Restoring a Little Engines American
Moderator: Harold_V
Restoring a Little Engines American
I have built 11 Electrics, 3 GP'9s, an electric Mogul, electric 0-4-0, a Alco SW2, as well as a few other engines but like I said this is my first time working on steam. I should be done with it in a few weeks, but want to have it done and running for the MSLS's 50 anniversary.
Here are a few pictures I took today. I with I had some before pictures but here is a few in progress pictures.
Brad Malone
Rossville GA
GP-9
Electric Mogul
Little Engines Atlantic
Alco SW2
Kit bashed Mikado
Little Engines American
Rossville GA
GP-9
Electric Mogul
Little Engines Atlantic
Alco SW2
Kit bashed Mikado
Little Engines American
Re: Restoring a Little Engines American
Supper impressed with your project. I too am working on an old L.E. American Project.but want to have it done and running for the MSLS's 50 anniversary
When is the 50th Anniversary Run?
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
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- Posts: 26
- Joined: Mon Jul 22, 2013 4:22 pm
- Location: Chattanooga, TN
- Contact:
Re: Restoring a Little Engines American
We've been told that its the Spring 2016 run weekend. They are asking that anyone that has a running steam engine to attend!
Nick P.
Chattanooga, TN
Jesse Livingston's "Newbie"
Allen Models Mogul, #573
Backyard Rails/MDM F7A & B, Southern Pacific #6351
Too many other projects to think about.
Chattanooga, TN
Jesse Livingston's "Newbie"
Allen Models Mogul, #573
Backyard Rails/MDM F7A & B, Southern Pacific #6351
Too many other projects to think about.
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- Posts: 1572
- Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 10:15 am
- Location: Tennessee, USA
Re: Restoring a Little Engines American
The Mid-South Live Steamers' official 50th anniversary date will be December 17, 2016. However, the club will be celebrating this milestone at our Spring meet in 2016. Instead of the normal 3 day meet, we are going to have a 5 day meet, and also try to schedule some special activities and a ceremony to honor the founding members. All of that has yet to be worked out. The dates for the meet are set, though:
Tuesday,May 3rd through Saturday May 7th, 2016 at Maury County Park in Columbia, TN.
Public ride times will still be Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM until 4 PM. We would love for everyone to be there, especially those who used to be regular attendees who may not have been back in a while. Also, we would love for some of those older locomotives who used to regularly polish the rails there to be back for this meet. Brad has one of them: He and his dad used to run that American at every meet for quite a number of years. John S is working on another, a 4-6-0 built by early MSLS member Bud Bartholomew.
We've done a lot of upgrades to our facilities and look forward to seeing everyone.
Tuesday,May 3rd through Saturday May 7th, 2016 at Maury County Park in Columbia, TN.
Public ride times will still be Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM until 4 PM. We would love for everyone to be there, especially those who used to be regular attendees who may not have been back in a while. Also, we would love for some of those older locomotives who used to regularly polish the rails there to be back for this meet. Brad has one of them: He and his dad used to run that American at every meet for quite a number of years. John S is working on another, a 4-6-0 built by early MSLS member Bud Bartholomew.
We've done a lot of upgrades to our facilities and look forward to seeing everyone.
Re: Restoring a Little Engines American
Great looking engine. Does yours have any type of brakes? If so would you mind posting a photo?
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
Re: Restoring a Little Engines American
It currently does not have brakes on it. It use to on the tender. They were vacuumed brakes. Since it is propane fired I am going to put brakes on my propane car.
Brad Malone
Rossville GA
GP-9
Electric Mogul
Little Engines Atlantic
Alco SW2
Kit bashed Mikado
Little Engines American
Rossville GA
GP-9
Electric Mogul
Little Engines Atlantic
Alco SW2
Kit bashed Mikado
Little Engines American
Re: Restoring a Little Engines American
Here are some updates to the American, It has been painted, and reassembled. All that is needed is lettering and pin stripe.
Brad Malone
Rossville GA
GP-9
Electric Mogul
Little Engines Atlantic
Alco SW2
Kit bashed Mikado
Little Engines American
Rossville GA
GP-9
Electric Mogul
Little Engines Atlantic
Alco SW2
Kit bashed Mikado
Little Engines American
- gwerhart0800
- Posts: 225
- Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:02 pm
- Location: Loveland, CO USA
Re: Restoring a Little Engines American
Can you give some details on your painting prep and process? Thx
George Erhart
Loveland, CO
https://lovelandcreatorspace.com
Loveland, CO
https://lovelandcreatorspace.com
Re: Restoring a Little Engines American
I started off by sand blasting the cab and pilot, then used paint stripper on the tender and drivers as well as the running boards. Before I sand or prime anything, I wipe everything down with paint thinner to remove any oil with a lent free towel. Then I use wax and oil remover from Auto Zone and wipe it down prior to paint. Then I used a etching primer on the tender, cab and pilot. I didn't use it on the boiler jacket because I wasn't sure it would hold up to the heat. All the black, (Jacket, Tender, ect..) I used Rustolium grill paint. It is satin. I bought a hardener you can get at Tractor Supply. You mix it in with your paint and shoot it. The hardener also gives it a glassy shine.
The trucks on the tender were sandblasted as well. I used Cast Blast paint on them because I really like the color, It is very durable paint as well.
All the brass I polished and then clear coated it with high temp clear to keep it from tarnishing.
The red is from Tractor Supply. It is there "Majic" commercial brand. I also added the hardener to it. After painting, I usually wait about a week for the paint to harden before I handle it to much.
Here is a few more pictures from today. It is all complete. Painted, assembled, pin striped, and lettered. The pin stripe is just auto pinstripe from Auto Zone, and the lettering I did with my own cutter.
The trucks on the tender were sandblasted as well. I used Cast Blast paint on them because I really like the color, It is very durable paint as well.
All the brass I polished and then clear coated it with high temp clear to keep it from tarnishing.
The red is from Tractor Supply. It is there "Majic" commercial brand. I also added the hardener to it. After painting, I usually wait about a week for the paint to harden before I handle it to much.
Here is a few more pictures from today. It is all complete. Painted, assembled, pin striped, and lettered. The pin stripe is just auto pinstripe from Auto Zone, and the lettering I did with my own cutter.
Brad Malone
Rossville GA
GP-9
Electric Mogul
Little Engines Atlantic
Alco SW2
Kit bashed Mikado
Little Engines American
Rossville GA
GP-9
Electric Mogul
Little Engines Atlantic
Alco SW2
Kit bashed Mikado
Little Engines American
- Dick_Morris
- Posts: 2846
- Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2003 2:09 pm
- Location: Anchorage, AK
Re: Restoring a Little Engines American
Nice work. It looks great!
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- Posts: 1572
- Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 10:15 am
- Location: Tennessee, USA
Re: Restoring a Little Engines American
She sure does look pretty! Hopefully she'll run just as good as she looks. You've done a great job.
My own experience with the etching primer is that it will NOT hold up to the heat/cool cycles on a locomotive jacket, and will chip and peel off in spectacular fashion. Your instincts in not using it were correct. this was after the FIRST run. I may not look like it, but if you turned those chips over, you could see the layer of etching primer there. I bought this primer at an automotive paint store, and followed their prep, mix, and spray instructions. I ended up using a gloss black High Temperature grille paint, which worked pretty good.
My own experience with the etching primer is that it will NOT hold up to the heat/cool cycles on a locomotive jacket, and will chip and peel off in spectacular fashion. Your instincts in not using it were correct. this was after the FIRST run. I may not look like it, but if you turned those chips over, you could see the layer of etching primer there. I bought this primer at an automotive paint store, and followed their prep, mix, and spray instructions. I ended up using a gloss black High Temperature grille paint, which worked pretty good.
Re: Restoring a Little Engines American
I beg to differ on the use of etching primer. I have used it on my American with great success. Looking at you picture it looks like your paint did not hold up to the heat. One question was the etch primer sanded prior to painting?
-Kevin S.
-Kevin S.