Zinc pest hits me a third time

The electronics can be sensitive. I also have an MTH locomotive with Zinc pest. This is a symptom of using reclaimed zinc for the casting. The reclaim is poorer quality and has inclusions and voids that appear as rot. I’ve seen Lionel side plates on trucks crumble due to poor casting. I’ve not seen it on any Lionel body shells. It’s unfortunate that you have the Zinc pest, but it is truly the exception and NOT the rule. I completely understand your frustration. Have you tried getting replacement parts? I’d bet my ZW that the replacement parts are available from www.Lionelsupport.com www.traindoctor.com also has a wealth of parts. Those locomotives are definitely worth repairing. You might even fill the voids or cracks with JB Weld or modeling putty and repaint the repaired part. Post more photos of the damage and add info about the locos and we can absolutely get your motive power looking good and working as it should. Don’t give up on the hobby. Look at this as an opportunity to improve your skill set. Good luck.

GSBOB, one would think that in Century 21 zinc pest would be a thing of the past.  I'd like to hear from the S gauge guys, if they are confronted with the same problem with post-war American Flyer, or current Lionel-Flyer products.  Ditto with American Models and former S Helper Service, plus MTH, who purchased SHS and continued to produce S gauge models under the MTH banner.

I don't think you need to leave the hobby and surely there are fellow OGR members who will purchase your models so you can make up most of your investment w/o trashing them in a moment of frustration.

The alternitive is brass.  Not low priced by any means, however, anyone who is concerned about zinc pest might consider investing in brass models instead.  In this case, less becomes more.  How?  Though you won't have as many locomotives and equipment (freight and passenger), brass models do retain their value, and can continue to provide many years of pleasure at the same time.  

Depending on your interest, there are many brass models (two and three rail) offered on the market that come with a Nice Price because there you have modelers who are departing the hobby, changing scales, or other reasons.

Sorry to learn of your zinc pest issue, but sincerely hope you will reconsider leaving the hobby altogether and most of all, will remain a OGR member.

Joe