Lionel F-3 Santa Fe Restoration 2343 8652 2333 2353 2383 New Paint Decals F3 Base Frame MTH Williams

This shell is close to 70 years old. It's been well used, possibly abused and packed away roughly. In this video, I'll restore the shell by respraying the red and most of the silver. The black and yellow stripes will receive touch-ups and I found a new nose decal on EBAY.

[@paulbervid1610]

Great work

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks Paul!

[@mattkramer4132]

Beautiful work as always!

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks Matt! 😀🇺🇸

[@railchief74]

@@bobsworkshop5181if there’s a X on the underside/inside of the shell. It would be a 2333

[@joeystrains.9316]

Excellent work Bob, you make it look easy.

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks. 😀

[@kenrickman6697]

Thank you for sharing this. I’ve got a couple 2343s that were given to me in about the same condition (other than being complete running modes) when I was a child, and I’ve since passed them on to my son. He’s asked me to repaint them, and this will be the technique I use. I appreciate you demonstrating what can be done with a little patience and masking tape!

[@bobsworkshop5181]

I hope the project is a great success!

[@markslioneltrains]

Fantastic Bob.! Nice save on the original Santa Fe lettering. My goodness all the time it has to take to tape all that up.! BIG 👍WELL DONE as always.! 😊

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks Mark. The Tamiya tape is a bit costly but it works really well.

[@kensbackshop6399]

Dam Bob you do some awesome restoration work ,,,the shell looks like it just came from the lionel company back in 1950 brand new

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks Ken. I appreciate it. 😀

[@davevan8864]

I consider myself a good 'masker'. Like you I use a combo of Tamiya and blue tapes. But think you beat me on this one. Came out well!!! thx

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks Dave!

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Nice work Bob! And I wouldn't concern myself with the "correctness" of repainting post-wars, only the mint condition ( TCA C-8) articles are bringing the really big bucks. Lesser condition ones? Go ahead and do what you like. At this point it's no sin. I've worked over three and I think they look pretty darn good!

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks Wayne. I’ve got one more of these and then I’ll take a break from masking. I’m pretty tired of masking.

[@chicagolandrailroader]

I daresay this engine looks better than it would've from the factory. If your shell has an "X" on the interior roof near the back it is an earlier production run (2333). Thanks

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks. There is an “x” that’s scratched on the inside of the shell at the back. Thanks for the intel!

[@bobsworkshop5181]

I didn’t know why that was there.

[@raysrails2164]

5 bucks was a great deal .

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks, the shipping charge wasn't too bad either. Have a great week! Bob

[@mooringjohnson1687]

You got a deal on that shell! It does not have the "Hump" back. Plus parts that alone can cost the price of the shell!

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks, it was pretty complete.

[@mooringjohnson1687]

The best ebay find that I was able to purchase for a post war F-3 was a 1950's "New old Stock" motor. I keep it in the box it was shipped to me in . From time to time I take it out and look at it. You take your trains to a new level! I so much enjoy watching! You are so much beyond the "Lionel purest community." @@bobsworkshop5181

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

What brand of paint did you use to paint your locomotive shellalso what do you use to soften up the decals

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Hi. I used Rustoleum paints. Any hobby shop should have some kind of decal setting/softening solution. They all do the same thing. Thanks for watching. 😀

[@MygrandpasTrain]

What kind of tape do you use for masking? I've had some issues using regular blue tape. That turned out really nice. Also glad to see the original lettering and GM logo could be saved. That second shell with the crack looks like it has a battle scar!

[@bobsworkshop5181]

If you have a hobby shop, maybe even Hobby Lobby, you can find modeler’s tape in various widths by Tamiya. The yellow kind works great. It’s on eBay too and probably Amazon. The cracked shell turned out to be a very satisfying repair. (And I used model putty from Tamiya for that too)

[@billkilgore9575]

Do you have a detailed video on step by step masking?

[@bobsworkshop5181]

I don't actually. I never thought people would even care about the masking. My best tip would be to buy Tamiya masking tape in various widths. I'm doing another Santa Fe shell right now so maybe I'll show the taping process a little more in that one.

[@markslioneltrains]

@@bobsworkshop5181 👍

[@98755785]

This came out awesome! I would like to see more details on masking

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Fair enough, I'm working on a different Santa Fe shell right now, so I'll show more of the masking with that one. Thanks for the idea.@@98755785

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Hi Bill. I just posted a new video with more details about paint and masking. 👍🏻😀

[@KWBar1223]

What color/ brand of silver paint did you use?

[@bobsworkshop5181]

It was called aluminum from Rustoleum 👍🏻