Lacathedrale Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 I've managed to get a couple of train's worth of Lone Star push-along 000 bits over the last year or so, but the paint has been chipped so badly it's essentially more bare mazak than anything - so I want to repaint them. LNER A4 in silver with four red coaches of moderate length and open windows 2-6-2T in black with four shorty coaches with solid windows. My goal is to strip them (using powerstrip), then prime and paint in smooth, high gloss. I do have an airbrush, but the only paints I've got are acrylic. I will need to buy paints for this purpose either way, so hopeful on finding out what's the best to use. I'm not attached to their original schemes, so if these are better painted as other prototypes I'm all ears! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 (edited) I used Humbrol GW Loco green to repaint my 2-6-2T (she was available in black or green IIRC). This would do for the A4 as well. The prototypes of the coaches are Tri-ang 00, so LMS crimson for the shorties and BR maroon or green for the longer ones (they are supposed to be Mk Is but lack quite a few scale feet in length). Edited July 16, 2021 by Il Grifone 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 The Treble-0-Lectric series added a Brake 2nd of the same pattern (half-size Tri-ang 9" series) though they would have the later couplings and 9mm gauge wheelsets, though swapping the bogies over would fix both those points. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sncf231e Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 As far as I have seen these Lone Star trains were originally not gloss but satin. So you might use acrylic paints. Regards Fred Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 The short coaches were definitely painted with very tenacious gloss paint, probably the sort that used now-banned solvents. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 Some Lone Star information… https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Lone_Star_Locos https://collections.vam.ac.uk/search/?q=Lone Star Products Ltd I provided an article on the probable inspirations behind the Lone Star models for The Train Collectors Society magazine, The Train Collector. The track is based on Tri-ang Railways Standard Track… The probable inspiration for the Lone Star A4… Available in various colours…including metallic blue… The BR Standard 3MT tank locos… Black… Green. The BR “Mainline” Coach… 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
009 micro modeller Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 12 minutes ago, Ruffnut Thorston said: The track is based on Tri-ang Railways Standard Track… Including being 8.25mm gauge (half 00). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halvarras Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 Gosh, I remember these! I had a small collection which lived in a shoe box marked "Baby trains"! I can't recall exactly what I had now, all long gone..........except for a signal still hiding amongst some ancient Matchbox vehicles. Thanks for stoking the ol' memory! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hibelroad Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 I started out with Lone Star push alone, it was thrown out years ago but of course I now wish I’d kept it. For painting tips it might be worth looking at sites for Dinky or Matchbox car collectors as they are similar products, just a thought. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted July 17, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 17, 2021 I hadn't realised the gauge was smaller than N I remember a shop on micklegate in York having a lot of this secondhand in the 80s The baby deltic and the 24 looked quite good but I take it they look small when with N gauge stock ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 (edited) The signals were rather nice. Square post so probably based on the Dublo signals as Tri-ang ones of that period had round (metal) posts. The colour light signals came later in the Treble-0-Lectric series and have a round face to the post, though flat on the back. Their shortness suggests they might have been based on the Tri-ang R405. The jewels have largely lost their colour though there is a trace of red on the top one. On railway signals red is normally the lower of the two aspects so this may have been from the first batch which were assembled incorrectly with red at the top, green below. Though the above semaphores are all matt finish I have a couple in gloss finish, in a slightly creamy white, that came from an old 'Lone Star Locos' set I bought on holiday, around 1968-71. That included a metallic blue Princess and tender and possibly a signal box and short wagons too which disappointly wouldn't run on my 9mm gauge plastic Lone Star Treble-0-Trains track bought in Woolworths. The Baby Deltic and Derby Sulzer were new models in the Electric series so were always 9mm gauge (the Derby/Class 24 being a late re-run in the later Treble-0-Trains/Impy series). They are basically 2mm scale. Unlike the earlier 'Lone Star Locos' series they were completely new designs, not based on 00 scale models. The same applies to their two US outline models too, the F-7 and 0-8-0 steam loco. Edited July 17, 2021 by BernardTPM 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted July 17, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 17, 2021 10 minutes ago, BernardTPM said: The Baby Deltic and Derby Sulzer were new models in the Electric series so were always 9mm gauge (the Derby/Class 24 being a late re-run in the later Treble-0-Trains/Impy series). They are basically 2mm scale. Unlike the earlier 'Lone Star Locos' series they were completely new designs, not based on 00 scale models. The same applies to their two US outline models too, the F-7 and 0-8-0 steam loco. Are the diesels suitable for upgrading and used on N scale layouts. I have never seen any Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 Yes, I rebuilt a Class 24 body for Brigenshaw around 1980 powered using a 1970s design Bachmann F-9 chassis. The Baby Deltic has done too, though not by me. The best version I've seen of that had deeper skirts neatly added onto the bottom of the body. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted July 17, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 17, 2021 41 minutes ago, BernardTPM said: Yes, I rebuilt a Class 24 body for Brigenshaw around 1980 powered using a 1970s design Bachmann F-9 chassis. The Baby Deltic has done too, though not by me. The best version I've seen of that had deeper skirts neatly added onto the bottom of the body. That doesn't look bad at all for the period. Far better than the minitrix 27 people seemed obsessed with at the time Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 (edited) The Lone Star Locos “Transcontinental” USA style Diesel loco was based on the Tri-ang Railways R.55 T.C. Series model. The Passenger Cars were also based on TR first Series TC Passenger Cars. The later Treble-O-Lectric USA Diesel was indeed a different model altogether. This is an unpowered later Treble-O-Trains model. (Placed on some Locos Metal track, as we don’t have any of the plastic TOT track now.. Compared… Edited July 17, 2021 by Ruffnut Thorston Photos added 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted July 17, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted July 17, 2021 12 minutes ago, Ruffnut Thorston said: The Lone Star Locos “Transcontinental” USA style Diesel loco was based on the Tri-ang Railways R.55 T.C. Series model. The later Treble-O-Lectric USA Diesel was indeed a different model altogether. This is an unpowered later Treble-O-Trains model. (Placed on some Locos Metal track, as we don’t have any of the plastic TOT track now.. Compared… Is the green one a factory model , when we're they last produced Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 (edited) Yes. BR green was the original finish. Proper USA Union Pacific yellow was also made. I think that the unpowered range with plastic track was a 1970s range… Edit: From 1968, the range name changed though… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_Star_Toys Mainly Locos, but with some overlap to TOE and TOT stock, including the yellow USA Diesel… https://www.vintagebritishdiecasts.co.uk/3index/trains.htm Mainly TOE…very interesting… http://www.irwinsjournal.com/a1g/a1glocos/TrebleO.html#Track Edited July 17, 2021 by Ruffnut Thorston More added… Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, russ p said: That doesn't look bad at all for the period. Far better than the minitrix 27 people seemed obsessed with at the time Thanks. Yes and with the Bachmann F-9 available from Victors at about £2.99 at that time it was an inexpensive conversion. Works well in terms of size: Bogie w.b. Bogie centres Cl.24 2mm scale 17mmm (8' 6") 56mmm (28') Bachmann F-9 17mm 55mm The Lone Star models were well proportioned too, not over height or over width. Shame the elastic band drive (very like Walthers were using for H0 in the '50s) didn't work that well. Here's a 'before & after' comparison on a length of Treble-0-Lectric track. Edited July 17, 2021 by BernardTPM 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
009 micro modeller Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 1 hour ago, Ruffnut Thorston said: The Lone Star Locos “Transcontinental” USA style Diesel loco was based on the Tri-ang Railways R.55 T.C. Series model. The Passenger Cars were also based on TR first Series TC Passenger Cars. The later Treble-O-Lectric USA Diesel was indeed a different model altogether. This is an unpowered later Treble-O-Trains model. (Placed on some Locos Metal track, as we don’t have any of the plastic TOT track now.. Compared… I have one of these (the silver one) but with no wheels. Are there any sources of spares for these? Apart from that I have a rather motley collection that I collected a few years ago, not all in particularly great condition, including some later 9mm gauge stuff (Treble-O-Lectric but without any of the powered vehicles). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 The original track was a bit of a disaster. It didn't fit together all that well and the point blades tended to detach themselves from the operating lever. The rolling stock with the small wheels tended to derail though the larger wheels were OK. The 2mm scale 000 Treble-O-Lectric (name inspired by Dublo?) range was 9mm gauge rather than the 'correct' 9.5mm and, thanks to the rubber band drive, required a relatively large radius of 12". The low reduction ratio ensured a 'bat out of hell' performance. I have a few items and was going to make a small layout. Another of those projects.... The track is unusual in having too few sleepers, but serves for my tiny collection of Liliput German narrow gauge (loco, coaches and a van. A TT scale beer van completes the train). 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffnut Thorston Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 @009 micro modeller As far as I know, the only sources of spares would be either old stock, or recycled from other models. Ebay, etc., and sales tables when they return… 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hroth Posted July 17, 2021 Share Posted July 17, 2021 I've got a Lone Star "Princess" in that terrible metallic blue livery! Its still with its boxed set of highly inappropriate wagons... I also used some Lone Star pushalongs, with track and a signalbox in one of my 2018 "Cake Box Challenge" entries. Mine are all fairly ratty, and I'd rather leave them in their authentic condition, painting them up would give the appearance of mutton dressed as lamb... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Vale Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 Lone Star also made several different buildings and road vehicles to go with their trains. In spite of the rubber band drive, the Treble-O-Lectric models will run quite happily at slow speeds over a weekend model railway show. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
railroadbill Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 (edited) Lone Star had a good go at trying to establish British n gauge (or 2mm scale) but needed better mechanisms than the rubber band drive so ahead of its time really. BernardTPMs conversions show what they might have achieved. When minitrix etc came along they were way ahead of where Lone Star had been. My grandmother had some of the push along stuff for me and my cousins to play with when we visited so I have some fond memories of the push along track and trains. Back in the seventies I bought a job lot of the lone Star us coaches, intending to have a realistic length us passenger train but 20 coaches or so on a layout wasn't very practical.... Still have a dome car and couple of passenger cars from that, they will run pulled by an n gauge loco, the tension lock couplings work alright but the coaches are rather heavy. Edited July 18, 2021 by railroadbill 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
railroadbill Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 Found a site that lists lone Star railway items here. https://www.vintagebritishdiecasts.co.uk/3index/track.htm There's a nice mobile crane I haven't seen before, also the road vehicles were sold as a "Gulliver county" range apparently. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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