Falk 1689/0 and 1689/1(?)- a side-by-side restoration

Falk 1689/0 and 1689/1(?)- a side-by-side restoration
Posted by Dr.Rev.DelmarMacReady on 21 Mar, 2019 19:38
I recieved the first a few months ago, and set aside for later. In the meantime, another appeared on eBay. I managed to win the auction so on the way was the second...
Very little info I can find on these. Schiffman's has rudimentary specs, and the measurements jive, but I will leave it to the wiser members to help determine if I'm correct.
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#1 Reply
Posted by Dr.Rev.DelmarMacReady on 21 Mar, 2019 19:41
Both are in equally rough condition... [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]
I am not so keen on the gold and black paint. I can only hope there is something original left beneath it.

#2 Reply
Posted by Dr.Rev.DelmarMacReady on 21 Mar, 2019 19:47
On both, the blueing has, as usual, burned away from the firebox and chimney and rust has moved in. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]
The bases, as nuvolari has pointed out, are glued together and the old glue has weakened on both. A good scraping and a bit of fresh wood glue and some clamping are in order. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

#3 Reply
Posted by Dr.Rev.DelmarMacReady on 21 Mar, 2019 19:54
I've touched up the blue on the steel parts, given the wood a good cleaning and oiling, and spent quite some time removing gunk and rust from the lithographs tin base.
I used commercially available cold blue solution to blue the steel, and it did not achieve the same greenish blue as the remainder by the appearance is much better. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]
The engine base, while dirty, have every bit of the original smoke effect paint. Quite fetching. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

#4 Reply
Posted by Dr.Rev.DelmarMacReady on 21 Mar, 2019 20:04
The boiler has lost some blue over the years and has loose bushings, and a loose steam line to still be repaired. I just wasn't happy with the effect commercial blueing solution was having on my test pieces. It never quite got the violet-blue I was looking for; always more black than blue. So after doing some research, I have added a laboratory to my insane little workshop. Color tests are still in progress with donor boiler. Care must be taken, as almost all these compounds have some really nasty warning labels. And I'm pretty sure I have some sort of list when I placed the order... [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

#5 Reply
Posted by Dr.Rev.DelmarMacReady on 21 Mar, 2019 20:09
So, one started...hopefully can figure out the recipe for the blue before I go mad. The other could prove just as bad. The boiler is brushed with black paint along with everything else. Hopefully I can carefully remove this and find some nice pristine finish underneath.

On a good note, the 1689/0 came with this little grindstone... [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

#6 Reply
Posted by SeeSteam on 21 Mar, 2019 20:28
You won the auction over my brother but I am happy to see that the engine is getting fixed up!
Great work. What is the name of the cold steel bluer?

#7 Reply
Posted by Dr.Rev.DelmarMacReady on 21 Mar, 2019 20:39
I think it is Birchwood? Super-Blue. Readily available anywhere shooting supplies are sold.
Danny has mentioned a brown patina is available from them as well, but I've never seen it.
Tell your brother I apologise...Maybe next time. He may be happy, as it still requires a good deal of work before it will steam, not just soldering all the bushes back in place....not to mention the missing safety valve. That's an easy 25 bucks if I'm lucky for the correct one. And finding one without having to but the engine so far has been challenging

#11 Reply
Posted by Dr.Rev.DelmarMacReady on 30 Mar, 2019 16:40
Quote from: Nick on 30 Mar, 2019 16:10
Lookin Good
Thanks, Nick. Hopefully I can get it painted tonight and perhaps work on the blueing solution recipe. I still cannot get an even color across the entirety. I got a magnetic hot plate stirrer now so we are going to try it properly mixed. Plus, it isn't 50 degrees in the shop so getting the correct temp hopefully will be easier

#12 Reply
Posted by Stoker on 30 Mar, 2019 16:46
Really like the DARK red used on the flywheels, as it has an oldish "feel" to it!

#13 Reply
Posted by Dr.Rev.DelmarMacReady on 30 Mar, 2019 17:01
Quote from: Stoker on 30 Mar, 2019 16:46
Really like the DARK red used on the flywheels, as it has an oldish "feel" to it!
The mounted wheel is original paint. So, I had an original color sample. Jut some trial and error with the colors I had here. Oddly enough, Harley Davidson Deep Candy Red with a touch of brown and a small amount of thinner shot the closest color. I didn't prime, as they didn't seem to do it from what I can tell. Just fill up the airbrush and ran about 10 light coats, then clear lacquer.
The toughest part is getting the color right but hey you can always clean and respray if you mess it up.

#14 Reply
Posted by jkbixby on 30 Mar, 2019 18:13
Doing a great job so far Benny - it's coming along nicely! Following your thread is giving me a lot of ideas on how to go about a restoration like this - thanks for sharing.