mc_mc
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Pimp my ride!Just wanted to see what you guys thought of my new eBay purchase. It was £60+p&p for a 'renovated' Mamod steam wagon.
As you can see it's been repainted with a metallic effect blue paint. The firebox chrome, boiler and wagon interior have been painted (or sprayed) matt black. Head lamps have been fitted to the mud-guards and a brass insert shoved in the chimney. New "Mamod Steam Wagon" decals have been applied to the rear load bay.
So it's definitely not a factory original finish. The painting although not authentic seems to have been done to a high standard and I am pleased with the overall look, the shiny blue contrasts nicely with the matt black and brass fittings. (It will be interesting to see what happens to the paint when I fire it though.) The headlamps whilst only plastic (from the Mamod roadster?) don't look too out of place unless you happen to know that they shouldn't be there
I would be very interested in peoples opinions (good or bad). Did I get a bargain?
Pictures (warning photo bucket seems a bit slow today):
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IndianaRog
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Oy Mike,
That blue just wants to jump out and grab you. Had a Honda CRV at one time with that same color...Honda calls it Cobalt Blue.
It's NOT original as you note, but done nicely. While I am usually the "steam it" type...if you can resist it might be better to keep it for looks only, no telling how well that paint will stand up to heat.
All in all...I like it!!
cheers,
Rog
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mc_mc
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I forgot to mention the tyres. They easily remove (just a friction fit) and it's the standard mazak wheels underneath. But I don't mind those either.
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steamyjim
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very nice
think you got a good bargain there
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SPOKESMAN
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I saw that one on ebay - what can I say - BLUE!!!! 
Never has a ride been so pimped!
Its certainly different and pretty unforgettable! 
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mc_mc
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| IndianaRog wrote: |
While I am usually the "steam it" type...if you can resist it might be better to keep it for looks only, no telling how well that paint will stand up to heat.
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Not sure I will be able to resist the urge, have managed to at least take the before pictures anyway. 
Apparently it runs okay on compressed air. But you could probably blow it along with that! I hadn't realised how much bigger these models are, it's 16 inches long and 8 inches high. Bigger than the TE1A.
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Sandman
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Lovely conversation piece.
Whoever sprayed it knows their onions.
I too have doubts about steaming it.
That's just confirmed my thoughts.
The missus says she loves it.
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Chris
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You need some neons underneath and a subwoofer in the back!
Not to my taste, but looks very well done. I like the matt/satin black on the boiler.
£60 can't be bad. 
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MTA
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If the boiler, frame and inside of the load area was also blue, I'd like it a bit more 
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mc_mc
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| Chris wrote: |
£60 can't be bad. |
I expect if I stripped it down to it's component parts and put them up on eBay, I'd make most of that money back:
Wheels.
Wheel spring.
Chimney
Cylinder
Reverser Lever
Pipework
Boiler
Fly wheel.
Safety valve
Meths burner
Scuttle
Overflow plug
Headlamps
Whistle
Hubcaps
Especially if I employed James to act as my sales agent.
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Chris
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| MTA wrote: | | If the boiler, frame and inside of the load area was also blue, I'd like it a bit more |
You sure it isn't blue enough!
Think they are better that nice satin black.
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MTA
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| Chris wrote: | | MTA wrote: | | If the boiler, frame and inside of the load area was also blue, I'd like it a bit more |
You sure it isn't blue enough!
Think they are better that nice satin black. |
If it's gloss, it'll do me
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mc_mc
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| MTA wrote: | | Chris wrote: | | MTA wrote: | | If the boiler, frame and inside of the load area was also blue, I'd like it a bit more |
You sure it isn't blue enough!
Think they are better that nice satin black. |
If it's gloss, it'll do me |
When you see it in person the black goes really well with the shiny BLUE colour.
The eye needs a bit of a rest.
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Mamodman123
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Kind of an electric blue isn't it? I quite like it actually 
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SPOKESMAN
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MC surely thats BLUE
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Griffin
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The painting has been done to a very high standard.
As has been said before it is very "Blue".
If you do decide to fire it, and the paint does not hold out, you can always re do it.
For £60 you carn't go wrong.
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flywheel61
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It's very different, not what I'd expect of a steam vehicle colour but suprisingly attention grabbing, I like it.
Cheers
Chris
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MooseMan
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Oh yes - I like that. Very different, and why not!
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Wallace
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I really like that, I'd steam it too.
As Griffin said, if the paint doesn't hold, do it in your own colours.
Looks like it could possibly a 2pak enamel paint job
Nice one
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SPOKESMAN
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Not sure how the matt black on the f/box would stand up to heat. 
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sparky
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looks very smart mate, wish i saw that one!
i have a thing for sw's witch have been renovated
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Wallace
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I didn't really take note of the flat black till Mike mentioned it.
Comparing the quality, to the blue paintjob, I'm guessing and for mc's hope, it is a sort of heat proof paint.
It actually looks to be pot belly black. If it is, it'll hold up well.
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mc_mc
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| Wallace wrote: | I didn't really take note of the flat black till Mike mentioned it.
Comparing the quality, to the blue paintjob, I'm guessing and for mc's hope, it is a sort of heat proof paint.
It actually looks to be pot belly black. If it is, it'll hold up well. |
If the paint goes, it goes. I can always have a go at another coat with something. It's hardly an 'unspoilt' engine as it is.
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Mamodman123
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| mc_mc wrote: | | Wallace wrote: | I didn't really take note of the flat black till Mike mentioned it.
Comparing the quality, to the blue paintjob, I'm guessing and for mc's hope, it is a sort of heat proof paint.
It actually looks to be pot belly black. If it is, it'll hold up well. |
If the paint goes, it goes. I can always have a go at another coat with something. It's hardly an 'unspoilt' engine as it is. |
It may dull a bit... you won't know until you stick some fire under it's belly
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tarbyonline
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I have to say I don't like it  Good idea, but to me there is just too much blue!
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mc_mc
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Well I've just fired it up for the first time. I'm glad to say it looks like the paint has held up very well, but the engine is still cooling at the moment. I assume if the paint is going to peel it's going to happen when it's being fired and not afterwards? It looks okay at the moment anyway.
The safety valve supplied with it had a dodgy top O-ring and watery steam was streaming out all over the boiler, so I removed the burner and swapped the s.valve with another one and that worked well.
The engine cylinder/piston action seems a bit 'scratchy' once it's cooled I'll be able to investigate.
But the engine itself ran fine in forward and reverse, I connected up the drive band it was able to power the wagon forwards but in reverse it didn't have enough power to move it.
No sign of any steam leaks anywhere so that's pleasing. The whistle at first was a bit of a fountain when activated but towards the end of the run it was behaving itself and gave a decent shriek.
So as long as the paint doesn't all fall off or change colour in the next half hour I'm very happy!
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Mamodman123
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If paint is going to strip then it will almost instantly
Sounds like all is ok! Might require some running in when steaming in reverse! Not a problem though
A sound buy
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mc_mc
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Everything's nice and cool now and paint job in remarkable condition, you wouldn't know it had been fired. I had a few marks on it but they were just oil splashes and rubbed off.
It's hard work emptying the water out of it, giving it a gentle shake over the sink trying not to bash it on anything. It's quite weighty as well as long. I put it on the scales and it's 2.5Kg (but seems like more!).
The piston seems to move freely enough, so not sure what's going on there, I'll just have to run it a few more times with plenty of oil.
So I'm really chuffed with it now, I've got used to the colour and probably would think a standard one would look a bit 'flat' now.
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Chris
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Turning the flywheel helps with getting water out of boilers.
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SPOKESMAN
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Sounds a success Mc . . . .
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Wallace
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| mc_mc wrote: | Everything's nice and cool now and paint job in remarkable condition, you wouldn't know it had been fired. I had a few marks on it but they were just oil splashes and rubbed off.
It's hard work emptying the water out of it, giving it a gentle shake over the sink trying not to bash it on anything. It's quite weighty as well as long. I put it on the scales and it's 2.5Kg (but seems like more!).
The piston seems to move freely enough, so not sure what's going on there, I'll just have to run it a few more times with plenty of oil.
So I'm really chuffed with it now, I've got used to the colour and probably would think a standard one would look a bit 'flat' now. |
Great to hear MC, as I really like that.
Well done
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