Replacement loco/tender tops

[WilliamDavid]

I have been informed by a well known Hornby spares retailer that Hornby do not supply spare bodies.

This was caused by less than honest people buying them to fit to older chassis, and passing them off as new.

While I can understand this, is there no way, if you damage a body, you can obtain a replacement?

I managed a superglue print on the side of my new 'City of Liverpool' tender, and would like to fix it.

Any suggestions?

[LCDR]

 You sometimes get bodies for locos and tenders sold at Toy Fairs especially where people have used the chassis to accomodate a kit built body.

 

Have you tried talking to Hornby's Customer Services yourself?

[WilliamDavid]

I have asked them, and they said I should go to a spares retailer.

Bearing in mind they themselves sell spares, but do not supply bodies, indicates that they are not too knowledgeable of their own policy.

I have a low confidence in them at this moment.

[The son of Triangman]

Spare loco and tender body shortages have been a major issue since Hornby went to China for it's production alas. What new ones you can get from spares suppliers are usually the odd production leftovers and slight seconds. Your best bet is a toy and train fair, look in the parts boxes, some stalls have large boxes of China made bodies usually from locos that have been broken down into spare parts due lack of available parts to repair them..  It's a sad fact but that £150+ loco may not be repairable if you damage the body and need a replacement.

 

[walkingthedog]

I suppose the answer is look after these valuable objects. Luckily for me the worse thing I did was drop a soldering iron on a loco. The lucky bit was it was a Bachmann loco and I got a new body in a few days. 

[LCDR]

 Have you looked at the Comet website? http://www.cometmodels.co.uk/ They sell kits for tenders including replacement tender tops. You will need to paint and letter them though (or  get someone to do this for you),

[Ruffnut Thorston]

It is indeed a sad fact that the Tri-ang "Spares Available For Everything" ideal has gone!

 

Most "spares" these days are in fact broken up models. Some were damaged in shipping, others were fine, but the spares market is rather good, as there is a "shortage"!

 

Most train fairs have at least one dealer with parts available...often in the form of "rumage boxes", where it is possible to find the odd bargain. ;)

[WilliamDavid]

I am taking the option of having Grimy Times lightly weathering the loco to mask the blemish.  Quite a good price, and better than the overpriced junk spares offered on ebay.

[81F]

 You can sometimes be lucky on ebay, either as a recovered spare or sometimes new. Only thing is it is a bit hit and miss.

[WilliamDavid]

 You can sometimes be lucky on ebay, either as a recovered spare or sometimes new. Only thing is it is a bit hit and miss.

 

Those ebayers tend be rather greedy.

 

[LCDR]

 A blemish is not necessarily the reason to change the body, and I am pleased William is going to have the loco professionally weathered. I have had a lot of practice in buying battered models and freshening them up. Often it is simply a polish and a touch of matt or satin black on the worn that bits can make all the difference.

 

Sometimes something more serious comes along, but by masking the good bits, and a blow over with a matching colour can help. Matching decals / transfers are easily available (Fox/Modelmaster)  and so these can be replaced with a little care. Best way is to spray (or brush) thin coat of matching gloss, apply transfers and finish with a satin (or whatever matches the rest of the model) varnish.

[WilliamDavid]

I am looking forward to seeing the results. This loco does look rather plasticy, and would benefit from their skills.

If all goes well, I may have more done.

I did a touch up job with weathering powder, which was quite good, but it still irritated me.