WHY ??????? Possibly the ugliest engine I've ever seen and I own it.

Previous owner had more money than sense?  Maybe it was damaged.

Hope you got it really cheap.  Good candidate for a custom paint job.

Yeah, strip it and start over, it's a complete FUBAR (although I agree that it is a pretty shade of blue). What a disrespectful thing to do to a very expensive engine.

I looked at a number of things from that collection. Some nice pieces but also some butt ugly stuff. Didn't buy anything.

Steve

I think it was an  "Only 99 cents with a Fill-up" at your neighborhood Sunoco . Remember those days? 

Kind of grows on you.....like a fungus!  LOL! Seriously, it could be properly repainted/restored.

"It's not that bad looking...."

It was at my house last Saturday and IT IS that bad looking

 It is not the locomotives fault someone decorated it so ugly. Why not leave it the way it is and let it have its day running around the track. Someone even wrote a book about the Ugly Duckling.  Maybe that would be a good name for this locomotive.

Jim

Just remove the decoration and you have a fine locomotive. Not nearly the high water pants Alco FA !!!

If the price was right, I think it is/was a good deal. Clean, solid just an ugly paint job.  Lots of people around like that.

artyoung posted:

Yeah, strip it and start over, it's a complete FUBAR (although I agree that it is a pretty shade of blue). What a disrespectful thing to do to a very expensive engine.

It was the previous owner's engine, he could do what he wanted...

Rusty

And he exercised that right to the fullest.

krylon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've seen worse...

I enjoy picking up this sort of purchase and taking it back to what was or should have been.

This is a great engine, in fact these are the types that I look for.

Take it apart strip the paint and do a complete repaint.
I would paint it the colors I want, so not to call it a restoration.
The brass rails and inserts should clean up.
Do some masking when repaint, maybe a lower stripe.

Have fun and enjoy!

RonH posted:

This is a great engine, in fact these are the types that I look for.

Take it apart strip the paint and do a complete repaint.
I would paint it the colors I want, so not to call it a restoration.
The brass rails and inserts should clean up.
Do some masking when repaint, maybe a lower stripe.

Have fun and enjoy!

 

this is what I did with a #9,i wanted to match the cars I  had so I took it to the auto paint store,,, 

Nice Job!

Yes, just repaint in your favorite color and move on!

terry hudon posted:

RonH posted:

This is a great engine, in fact these are the types that I look for.

Take it apart strip the paint and do a complete repaint.
I would paint it the colors I want, so not to call it a restoration.
The brass rails and inserts should clean up.
Do some masking when repaint, maybe a lower stripe.

Have fun and enjoy!

 

this is what I did with a #9,i wanted to match the cars I  had so I took it to the auto paint store,,, 

Here is a number 8 done in a Lionel paint scheme. Wheels are painted orange to?

I did get it for a good price, just really bought it for the virtually new running chassis.  Already have a couple of other other shells (with original paint).

I will take O Gauge Jim's advice and run at our Sunday TTOS meet.  Give it its day in the sun(or dark storm clouds depending on how you look at it).  But a custom redo of the shell is definitely in order.  A lot of options as to what it could become.

I'll post as the project comes along.  Keep the suggestions and ideas coming, they're fun!

Thanks

Looks like an original shell and frame that was in pathetic condition that someone did a hideous quick paint job on then slapped in a MTH motor and trucks.

Tin

Actually underneath the globs of blue paint is a virtually new chassis (black where the blue paint didn't get to) and beautiful original green paint on interior of shell. 

That's why I don't get it .

I don't know what it cost but after checking values, it sure seems worth fixing it up to be presentable. Looks like a fun project to me.  Enjoy.

Would look nice with the brass trim  striped & polished . With the decorations removed

Not only is that paint scheme ugly, its workmanship is poor also! I see sanding marks in the paint, so be sure ti use a high-build primer when refinishing this engine.

If this engine were mine, it would have this paint scheme:

I took off the shell and the inside is as clean as can be.  I installed a 9v battery for testing and all functions work including cab chatter. This just adds to the mystery as to "why".  They even painted over the beautiful brass journal covers and then weathered the whole frame .

The inside of the shell is also like new condition.  Here's a couple of pictures .

Plan on running it at our Sunday meet.  

Someone has to love it!

Seal Beach Bill posted:

I did get it for a good price, just really bought it for the virtually new running chassis.  Already have a couple of other other shells (with original paint).

I will take O Gauge Jim's advice and run at our Sunday TTOS meet.  Give it its day in the sun(or dark storm clouds depending on how you look at it).  But a custom redo of the shell is definitely in order.  A lot of options as to what it could become.

I'll post as the project comes along.  Keep the suggestions and ideas coming, they're fun!

Thanks

Heck,

I'd strip it and paint in one of the Milwaukee schemes (orange and maroon, some with silver stripes). Nothing to lose here. Frame is easier, maybe just remove the brass eagles, scuff it up and hit with gloss black spray.

I picked up an MTH 381E for cheap - the thing weighs a ton, can't tell if someone added weight or it was original, is the early modern version with can motor and sound (PS1) - I know some folks don't like these, but a new NiMH battery and it runs fine. For the price, (and the fact that it is an MTH and can motor), I feel that I can do anything I want to it without peril.

A couple of us split up a nice modern era collection from Florida. Really nice stuff, but the guy felt compelled to cover them with dime store stick on letters, really looked goofy. Fortunately, water based stickum, and they came off with no damage to the very nice paint on all items.

Jim

Seal Beach Bill posted:

I took off the shell and the inside is as clean as can be.  I installed a 9v battery for testing and all functions work including cab chatter. This just adds to the mystery as to "why".  They even painted over the beautiful brass journal covers and then weathered the whole frame .

The inside of the shell is also like new condition.  Here's a couple of pictures .

Plan on running it at our Sunday meet.  

I notice a standard 9 volt battery in there - get rid of that and get an NiMH 9 volt rechargeable or the 'Battery Elimination' gadget (BCR) that is basically a supercapacitor in a 9v case.

Jim

Ran the ugly beast yesterday at the TTOS SP meet. Ran perfectly. Steve E will post the  video when he gets a chance.

Got the second positive comment about it,  "It's looks patriotic ". 😊

I did put in a "BCR".  The 9v was just for testing.   I've heard with the charging systems that bad things can happen.

It's the last time it will be seen, as it appears, in public.  I'll start disassembling it tonight. 

Seal Beach Bill posted:

Ran the ugly beast yesterday at the TTOS SP meet. Ran perfectly. Steve E will post the  video when he gets a chance.

Got the second positive comment about it,  "It's looks patriotic ". 😊

I did put in a "BCR".  The 9v was just for testing.   I've heard with the charging systems that bad things can happen.

It's the last time it will be seen, as it appears, in public.  I'll start disassembling it tonight. 

Here's a short video of the ugly beast.

Steve

https://youtu.be/2Lns0LPhzWk

altho ,ugly,,i do like the blue color,,,could do ,red/white/blue !!

  Just a "discovery" I made about 1996...Lowe's has that little wonder device, "Magic Eye" for matching paint colors. I took a K-Line Santa Fe shell in, the guy held it to he "eye" and "walla walla"... SantaFe Green. I have done this with a LOT of items that needed "matching" colors. With the broad range of types of paint compounds, you can get all sorts of paint varieties. Makes life a little bit easier. Or at least painting.

Hey, if I were you I'd paint it in Phoebe Snow gray, maroon, and yellow but that's only 'cause I'm a DL&W freak

All the suggestions of color choices are great.  Thanks, keep them coming, but I'm thinking about what kind of passenger car colors I could match it up with. 

I bet that a nice grandfather let his grandchild paint it.

Just a quick update.  Went to my buddy's auto shop this week to give him a hand (his assistant was on vacation).  I took the "Ugly Beast", disassembled it and bead blasted the shell, and cleaned the  brass.

Although extremely busy, he had some fun helping me. Here's a few pictures . It cleaned up well. 

Also put in a picture of his shop, thought you might like to see it.

Seal Beach Bill posted:

Just a quick update.  Went to my buddy's auto shop this week to give him a hand (his assistant was on vacation).  I took the "Ugly Beast", disassembled it and bead blasted the shell, and cleaned the  brass.

Although extremely busy, he had some fun helping me. Here's a few pictures . It cleaned up well. 

Also put in a picture of his shop, thought you might like to see it.

way to go,are you going  to paint it with automotive paint?

terry hudon posted:

Seal Beach Bill posted:

Just a quick update.  Went to my buddy's auto shop this week to give him a hand (his assistant was on vacation).  I took the "Ugly Beast", disassembled it and bead blasted the shell, and cleaned the  brass.

Although extremely busy, he had some fun helping me. Here's a few pictures . It cleaned up well. 

Also put in a picture of his shop, thought you might like to see it.

way to go,are you going  to paint it with automotive paint?

I'd like to, I find it more durable, but much more labor intensive (mixing and using hardeners).  Plus auto paints in Ca are ridiculous expensive (insane regulations).  We'll see.

Still have to decide what colors I'm going to use. 

Seal Beach Bill posted:

terry hudon posted:

Seal Beach Bill posted:

Just a quick update.  Went to my buddy's auto shop this week to give him a hand (his assistant was on vacation).  I took the "Ugly Beast", disassembled it and bead blasted the shell, and cleaned the  brass.

Although extremely busy, he had some fun helping me. Here's a few pictures . It cleaned up well. 

Also put in a picture of his shop, thought you might like to see it.

way to go,are you going  to paint it with automotive paint?

I'd like to, I find it more durable, but much more labor intensive (mixing and using hardeners).  Plus auto paints in Ca are ridiculous expensive (insane regulations).  We'll see.

Still have to decide what colors I'm going to use. 

Hennings paints are pretty hard when sprayed with an airbrush and mixed with Naptha. Dry in an oven for an hour, then they need to dry a few days to fully cure. Best advice is to let any paint dry a week before reassembling or handling too much. 

Auto paints are excellent though. I sprayed a mirror for my car once, and it was hard as the original finish. Not too much more trouble than an airbrush, but they set fast, so you have to clean up quick.

George