i am new to collecting & operating lionels. i have a up 2023 diesel and want to repaint it. i need help in finding piants, rub off lettering and tips on the proper method of painting
Generally the first response to something like this would be “DON’T DO IT !!”. [:)]
OK the 2023 was a very popular - and therefore very common - engine, and not worth a King’s ransom…but by stripping the paint be aware you’re stripping a lot of it’s value to a collector.
Right now ebay has a couple of paint-stripped 2023 bodies for about $10 each. I’d maybe pick up one of them and set aside the body you have now. If the body you have is in very bad shape, you might look into having it restored by a professional.
You present a puzzlement. I believe you are talking about the yellow Union Pacific that was the Lionel 50th anniversary loco. As I recall, It has decals that are easily obtainable except for the red “2023” numbers and the words “Union Pacific” on the side. They appear to be heat-stamped and thus are below the cab surface. Not easy to re-paint unless you have a very steady hand.
Check this out before you make any decisions: many of those shells have a slight hump jin the roof ust behind the windows. If yours does, it’s value is already somewhat diminished and that might affect your decision.
I have that engine, and although it is a bit shopworn, I decided to leave well enough alone. Mine is a great runner. Tip: sometimes they pull better if you run them in reverse, with the “dummy” forward.
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All these replies missed one very important fact. If the front of the diesel is painted gray, DON’T paint it, it is worth a lot of money. 2023’s with gray roof and nose are worth upward of $2000 according to Warman’s Lionel Train field guide for 1945-1969 trains. If I had one and was not a collector, I’d become one quickly!