This Iron Horse Models P.R.R. N5B radio caboose came to us already painted but with a broken coupler pad. This was probably caused by screws that were too long and over tightened when the Kadees were mounted. Others had already repaired the other pad and the overabundance of solder was hard to miss when the car was turned over.

Heat was applied with a resistance unit and a thin yet very secure joint was formed on both sides of the pad. Because the heat was controlled and the superior heat resistance of what is almost certainly Scale Coat paint the finish was not damaged. It is often possible to effect brass repairs even if the model is painted if the paint is of this kind of quality. What is never effective for any duration is the use of epoxies, ACC, Goo, Pliobond, Elmer's or spit. The only effective means of attaching brass parts to brass parts on an imported model is a good solder joint.

Once the pad is reattached, a coat of Scale Coat is applied and the model reassembled one would be hard pressed to recognize a repair had been made. In this case the couplers fit so well the fiber washers used to adjust the height were not needed. They were packaged up and set back to the client along with the model.

This HO scale Sunset Models C&O T-1 came to the shops in need of repairs and new paint. The engine has already been stripped of the old paint. One order on the repair ticket was to replace a missing lever rod (located between the 2 outer arrows) and is shown completed with a new bracket (at the middle arrow) in accordance with photo evidence. These types of repairs and modifications are common at 7^th Street Shops.

A word about imported brass models.

 

Brass locomotives, if not intentionally destroyed or grossly mishandled, can and do last for multiple generations. Most models have multiple owners over the time of their existence. Unless it is stored away in its box and never touched a model can suffer any number of minor injuries and major trauma. Many of these events are never recorded anywhere EXCEPT in the metal itself. Brass, especially the metal not alloyed to ANSI specifications and formulas (i.e. what ever winds up in the crucible), will remember every bend, kink and crimp it suffers. Brass is quite malleable so it will absorb a fair amount of abuse but it still remembers. This is because brass hardens as it is manipulated. Eventually it becomes brittle and the part breaks. In spite of their lifetime qualities brass models are extremely delicate. Once something is bent, it’s bent, and bending it back only bends it again.

 

Another problem with brass is that it demands proper soldering technique. Unfortunately manufactures are often the prime culprit when it comes to bad solder joints – even the best manufacturers. The metal must be completely cleaned, properly fluxed and adequate heat applied that allows the solder to flow properly. Even the lowest grade solder will hold better than a poorly applied high-grade solder.

 

When we receive a model we have no way of knowing how much the metal parts of the model have been damaged nor the stress suffered by solder joints. We try very hard to protect your model from any damage as we handle it. We have tools that help us protect some of the more vulnerable parts and we are experts at handling brass but it is impossible to protect everything and perform our work. Occasionally parts do come off and sometimes they break. This generally happens to parts that have suffered damage in the past – parts that have something to remember. When this happens the owner of the model needs to understand that it is their responsibility to compensate our shops for the time it takes us to fix or replace the part. Our shop rate is 35.00 an hour with a minimum of 12.00. Most parts can be fixed very quickly. Others may delay the project for as long as it takes to find and order a replacement. We do not charge for administrative tasks (researching, locating and placing orders) only the time it takes to install and paint the replacement. Before we perform any major work we will call for approval. (If a part comes off and we can fix it quickly we will go ahead and do it without prior approval). If there is more than one part and the total exceeds 50.00 we will call before proceeding any further.

 

We know our clients expect the very best of us. We will work hard to live up to that expectation.