To Restore or not to Restore – how far do you go

[joe bestParticipant @joebest34154]

Greetings

this is my first post so please be kind

I appear to have been bitten by the steam engine bug very badly and I am on a steep learning J curve about all things stationary steam

I've picked up a couple of old Stuart engines that I'd like to restore back to theri former beauty – to my mind steam engines held pride of place in the factories of the 1800's and were polished and fussed over to with in an inch of their lives

So the question is how far do you go and does it increase or decrease the value

The type of restoration I am thinking of would be to bring them back to the same condition as shown on the Stuart website – eg same colour etc (anyone tell me what colour that is)

Any comments gratifully recieved

Cheers

Joe

[joe bestParticipant @joebest34154]

[MICHAEL WILLIAMSParticipant @michaelwilliams41215]

Hi Joe ,

Not many of the Stuart engines were based on particular full size engines so exact fidelity does not apply in their restoration .

Generally a clean and tidy Stuart engine will be worth more than a tatty one but not always by very much and selling prices on some sales sites defy logic altogether .

I like to see this sort of engine just in basic workshop condition – working properly , bare metal surfaces clean and nicely finished nut not over polished and plain paintwork .

Stuart engines were often painted grey or green for display .

Full size engines were painted and finished in every way you could imagine so just choose scheme for model which is pleasing to you .

In older times workshop engines were often kept clean and in working order but not specially fussed over – to people of the day they were just ‘ electric motors ‘ that you turned on when needed .

Generally in full size only engines like Mill and pumping station engines had special treatment .

Regards ,

MikeW

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Joe,

If it's any help … Stuart Models sell a Paint Set

The picture on their own site is very small, but here is a better one.

From the style of the cans, it may be re-branded Humbrol [or a special mix]

MichaelG.

[BERT ASHTONParticipant @bertashton57372]

Over the years I have made a few Stuart engines also the lathe, I painted them

all with Humbrol Brunswick Green.

Bert Ashton.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Bert,

That's a very smart colour for the lathe … How durable is he Humbrol paint ?

MichaelG.

[BERT ASHTONParticipant @bertashton57372]

Michael, I built this Stuart lathe about eight years ago when Stuart first introduced

the model to the public. I painted the finished model with Humbrol Brunswick Green

gloss paint, since then the lathe has been on display in my dining room, the paint is

as new but the bright steel parts along with the cast iron bed are now tarnished.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Humbrol Brunswick Green (and Signal Red) – it's traditional!

Pretty durable. It is (or was) oil based. This is about 25 years old. Note how the original blued cleading has faded to pale straw.

Rod

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I've used Humbrol Brunswick Green on a 'Gibraltar style' lathe toolpost and it's still in good nick after 10 years occasional use.

I also used it for my Stuart No. 10V and after being steamed and getting oily it has lost some of its brightness but still looks OK after about 14 years.

Neil

[Author]

Posts