Thank you for the step by step process. I just acquired six 2500 series passenger cars, 2530 through 2534 with two vista dome cars. Two cars were cleaned very well and 4 needs some tlc. This helps me properly clean the additional cars to the condition of the cleaned cars.
Wow! I never imagined metal polish used to enhance the glow of postwar aluminum passenger cars would make a dramatic improvement. The video is terrific. Thanks for sharing the tip, and the presentation is easy to follow. 👍😀
Another product that I have had great success with is Autosol metal polish. I find that I have to use much less of it, and it's easier to buff out, being thinner than Mother's.
Very good video. I have AMT cars almost exclusively. No Super Speedliners. I use a nice auto wax, like Simoniz. Nothing abrasive of any kind. There are no plastic parts, aside from the drumhead inserts and certain couplers. A little mild soap and water cleans any schmutz off and the Simoniz polishes the aluminum to a nice shine. Smooth roofs are easier than the fluted roofs, but not too much. Either way, keep those cars looking sharp.
There is a retail brick and mortar Lionel Trains store owned by the same family proprietors since the 1950s, near me, whose owners, tell the tale that in the early '50s ,Lionel factory workers, would carry around baskets full of Silver Streamliner shells to the next station, to have other parts assembled to the cars; and with all that unprotected aluminum with each car shell banging against each other, it was ' amazin' to see, the finished product even with a duller " MIL '" look to them, with only minimal slight surface scratches being readied for retail. So, yours, Mike, probably look better today than when they exited the 1952 Lionel factory in New Jersey. No doubt similar to how restored show antique autos of today, have " show chrome " bumpers and stainless steel trim, compared to how they actually left their factories and auto dealers.
I love streamliners. I do not own any actual postwar 1950s era Lionel Lines cars, but i do have the complete MPC era 1980s Burlington set that made up Lionel's Texas Zephyr. They are the exact same engineering despite being close to 30 years newer. Why mess with success?
I have a brand-new bottle of " Brasso " on my shelf. I only own one " Extruded Aluminum " Lionel streamliner car, but I am going to have at it with that "Brasso." Let's hope all goes well! 🤔
I still say the Irvington cars look good behind the New York Central F3s Even some of the Geeps, as a secondary branch line train. But on topic, that polishing looks good. Real good. One thing I do with my aluminum sets, is designate a coach to be 'head coach' right behind the baggage car. That one, the car is turned so the vesibule is facing the rear of the train, so I swap the sillhouettes so that they still line up, but the passengers are still mostly facing forward.
Yes, Postwar wheel sets turn independently from the axles. This is actually one of the reasons that modern wheelsets roll better - more friction points on the Postwar trucks. Some things ARE better than they used to be!
Well, you COULD do that, but given the close clearance inside the car it would likely be both easier and more effective to replace the bulbs with bright LEDS if you want more illumination.
@@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks No real use or reason to polish the interior. If you want it brighter, add LED strips to the interior roof, like Sean shows how on his channel.
I had some aluminum HO passenger cars that were so corroded they were white. I had to break out the wire wheel on my Dremel. I then polished similar to how you did and clear coated them. I saw a set of the AMT cars at my local Antique mall. Looked like a good price, but I don't have any O scale or I would have got them immediately.
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Another great model train video! Always love the videos you come up with. Your Lionel videos are by far my favorite on TH-cam!
Thank you very much!
Thank you for the step by step process. I just acquired six 2500 series passenger cars, 2530 through 2534 with two vista dome cars. Two cars were cleaned very well and 4 needs some tlc. This helps me properly clean the additional cars to the condition of the cleaned cars.
Glad it helped
Thanks for showing the process 😊👍!
You're welcome!
Great video. Thank you for showing us your process.
Happy to do it!
Wow! I never imagined metal polish used to enhance the glow of postwar aluminum passenger cars would make a dramatic improvement. The video is terrific. Thanks for sharing the tip, and the presentation is easy to follow. 👍😀
Thanks for watching!
I think these are my favorite of the Post War cars. Interesting to see them shinned up. I however will most likely be leaving mine as they are.
👍
Thanks for the tutorial. Working on four AMT extruded aluminum ones myself.
Very cool!
Great video Mike. They look just like new!
Thanks!
Neat . Those cars are on my want list , I'm going to remember this video . Thanks
Happy to help!
Another product that I have had great success with is Autosol metal polish. I find that I have to use much less of it, and it's easier to buff out, being thinner than Mother's.
Nice tip. I haven't heard of that product.
Great video👍👍
Thank you!!
I can just imagine postwar purists out there having a coronary from watching this video 😂. Looks great, thanks for the tutorial!
You’re welcome 😊
Very good video. I have AMT cars almost exclusively. No Super Speedliners. I use a nice auto wax, like Simoniz. Nothing abrasive of any kind. There are no plastic parts, aside from the drumhead inserts and certain couplers. A little mild soap and water cleans any schmutz off and the Simoniz polishes the aluminum to a nice shine. Smooth roofs are easier than the fluted roofs, but not too much. Either way, keep those cars looking sharp.
Great tip! I love the AMT cars!
Awesome
Thanks!
There is a retail brick and mortar Lionel Trains store owned by the same family proprietors since the 1950s, near me, whose owners, tell the tale that in the early '50s ,Lionel factory workers, would carry around baskets full of Silver Streamliner shells to the next station, to have other parts assembled to the cars; and with all that unprotected aluminum with each car shell banging against each other, it was ' amazin' to see, the finished product even with a duller " MIL '" look to them, with only minimal slight surface scratches being readied for retail. So, yours, Mike, probably look better today than when they exited the 1952 Lionel factory in New Jersey. No doubt similar to how restored show antique autos of today, have " show chrome "
bumpers and stainless steel trim, compared to how they actually left their factories and auto dealers.
👍
I love streamliners. I do not own any actual postwar 1950s era Lionel Lines cars, but i do have the complete MPC era 1980s Burlington set that made up Lionel's Texas Zephyr. They are the exact same engineering despite being close to 30 years newer. Why mess with success?
The MPC Burlington set is nice - and those cars WERE shiny from the factory!
I was a teenager when they came out, I wanted that set & the Blue Comet set soooo badly... love to have them now!
I have a brand-new bottle of " Brasso " on my shelf. I only own one " Extruded Aluminum " Lionel streamliner car, but I am going to have at it with that "Brasso." Let's hope all goes well! 🤔
Try it on an inconspicuous area first, just in case!
@@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks Yes, for sure- Mike- because I don't want to see an 'inconspicuous' spot turn into a VERY 'Conspicuous' Spot!
I still say the Irvington cars look good behind the New York Central F3s Even some of the Geeps, as a secondary branch line train. But on topic, that polishing looks good. Real good. One thing I do with my aluminum sets, is designate a coach to be 'head coach' right behind the baggage car. That one, the car is turned so the vesibule is facing the rear of the train, so I swap the sillhouettes so that they still line up, but the passengers are still mostly facing forward.
Good tip. Thanks for sharing!
So the wheels are supposed to spin on the axles for this postwar stuff? That's good, thought the stuff I picked up had some major issues lol.
Yes, Postwar wheel sets turn independently from the axles. This is actually one of the reasons that modern wheelsets roll better - more friction points on the Postwar trucks. Some things ARE better than they used to be!
Shouldn't the interior be polished to allow the light to reflect better through the windows?
Well, you COULD do that, but given the close clearance inside the car it would likely be both easier and more effective to replace the bulbs with bright LEDS if you want more illumination.
@@ToyTrainTipsAndTricks No real use or reason to polish the interior. If you want it brighter, add LED strips to the interior roof, like Sean shows how on his channel.
And, the heat from the bulb ,in short order would most likely dull the polishing effort of the interior shell.
I had some aluminum HO passenger cars that were so corroded they were white. I had to break out the wire wheel on my Dremel. I then polished similar to how you did and clear coated them. I saw a set of the AMT cars at my local Antique mall. Looked like a good price, but I don't have any O scale or I would have got them immediately.
Thanks for sharing!!