I own a custom painted CB&Q brass steam locomotive, a 2-10-4 imported by Nickel Plate Products, and I purchased it in 1982 at a time when I didn’t know much about brass and was rather new to this hobby. In the last year or so I’ve noticed that the foam rubber packing in the original box which I still have is crumbling and disintegrating real bad. I’m just wondering if other brass owners have faced this same problem, and is it possible to replace the foam packing?? Any input the rest of you guys can give me would be much appreciated!
Much of the foam used to pack brass locomotives from the 60s through the 80s tends to disintegrate over time. It can also stick to the finish of a locomotive, ruining the beautiful factory paint. First, wrap your engine in vinyl before putting it in the foam. Then, you’ll have some time to shop around for more. You can do it two ways: get sheet foam from a craft store and cut it out to fit your loco, or contact Reboxx (www.reboxx.com) and check out their custom-cut foam service. Contact them via email and let them know yur problem - they may be able to get you one already custom cut for your engine, or custom-cut one for you.
When I first hauled my model RR stuff out for my son after 30 odd years I took the lid off the rather heavy cardboard box to find my prize ( not brass ) but precious to me steamy in a box of dust. I removed it from the foamdust so none would get inside the engine and all was fine. You can buy foam rubber at a material or arts and craft store and take the scissors to it to make it the same size foam as originally came with it. As far as I am concerned foam rubber is much better at protecting things than styrofoam. If shipping, rap it in foam rubber and then styrofoam. The foam rubber really protects against shock and cracked circuits.
AHM plastic engines from the 1960s also came in foam rubber and it too deteriorates over time, and sticks to the surface of the model. I seem to recall a theory that it is related to the presence of lubricants on the model and the vapors that over time disintegrate the foam rubber. On the other hand old foam rubber pillows also crumble over time.
I am not sure what material would be as soft and yielding as foam rubber but cotton balls or layers of felt come to mind, with the model itself perhaps wrapped in plastic. I have kept my brass in the original plastic wrap (sort of like Saran Wrap) which has at least kept the crumbling foam from sticking to the surfaces.
One of my Ebay “specials” arrived with it’s original foam disintegrated to the point that it looked like it came out of King Tut’s roundhouse. The foam/dust/powder was in everything after several fruitless moments with a soft bristle brush it still looked just as crudded up (good diction or what?). I ended up taking it to work and using an airhose to carefully blow it out, strained the remains for any pieces I might have dislodged and cleaned it up,lubed it and so far so good. I usually wrap any loco’s I get with Saran Wrap to protect them from foam if the previous owner hasn’t done so. Being a cheap skate (an obvious contradiction when discussing brass) I have used bubble wrap to protect the loco(s) if the foam is crumbling or missing.
The above seem to be finding how dangerous that foam crap the locos were packed in is very hazardous to brass. The first thing I did when getting a brass engine was unpack and throw the box and packing in the garbage, I have seen the results in a neighbours locomotive of foam in a box for 25 years and the whole locomotive had to be cleaned, oiled and repainted at a high cost. He was the one that told me to store my locomotive in the original box. I asked him why he bought a beautiful work of art and stuffed it away in box, he never replied. I also got a deal on a beautiful NYC long tender and it came in the original box, it was rolled in a piece of plastic which was bright red from the foam and most of the red foam was breaking down, but the plastic prevented damage to the paint. So storage is most important. My lonely brass runs daily.
Yep, the foam deteriorates over time. Try Reboxx for foam replacement or store your loco in another manner. Modelers into brass have been dealing with this issue for years now and the problem is widespread at this point. Reboxx has an extensive line of foam replacements. BTW: I have bought several locos at a discount with red staining on them from the old Westside foam.
I keep my modest brass roster on the layout or stored in the original boxes wrapped in plastic with foam (if the foam is in good shape). Everything I have is destined to run and is on the layout 24/7. The only storage I do is for locos that need work (this is brass remember) or a rare occasion when I remove equipment from the layout for a prolonged period of time.
Don’t toss the original box. Brass guys pay more for locos in the original box and you never know when you might decide to sell a loco and get a different one. One collector I know has his train room stuffed full of empty brass boxes in every nook and cranny, another has his boxes in his loft in the garage, He has so many up there the beams are sagging…
The old foam rubber from the 60s and 70s was natural rubber based and only had a life of about 20 years. Today’s foam rubber is petroleum based and has an indeffinite life span. The ReBoxx foam inserts are made of modern foam and so should last a few generations. They have patterns for a lot of the brass engines and will also custom cut them to your specifications.
Guy,you seem to be the only brass guy that doesn’t have rooms full of brass locomotives, how did that happen? nice to see you using your trains, my big question is what will eventually happen to those thousands(and I mean MANY thousands) of brass locomotives stuffed away and deteriorating badly when they get out of the basement and are to be sold if they don’t end up in the dump (which is a very distinct possibility) meanwhile, I’ll just sit here and look at my old Berkshire on his own wooden trestle, until it’s time to put him back on the rails.
Cost - most of the stuff I would want is pretty expensive…I have more plastic than brass (all Steam). We used to have a joke about having to explain to your kid that the reason you can’t afford their college education is that you bought brass instead.(not too funny…)
Hassle factor: Brass usually needs to be tweaked (Not to mention painting), which can become a separate hobby in itself. While it can give one a sense of satisfaction when you finally solve a problem, In light of the emergence of great running modern plastic offerings that are out there, spending hours troubleshooting brass is not that appealing. Out of the ten or so brass locos (some pretty expensive) that I have purchased, only one ran perfect out of the box and a couple are still on the bench awaiting rebuilding of one sort or another… years later (Sierra 38).
On the other side, brass is the only way to get certain prototypes (small SP steam, Sierra, YV, etc) that I model. I have bought brass that fits these prototypes when it becomes available at good prices (rare). Currently I have enough locos to fulfill the operational plan of the layout, so I will probably slowly add to the roster over time as funds permit.
I am not a collector, I like to run my trains, so I doubt t