Picked up this Overland Models brass GE 8-40B, Conrail/Susquehanna prototype as payment for overhauling and regearing an old NJ Custom Brass Royale N&W Y2 mallet for an old friend. While nice and shiny right now, she has a date coming up next month with the custom painter to be transformed into former Susquehnna 4006. Still in full bumble bee dress, but lettered for my AgRail shortline. But for now she shines away for all to enjoy. Mike the Aspie
Very nice Mike.
Just wondering if you want to borrow my wife’s sewing kit to repair that hole in your pocket [(-D] [(-D]
I did gather it was a trade thing. Everyone’s time is valuable and yours certainly isn’t free.
Mike,
I have three unique brass locomotives awaiting the paint shop, as well:
Alco Models NYC B-11L 0-6-0 switcher
NJ Custom Brass NYC M1 0-10-0 switcher
Alco Models FM H20-44 switcher
I’ll probably tackle the H20-44 first, since that will be the easier of the three to paint and detail. I’ve already converted it to DCC. The two steam switchers are still DC but run well. I’ve been breaking them in when I can on a long oval of track I have set up in the living room.
Tom
Nice treasures, guys! Wouldn’t mind an 0-10-0, myself. Or maybe an 0-10-2–yummers!
Painted is always better than unpainted. But unpainted certainly does have an artsy jewelry look to it that is FAR from unpleasant.
Ed
Yes, I only have my time in the model. It helped him out as the time I had invested in making the basket case mallet run was well past what he paid for it. PFM/United makes a really nice 0-10-2 that is rock solid mechanical wise. Most just needing a new magnet in the open frame motor or a can/coreless motor to bring them up to modern standards. Older brass is a buyers market with most less than the cost of this new fangeled stuff from the PRC with unknown life span of the diecast material and electronics. There are a few brass models that have issues with diecast drivers getting zinc pest, but they are mostly confined to a couple early Korean builders. If you ever fancied owning a brass engine, be it steam or diesel, now is the time. I also have a PFM Frisco Russian Decapod on its way, it will get painted for 1630, which runs at IRM over in Illinois. Mike the Aspie
I’ve always been fascinated with brass locomotives Mike. I do know the reason for this.
My parents were divorced when I was very young. My father picked my brother and I up for visitation on the weekends. He lived in a place where the houses were side by side as they normally are in a residential area. The unique thing was the backyards were huge. Big enough for an old snowmobile. After a few weekends and guidance from my father my brother and I would take turns putting around in the backyards.
Across the way was one of my dad’s Neighbors. He took us over there one day. This man did not have a layout. What he did have was wall to wall shelves in his basement full of HO brass locomotives. Steam and diesels. He just collected them. I do remember some freaky ones too. Long term memory, I don’t know… maybe they were Shay’s.
My brother and I had my father take us over there several more times after that. I guess we were mesmerized by all those beautiful brass locomotives. It’s something I’ll never forget. If there is a gold mine of Brass locomotives, that was it.
Thanks for the memory
You have to be an old timer to remember when unpainted brass was actually unpainted bare, brass. Brass comes in various shades from yellow to pink and brass engines back then were not only prone to tarnish, but had a variety of colors that could look rather odd. The castings would not match the boiler would not match the cab would not match the tender. But they were intended to be painted of course, not be collector’s items on a shelf.
It was sometime around 1970 when the importers began painting brass engines in a brass color to give them uniformity, prevent tarnish, and, arguably, given them a good base coat for later painting.
Dave Nelson