LGB Porter

 

Behold, my Dad's main Christmas present from me - and LGB Porter locomotive. 

I've always tended to buy presents that I'd like to recieve for those I know appreciate my taste. In this case, I've fancied one of these attractive little locos for years, but they are rare. However, at the Lapworth show, one poppd up second-hand, and I snapped it up. 

Apart from a little dust, and not having a box, the model is perfect, and certainly runs well. It will look great on our garden railway once we have this up and running again. 

I'd say that the Porter sits somewhere between the Toy Train and full range. A bit more detail on the waggly parts, but a little too shiny and colourful for the full-fat models. 

Whatever, he loves it, and is currently measuring up for a carrying box to keep the new loco in nice condition, and that's what matters. 

Buying the runt of the litter

 

It's not pretty, is it? 

Picked up for a bargain tenner, when buying something a lot more impressive, I felt sorry for this little loco, and promised to restore it to it's original glory one day. 

The model, I recognised. It's LGB 92090 - a "side-rod diesel" normally found in the 90450 starter set. I've always quite liked the quirky looks of this model, and have even been tempted to buy the set when I've seen it at a show, just to own it. 

No need to do that, but I will have to carry out a bit of work. The model has been tinkered with, and converted to battery power. 

There's an on/off switch in the cab, and a speed control sticking out of the bonnet. Neither enhances the model, although they do work. 

As for the paint job, the less said about that the better. I'm told that the previous (and late) owner liked to weather his model, and this was presumably part way through the process. There are some lumpy bits that look like Maskol under the paint, to produce rust patches a-la the instructions in The Art of Weathering. 

So, what's the plan? 

Well, I think I'll ditch the battery setup. That way the boddy will fit properly again. Spare pickup skates are available so I'll learn a bit fitting them. I would like battery power as an option and have ideas involving a van full of battery and Fosworks RC equipment. This will be the perfect model to text those ideas on, since it can't get any worse!

The body looks like it needs a bath in some Dettol to remove the paint, something else I've not done succesfully in the past, followed by a respray. Handrails and a new headlight are required too, so I'll have to see if I can order, or fabricate some of those. 

I'm thinking orange...