Reproduction shells

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

Hey guys and gals,

I was hoping someone could tell me where I can get some good reproduction O gauge f-3 shells. I posted a while ago about repainting the originals. Went through the pain of heating them to straighten them out. The restoration came out beautiful thanks to some good advice from some folks. It seems after only three months they painted well but they warped again. I am not a happy camper as that took a great deal of time. I want to give it another try with reproduction shells. If anyone can help with some info I would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.
Angelo

2

Just exactly how do you straighten a warped shell??

Anybody?

3

I would recommend watching Ebay. A lot of unfinished shells have been up for auction over the past few months.

4

Hi Angelo

Try Warren Trains at www.wmtlionelparts.com

He bought skids full of parts when Lionel closed it’s MI Plant. He may have what you want.

tom

5

To answer eZAK’s question very simply, the shells are plastic, heat works really well. A good start is using a blow dryer or any other source of controlled heat. So using a hair dryer to heat the shell. Wen the shell is warm enough you can bend it back by hand. usually if you get it hot enough, it will take origional form. When you are satisfied, you wedge the shell between two straight peices of wood or you run it under cold water.
I can send before and afters for proof.
Exact science no, small bit of thinking yes.

Thanks for the info cwburfle, spankybird. Im going to give them a try now. whish me luck

Thanks again
Angelo

6

Hi Angelo,

My years of Tool and Die Design should add to this. The warping with plastic is usually caused from one of several problems in the manufacturing processes. Plastic in the raw is ground pellets, which is heated and then injected into a mold. Before the pellets are heated, they must be dried (moister removed). This is the most common problem with plastic molding. Of course the mold could have been at the wrong temperature or molding machine at the wrong injection pressure.

If you remove the warp as you have done, once heat is applied to it again, like from running the train, it will go back to its warp state, which I believe yours did.

tom

7

Reproduction shell? I just want a girlfriend.

dave vergun

8

Funny you say that Tom, I was an apprentice for a tool and die maker in my teens. Thats where I got the heating and cold water cooling idea from. (Forty years from now, someone like me will be complaining about fixing something I made incorrectly) :slight_smile:

The link you gave me helped me out, they have some shells.

Thanks Angelo