Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

I received an ebay find today, it was not pretty, but I have just given it a brief wipe-down with napkin soaked in rubbing alcohol and a couple Q-tips for the odd tight spot...I don't think it looks to bad for the low buck price, but the window sight Glass is very dirty, would you experienced folks say the first owner did not run distilled water? Do I need to break the boiler seal to clean or would a boiler treatment clean this?? Thanks! ...the "new guy"

Pour a little vinegar in and tip it on end so it covers the glass. Swirl it around a little, maybe soak a few minutes if needed and then rinse out a few times with water.

Are you going to burn Esbit in this one?

Hey Nick! Thanks for the vinegar tip!....even though it's a low buck engine the brick Firebox and boiler look nice...I don't care for Esbit as it burns fast and not super clean and very little control over heat. So I will get 2-3 sizes of BIX burner...I may test fire only with some fire jell or sterno but my goal is to have all my engines on gas flame if I can....I understand electronic heat is nice control to...but I am a little scared of 50 year old electronic heaters and power cords around metal boilers filled with water!...I know some folks will pay more for electric heat....I am kind of a firebug

Here is another photo...I don't think it looks to bad for the low price...I Wanted a low value engine that I could freely and heavily modify without feeling guilty for cutting into a collectors item!....these are readily available and plentiful....I would say by the color of the base and the orange taper steam whistle handle it is not current production...but not super vintage...current production has a bright blue base and the handle is black plastic sort of shape like a music note and leaks right from the factory.
  I have big plans to see if I can Doll this one up significantly