Lionel #384 Replacement Frame

Hennings Lists them.

Steve

CAUTION: Some repops are NOT drilled and tapped. Easy peasey for some, a hurdle for others without the tools or skills.

The MTH frame has the best quality of any repro frame that I have used.  Re-framed many locos using their frames.

I believe Henning's has the MTH frames, I know I see a lot of orders for frames going to MTH from the shop.  I don't know what happens when MTH is no more...

Historical Note: The late Bill Vagell was the pioneer of tinplate repro parts along with Dick Wheeler of MEW. Tradition is carried forward by MTH and Hennings.

@Jon G posted:

The MTH frame has the best quality of any repro frame that I have used.  Re-framed many locos using their frames.

Thank you for that piece of info!  Just to clarify:  the MTH frame WILL work on an original engine?  Are the necessary holes drilled and tapped (I can do that, but I need to get the right tools if it is necessary)?

I've used a couple of the MTH repro frames, I didn't have to tap any holes.  I haven't used the #384, but I have no reason to believe it would be any different.

They are drilled & tapped. We include the drawbar & motor mount clips w/ the frame order.  Harry 

Sounds like a plan! :-)

OK, I purchased the frame from Harry (needed just a little tweaking to work) and installed it today.

Now, the original frame had the green stripe.  I used a Satin black for the replacement, but I don't know what color green to use for the stripe.  Against that black background, I can't seem to comfortably match it to a color.  Can anyone tell me what color it should be?

Thanks!

The green is a TESTORS paint product #1171 Beret Green. 1/4 oz. jars.  Harry

Whoever took over Charlie Wood's paints has a 384 Stripe Green paint that is a good match for the original color.  Used it on quite a few restorations, including mine.

Thanks for the answers, gentlemen.

I have used Charlie Wood's paints before, and I like them a lot, but I don't need the kinds of amounts that they are sold in:  I only have the stripes to paint.  I will look for that Testor's color.

OK, I found the paint at the local Hobby Lobby yesterday, so I have begun the adventure of painting the stripes/step edges/poling pocket edges.  These I have to do. 

But I now have another dilemma:  the stripes on the tender are worn and largely missing, and the cab window frames are going to be much more dull than the stripe on the frame.  I know that the decision is mine, but I'd like to hear what folks might think about repainting the tender stripes and the cab window frames--and I think of them as separate issues:  I would not have to do both if I do either.

The engine is no longer original in condition, with some replacement wheels and a replacement frame.  The tender, however, remains original so far as I can tell.