Zach's Custom Corner

[SplodgeFan13]

Welcome Zach’s Custom Corner, where I show off the latest updates I have made to my TOMY/Plarail/TrackMaster trains. This includes repaints, minor details/modifications and others.

Today's modification is one I did to my Plarail Spencer.

As we all know, the connection between him and his tender is done through the stock-standard hook/loop system.
What I have done is I took out the couplings between him and the tender and took a bread tie I had lying around, and used it to not only 'permanently' attach them, but to also close the glaring gap between Spencer and his tender.

I also plan to do this with my plarail 2014/15 Gordon and James and Donald/Douglas (whenever I get them)

[DalaGStanator]

Off to a good start. I did something similar with mine (and my 2012 Edward), only I used a paper clip and kept the tender's hook coupling. For Emily, however, I replaced both couplings with an eye one to make the connection cleaner, more reliable and permanent.

Looking forward to seeing your other planned projects, and I like when someone opens this type of thread. Carry on.

[Super]

Excellent idea Splo and the color of the bread tie is perfect. :)

[SplodgeFan13]

Oh, and be sure to keep an eye out for more mods, hopefully in the near future, as well as some "recent purchases" (which will be posted in a different thread, under the "show us what you bought" forum)

[SplodgeFan13]

Welcome back to Zach’s Custom Corner.

Where we last left off, I had made a tender coupling mod to my Plarail Spencer, and teased that I'd do the same to the 2015 Gordon and James.

Well, just a week or two ago, I did just that. It was very time consuming, but I think it was worth it in the end. I have a HiT TrackMaster Donald on the way, and I'll definitely do that to him as well.

'Till next time!

[Super]

I like it when the Tender is tethered to a Steam engine. Nice work Splodge :)

[SplodgeFan13]

Ok, so I'm posting this here because I have no idea where else to post it.

I've done some work on my Plarail Oliver (this pic is outdated, as I still have some ways to go. I ditched the stickers and cleaned his gears up). The most he needs now is a proper wash-up (I'm not sure if dipping some of the parts in water is good enough), his face repainted, gears lubricated, and his chassis glued back together. Might go as far as repainting the bufferbeam if I have to (or even the entire body).

What would y'all experts out there suggest I do?

[Super]

I always like to disassemble the used trains that I want to clean up and let them soak in warm soapy water for a bit and the give them a mild scrub with an old soft bristle toothbrush to get into the nooks and cranny's. What I don't put in the wash is, of course, the motor assembly and any parts that have stickers or decals that I don't have plans on removing as this would surely damage those.

How did his face turn out? Does the motor work good now? What did you have to glue on his chassis?

[SplodgeFan13]

Nothing else has been done yet, but I will get to them when I have some more time on my hands. The chassis split in two after an accident with swapping the motor, and I'll have to glue it back together so no more problems will rise. And since I took the stickers off, I'll have to find some replacements or make my own. The face also needs repainted, which shouldn't be too hard (I have some Dolphin Grey that I intended to use for such purposes).

I will try the soapy water and toothbrush methods later.

[SplodgeFan13]

(9/17/22)

Bit of a minor one this time.
Around late-2019/early-2020, the eyebrows on my Plarail Edward rubbed off, and for a little while after that were left that way.

Only now did I decide to do something about it. All it took was small bit of black paint and a fine tip brush. I think it turned out pretty good. What do you think?

[Therealblack64YT]

I mclove it smooth

[chrisjo]

eyebrows - good effort, it's hard to do this well. Now try putting eyebrows back on a pla-kid, that's a real challenge. Easiest way is with a fine black marker pen, but it rubs straight off again because the surface is so smooth & shiny.

[Super]

Has to be the hardest thing to paint...that and Boiler Bands. Nice job Splod 👍

[mitzalplik]

I would put masking tape on the eye balls, use an xacto knife to perfectly cut around the excess so you have the eye balls only protected then use an air spray (portables do just fine) the color paint you want to use is dolphin grey (gloss) by Apple barrel that you can easily get from your local Walmart. Painting eyebrows are tricky but with practice you can do it (I say practice because if you don't like it, you can easily rub off if you don't wait to long before it dries). Also the color should be Apple barrel black (satin) I use toothpicks for eyebrows and also to fine tune the shape by taking some paint off with a clean toothpick. Most importantly when you get the face air sprayed and eyebrows done, you use a clear coat spray to seal your work. I know I just fired off a lot of info to you, just trying to help assist your journey