Picked up my Menards Mystery Box yesterday. Opened it and the first item was a Menards Power & Light building, a bit scuffed up but otherwise complete and working. Already have one but may kit bash this one, removing the gen/diesel set to become a flat car load. The next item was a beige, non-descript, die cast passenger car
The surprise was finding a John Deere RS-3 Train set. Other than no FasTrack or power pack the rest of the set was in the box which included:
- LionChief RS-3 Diesel locomotive
- Flatcar with two removable John Deere tractors
- John Deere Boxcar
- Square window caboose, illuminated
- LionChief remote for locomotive
The rolling stock looks perfect. Now the problem, the locomotive has a broken strut assembly for the front motor truck. The ideal fix would be to replace the assembly. It's only a $9 item, but unfortunately its not available from Lionel. I might attempt a repair of the strut, but don't know how well it can be epoxied or plasticweld.
Another option is replace the entire front motor truck. A $50 item, but it appears readily available.
I never anticipated acquiring this type of item. I am in the midst of restoring what was originally a 10'X9' Super O layout that my father built for me back in 1959. It has been stored away since 1965, but it was packed well and is in surprising good condition. Aside from a recently acquired K-Line Plymouth Switcher, my newest motive power is over 50 years old, of course all conventional power/control.
I suppose this train could be set up as a holiday display, but other than that I don't have a good plan on what else to do with it. Any thoughts would be welcomed.
I'll need a little black paint...
