There has been discussion about the zinc pest with 20-5619-1 and 20-5620-1. I have not seen anything on the P5a that came in the set with the beer cars, 20-5636-1. Has this one been free of the zinc pest issue? Thanks.
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After my post above, I looked at the two ebay auctions for this set (20-5636-1 with P5a boxcab, 5 beer cars, and a cabin). I enlarged each photo and both had small cracks in the paint at one end of the engine. I guess none of the 2008 boxcabs escaped the zinc pest issue.
My beer car set p5a has the rotting as well.
I saw the auctions for the beer cars set and unless MTH does a second run of shells, those sellers were asking too much.
@Frank Mulligan posted:I saw the auctions for the beer cars set and unless MTH does a second run of shells, those sellers were asking too much.
You ain't kidding! It's obvious that this shell won't be that shape for long!
Attachments
CAPILOT: My was from the beer set and it had bad shell nd has already been replaced. I got the old shell back and the attach points were broken during disassembly to replace the shell.
I was able to purchase piece-by-piece all of the reefers that came with these sets without having to buy the engines. Some (most) of the reefers were never available separately. Such a shame the shells of the engines are rotting away!
My P5A in the beer set is all cracked. Got my replacement shell from MTH but havent tried to swap them yet figuring its going to take some time to do. Anyone have instructions on how to change them out?
@ibrewtoo posted:My P5A in the beer set is all cracked. Got my replacement shell from MTH but havent tried to swap them yet figuring its going to take some time to do. Anyone have instructions on how to change them out?
How does one get a replacement shell? I have a P5A with zinc rot….
Tom
Reach out to MTH Parts to see if they have anymore. info@mthpartsandsales.com
Checked. They are out of shells.
It was mentioned to carefully take off the shell then line it with epoxy to hold it together. Would this actually work?
Who knows if MTH will get enough shells. Maybe if the shell is in good condition or small cracks, repair with auto body putty and recast in silicone and make a bunch of plastic ones that will last forever. They made their money and probably don't care. Just like the problems Lionel had with their scale GG'1's.
Never say never, but they did a one-off run of replacement shells with no indication of doing another run.
I would imagine that eventually whoever owns the tooling for MTH's boxcabs might make some spares if they make the engine again.
@CAPPilot posted:It was mentioned to carefully take off the shell then line it with epoxy to hold it together. Would this actually work?
Frankly, I doubt it. Dimensionally, how close are the P5a's to a GG1? Could you "kitbash" a P5a shell by shortening a GG1?? I think that approach (plus a little Bondo to hide the seams) is more promising than trying to stabilize a crumbling shell with epoxy. My $.02.
After reading the question and comments, and looking up the locos, my question is why MTH would use a metal with the known deterioration issues, and how many locos have zinc frames? All of them? I just had a coupler break off a loco that I had running on a floor level track for my grands, when the cat pushed the A-B-A set over. Looking at the metal, it seems to resemble a fine granulated styrofoam than something substantial.
Midge at MTH emailed me back in January 2021 before she retired and added me to the list for a replacement shell for the P5a. She told me they should be available September or October 2021and they will contact me when they arrive. Now 4 years later I'm still waiting and doubt that they will ever be available.
@Gene H posted:Midge at MTH emailed me back in January 2021 before she retired and added me to the list for a replacement shell for the P5a. She told me they should be available September or October 2021and they will contact me when they arrive. Now 4 years later I'm still waiting and doubt that they will ever be available.
I believe they did a second run of shells and that's it. If you haven't received one by now, well I'm sorry to say but you're out of luck.
@CALNNC posted:After reading the question and comments, and looking up the locos, my question is why MTH would use a metal with the known deterioration issues, and how many locos have zinc frames? All of them? I just had a coupler break off a loco that I had running on a floor level track for my grands, when the cat pushed the A-B-A set over. Looking at the metal, it seems to resemble a fine granulated styrofoam than something substantial.
Zinc has been used for models for 100 years +. The properties for low cost casting and finishing make it useful. The problem is not in the formula of the metal, it is with the quality of the metal. The cause and fix has been known for 100 years. The higher the impurities the faster the rot. Zinc rot today comes from VERY POOR quality control of the metal in smelting or at the foundary. I have 80+ year old engines with no problems.
Casting with other materials would make it too expensive for most all of us.
@Gene H posted:Midge at MTH emailed me back in January 2021 before she retired and added me to the list for a replacement shell for the P5a. She told me they should be available September or October 2021and they will contact me when they arrive. Now 4 years later I'm still waiting and doubt that they will ever be available.
They actually were made available a couple years ago when the new P5a came out. The new P5a came out late in 2022, and the shells were available. Several people posted here in OGR about their experience getting then installed as they had different wiring.
There are 2 MTH NIB P5a's up for auction on Cabin Fever. I believe, but I have no proof, that this auction is part of Tony Lash's stash.
Unfortunately, for those looking for a zinc-pest-free shell, you cannot tell from the pictures if the shells are okay or not.
@Frank Mulligan posted:Unfortunately, for those looking for a zinc-pest-free shell, you cannot tell from the pictures if the shells are okay or not.
The 20-56XX boxcab shells are the ones you want to avoid. The 20-57XX shells should be okay.
ADDED: The ones I think you are looking at are the P5a Modified, not the boxcab. The "modified" engines did not have any zinc pest issues as far as I know. However, that early one in the auction did have poor traction that can be fixed by putting the speed sensor on the other motor.
