Has anyone been able to straighten out bent handrails? I moved about a couple years ago and when I did the movers wrapped all my locos and cars up nicely prior to the move. All would have been well had I unpacked them as soon as I got them at the new house, but I didn’t. now after 2 years I have finally unpacked my equipment in preparations for the new layout only to find a LOT of bent handrails on everything from rolling stock to locos. I am not so much concerned about the rolling stock as I am the locos. I would prefer to not buy all new handrails for the 8 locos that have issues but I will if I have to. Can I heat them with a hairdryer and bend them and expect that they will stay? Any thoughts are appreciated.
And to top it all off I have an undecorated GP-30 that I misplaced the box for that had all the detail parts in it so I have a shell with no parts. This is a prime example why you should not buy a lot of stuff until you are ready for it.
They were pressed out of shape, and must be pressed back into shape. The advice above sounds reasonable enough. I have resorted to merely pressing the handrails to where I want them with foam blocks, wood, rolled paper bits, whatever can be placed in such a way that it forces the handrails the other way somewhat. Then, I walk away for a few hours. Later, I remove the pressing compound and the handrails should restore themselves to very close to their desired configuration over the next short while.
The key is to not force any of them far in any one direction. Patience, common sense…these two carry a lot of clout in the hobby.
I have had better luck with the reshaped parts keeping their shape if I block them in place and then freeze them, thaw, and refreeze about 5 times, than I have using heat. And, it’s a whole lot harder to screw up.[:D]
There is a small foam pad packed with a lot of locos, I have saved them, I am a pack-rat, but if you place foam behind bent pieces, leave them there for a time, they tend to reshape OK. Good-Luck
John, I don’t mean any offense, but I could hardly believe what I was reading when I read your post.
I must be in a different world from you. I cannot imagine allowing, or paying, or trusting some mover to pack up my personal items like my trains. I have not moved too many times in my life, but I have never had the luxury of having my things packed for me.
And, I will admit, I am a box saver, so if I did move (actually will be soon), things like locos will go right back into the packing that got them here from China or California or where ever. But I don’t consider saving the box to a model locomotive being a pack rat.