Marx 6" questions

Some interesting items there, they don't look too bad. Sometimes it just takes a while for the right parts to show up - or you can improvise.

 

What do you mean about the spotlight car missing the pickup? it appears to have an insulated sliding plate for a center-rail pickup.

that pic shows the missing part on my car, sorry Ace, shoulda captioned that one.

To replace the tank car end, you might want to try finding a casting plug (incorrectly called a "freeze plug") at an automotive supplier. Get two that match, and voila!

I've always heard them called "soft plugs". yeah I thought of that,it would be a nice match, but the car on the left is the one that is missing an end, and it sticks out farther.

Well, then I guess it's off to the sporting goods store for a baseball bat of the appropriate diameter and contour.

Robert Grossman has the replacement pickup I believe.  As for the tank car end, lots of beater tank cars on ebay that are suitable for parts.  

Dave

Both tank car ends were used prewar. Some sets have one of each style in them. The bullet ends were 1937-38. The flat ends from about 1939 on.

The plastic searchlight started in 1950, and Grossman should have a repro lens.

 

Steve

thanks Steve. I took another look at Grossman's site, looks like he has most of what I need. 

Dave
E-mail Robert. He may have a used end for the tank car. Doesn't hurt to ask.

Steve

will do Steve, working on a parts order now.

two thing i could mention...

 

1. tank car end domes range from dull metal to shiny metal to fully chromed, so you ought to mention the condition of the one you have to get a good match.

 

2. i'm pretty sure there are various lens types for the (561) searchlight car.  the metal searchlights use a pretty fat glass convex lens, while i believe the red plastic light versions either use a flat glass or a flat plastic lens, ... can't seem to locate one to check at the moment.

 

should be a nice consist for your CV.

cheers...gary

 

 

Dave,

 

Nice little train. When I first saw the Marx 6" stuff I turned my nose up at them. Guess I still have some "scale model railroader" left in me. Then I bought a 999 to run with some Marx scale tin. The guy threw in a handful of the little 6" cars with it. Now I'm liking the little cars and have bought several more.

They grow on you.

Kinda like mold I guess?

 

How did you get the T&S couplers to hitch up the "L" tender?

yes they do Andy. I've always like the litho work, especially since I work in a litho plant, but the 6" four wheel cars never did much for me. I had these running around the layout yesterday, and the tinplate sound hit the mark. I can see I'm gonna have to build some more shelves for Marx......but where tp put the shelves? 

when I bought the Marx CP loco off the forum earlier this year, it included a Wedge tender. It looked a little small to me, so until I get a CP tender, I added a T&S coupler to the rear truck on a small Lionel streamlined tender so I can pull any of my Marx cars.

Dave, when you come down to it, I think you'll find it cheaper and less hassle to pick up a complete tank car than to find the tank end you need.  There are several on the bay at the moment for under $10.  That's the beauty of these 6", 4-wheel Marx cars: they don't exactly break the bank.  

 

Here's an interesting lot - 5 tank cars, both kinds of ends, $13.  All the parts you need, and then some.

 

david

 

 

 

Haveto admit, I like those streamlined Lionel tenders behind a lot of Marx engines. I use them with my 666 and 1666.

 

David thanks for the tip. the only problem I have is an incurable sickness....instead of getting an end for the one car I have...I'd be looking for parts to put those others back together!But I will keep an eye out for a single tanker in bad enough shape for even me to not and rebuild it.