Returning To Hobby After Absence of 20 Years

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Returning to hobby after 20 yr absence. Subscribed to MR and have received first two issues. Things have changed!!

My problem is this. I have a large collection of brass locos (steam, diesel) and rolling stock. They have been stored in the original boxes with foam rubber inserts. The foam rubber has disintegrated and in many cases has adhered to the brass surface. How do I safely remove the caked on rubber without harming the locomotives and rolling stock? Secondly, once they are “cleaned up,” what should I do to put them back into running condition?

Any and all advice will be appreciated.

Thanks.

2

CLEAN those power pick-up wheels/track too.
There are several liquids, brite boy , Fritz & Maas paste. www.maasinc.com and http://www.ttx-dcc.com/technews/clean_machine.htm for additional hints

3

once you get the bodies clean ( there are several cleaners to do this ) i would check all the gears any lubrication is probably dried out and caked on the gears. you can use several cleaners to remove old lubrication. relube all the gears and the bearings on all motors.before attempting to run. buy several different magazines to try and catch up on what is available on todays market,you will be amazed!! good luck

4

Are these painted or unpainted locos? I’ve seen cases where the foam has eaten its way INTO the paint on a brass loco; I don’t think this is curable short of stripping and repainting. Always put the plastic wrap back between the brass and the packing.

5

Returning to hobby after 20 yr absence. Subscribed to MR and have received first two issues. Things have changed!!

My problem is this. I have a large collection of brass locos (steam, diesel) and rolling stock. They have been stored in the original boxes with foam rubber inserts. The foam rubber has disintegrated and in many cases has adhered to the brass surface. How do I safely remove the caked on rubber without harming the locomotives and rolling stock? Secondly, once they are “cleaned up,” what should I do to put them back into running condition?

Any and all advice will be appreciated.

Thanks.

6

CLEAN those power pick-up wheels/track too.
There are several liquids, brite boy , Fritz & Maas paste. www.maasinc.com and http://www.ttx-dcc.com/technews/clean_machine.htm for additional hints

7

once you get the bodies clean ( there are several cleaners to do this ) i would check all the gears any lubrication is probably dried out and caked on the gears. you can use several cleaners to remove old lubrication. relube all the gears and the bearings on all motors.before attempting to run. buy several different magazines to try and catch up on what is available on todays market,you will be amazed!! good luck

8

Are these painted or unpainted locos? I’ve seen cases where the foam has eaten its way INTO the paint on a brass loco; I don’t think this is curable short of stripping and repainting. Always put the plastic wrap back between the brass and the packing.