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

  Good catch.  If you have a way to check continuity do so and
if the circuit is good the heater may be ok.  If you have an
ohm-meter check the resistance.  It should be about 30 ohms.

  If the heating element is good, I would think twice before
removing the iron plate.  It may be the only thing holding the
heater together and-or the element will be stuck and rip. 
Either way the element would probably rip-n-shred to pieces.

  As I noted before, cartridge heaters are the way to go.  Trying
to copy the flat mica heater would be a bear. 

Good Luck,
Wayne