I have a fair size collection of pw runner locomotives that I got in various conditions. I used to touch up scratches and larger areas that were worn. lately I am wondering should I just leave them alone or go ahead and do touch up work. I’m not planning on selling any in the near future if at all just wondering what others do and think.
Bruce
Bruce, My take, it is up to you. If your not planning on selling any in the near future just do what you feel good with. JMHO. [;)]
I use a black magic marker, it blends in well and changes nothing. If needed nail polish remover will take it right off.
I do that to Jim, but have never tried to take it off. Sounds good to me.
NO! If that is plastic, then fine by me. But if it is painted, which it is i think, it will not come off without affecting the pint, leaving it in much worse shape than it should be. I should know, i used it to touch up my Grandfather’s 2026 and 685. When we went to remove the marker (a temporary solution, I thought), we ended up pitting the paint and needing to strip it off. I still haven’t gone near the 685’s shell for that reason, even though it needs a new paint job. Does anyone know who would do that best, and rewire the E Unit into the mechanism, by the way?
It works for me but the old reliable is…test it where it doesn’t show first.
Has anyone tried using a black paint pen from a hobby/craft store on pw steam engine nicks or scratches? It is not very reversible but is thicker like the original lionel paint.
Regarding the use of nail polish remover, the last time I looked most polish removers contain acetone, which is not friendly to either piant or plastic. I would not recommend its use on anything but bare metal parts which are nowhere in the vicinity of plastic or painted items.
I have used a black Sharpie several times to touch up locos and tenders. The best example I have is a tender with six wheel trucks. It is pink (!!) plastic that is painted. Before I touched it up, it looked really bad. Now it is almost impossible to see the touch up when it is running.
I also have used an orange (!!) sharpie to touch up the red (?) of my 2353 Santa Fe F3. There is a blue Sharpie that matches the blue of m rocket launcher pretty well. These two matches are not perfect but close enough. When I touch up a spot, I give the ink from the Sharpie to dry for a couple of seconds and then rub it with my thumb. Somehow, this makes the color match better.
good info thanks all for sharing
On several of my postwar Lionel locomotives, I have touched up scratches and worn areas using a black FINE LINE PAINT PEN made by CRAFTSMART and it works great. the Craftsmart pens are available at Michaels, here is a link:
In the past I have tried permanent ink markers but the black doesn’t seem dense and dark enough and it rubs off fairly easily.
Unless these are rare, highly collectable engines my opinion is you can touch them up as you wish with minimal impact on value. I use Elmers paint markers found at Walmart and many craft stores for this. Avoid flat black and use the glossier paint.