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

  Personally, I love the very expensive and perfect vintage engines
(restored and original) that were rich kids/mens toys 100 years ago. 
That said, sign me up with one that shows a bit of wear and a soft
patina.  Survivors are the best...like me.

When I'm working with an engine...
  I like the motto doctors are supposed to follow...'Do No Harm'.
Try to make only those fixes that you can do pretty well and try not
to do anything 'custom' that can't be reversed.  If it looks at all
reasonably nice and whole, my responsibility is to make it work.
After that, a good cleaning and I'm happy - The next owner can
fuss over it to their satisfaction.  If I can't do a proper job for
the engine I just keep thinking on it.  There is a solution out there.

  If I see someone's butcher job on a nice engine I'll cringe and shut
up.  If they keep pressing, well, I'll try to find something to turn
into a pleasant response. I'm a Scorpio and if pressed further than
that for an honest opinion on a bad restoration, watch out.

Happy Steaming,
Wayne