what you decide?

Tom

MNCW posted:

Hi Erica Ann,

  Your locomotive looks great. it's up to you what you ultimately want to do, but the paint looks fine and you have the original numbers...if it was mine, I would leave it as is. Can you let us know what you decide?

Tom

 

After taking a closer look at her and reading the various comments from my other forum members, I have to agree that the wear and tear on her does lend to her charm, so the old 2018 will continue into the future with her original paint as applied long ago in Camden New Jersey.