Rebuilding old models

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I did some slide cataloging work for a local county historical society when I was shown three boxes of O scale traction models that they had been given. Most of the models in the boxes were never finished and could easily be called parts. However, there were a number that had been completed but were disassembling themselves due to the old glue letting loose. They were becoming kits in spite of the fact that some were obviously mostly scratch built. They dated back to 1950.

I told you that to tell you this. I decided that a display module would be good and went to a friend to get several of the models put back together. The job has proven to be larger than expected, but we will end up with 7 or 8 finished models.

Here are the first two (from Indiana).
Union Traction Company 427 (Ft Wayne)

and the second is the Terre Haute, Indianapolis and Eastern 61.

The UTC car is scratchbuilt while the THI&E was from a kit. Both RRs became a part of the Indiana Railroad.

2

I’m not realy into traction but those are some impresive models for being fifty years old!

3

Did you have to strip and repaint? They look very nice for being that old.

4

I agree with Glen Haasdyk… I have the greatest respect for model builders and anything that runs on rails whether I’m into them or not because just as much work goes into them as any other model.

“Happy railroading”

Tracklayer

5

Always liked trac. the big show in Milwaukee the 2nd weekend of Nov. always has some really nice trac. layouts. Your models look great. I like the way you have that tar and canvass roof on the red UTC,car.

6

No. The idea is to leave them as donated/built. No repainting or modernizing. They look good because they have wrapped and carefully put away for years.

It may eventually be necessary to touch up the paint, but we hope to put that off for a long time by rotating the cars being displayed.