Life-Like Spare Parts

[BCR751]

Where can I find replacement parts for N-Scale Life-Like locos?  Can't find anything on the web.  Hobbycraft, where I got mine, seems to be out of business.

Doug

[Lemosteam]

Donor locos from the bay or train shows.

Specifically what are you looking for? I may have some cab diesel parts, trucks motors and the like. Nothing for the SW's though,

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Doug, didn't Hobbycraft turn into True Line Trains?

I would wait on parts until atlas starts releasing models. I imagine they will be a lot easier to deal with than Walthers or Hobbycraft.

[peteski]

Not that this will help you, but Life-Like was taken over by Walthers.  Then, in 2018, Walthers sold the Life-Like tooling to Atlas.  It was almost impossible to get replacement parts during the Walther's period.  We are yet to see how Atlas will handle spare parts (but going by the past history, Atlas has a better spare parts service than Walthers).  But that won't happen until Atlas actually starts producing those ex-Life-Like items.

I don't have much info about the Canadian Life-Like division.

[southernman]

Walthers is of very little help. I’ve tried. Been looking for a headlight housing for an sw9 for years and no one there can do anything without the exact part number which I don’t have. Oh well that’s okay maybe Atlas will come through.

[peteski]

Walthers is of very little help. I’ve tried. Been looking for a headlight housing for an sw9 for years and no one there can do anything without the exact part number which I don’t have. Oh well that’s okay maybe Atlas will come through.

Even with the Walthers part number, getting the part might be close to impossible.  Their Tech Support people do try their best, but they usually don't have any spares (other than what they strip from other defective models).

[BCR751]

Donor locos from the bay or train shows.

Specifically what are you looking for? I may have some cab diesel parts, trucks motors and the like. Nothing for the SW's though,

I kinda thought that would be the case since I can find nothing on the web. 

This is a bit of "risk management". I have two Life-Like C-424 sill/handrail combos that I have soaking in brake fluid to remove the paint.  I know nothing about the type of plastic used so if the  brake fluid eats these, I'll be looking for some replacements.  If the need does arise, I will likely be looking at the used market, I think.

It is good news to hear that Atlas may be producing these at some point although it may be a long time coming. 

Doug

[coosvalley]

I kinda thought that would be the case since I can find nothing on the web. 

This is a bit of "risk management". I have two Life-Like C-424 sill/handrail combos that I have soaking in brake fluid to remove the paint.  I know nothing about the type of plastic used so if the  brake fluid eats these, I'll be looking for some replacements.  If the need does arise, I will likely be looking at the used market, I think.

It is good news to hear that Atlas may be producing these at some point although it may be a long time coming. 

Doug

The LL/Hobbycraft C424 was NOT part of the Atlas purchase of LL/Walthers.

A tip:..Always try using 91% rubbing alcohol to remove paint from models before resorting to brake fluid, as it does not affect most plastics, and is cheaper too.

[wazzou]

Maybe you could talk one of the Anycubic wizards into producing the part for you?

[BCR751]

UPDATE:  Well, there's some good news and some bad news.  The good news is that all of the paint came off after a 24hr soak in the brake fluid with just a bit of brushing with a soft tooth brush.  The bad news is that one of the sill/handrail assemblies broke in half as I removed it from the fluid.  Looks like the fluid did a number on that one, making the plastic very soft.  I'm hoping I can resurrect it with some styrene strips on the underside of the sills.  We'll see.  Also, the manufacturer must have used a different, more resilient material for the handrails because none of them were affected by the fluid.

coosvalley said "A tip:..Always try using 91% rubbing alcohol to remove paint from models before resorting to brake fluid, as it does not affect most plastics, and is cheaper too."  Shoulda done that, I guess.

Doug

[peteski]

Yes, most (I should probably say "all")  locomotive shells (and walkways) are made of some type of Polystyrene.  That usually is HIPS (Hi Impact Polystyrene), or ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene).  Different manufacturers utilize various grades of those plastic which can be affected differently by various stripping solutions.  The handrails are always made from another type of flexible (and chemical resistant) plastic.

I stay away from brake fluid.  There are several other strippers that are better suited for stripping paint from plastic.

Doing a search of this forum shows some helpful posts:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=45508
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=44744
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=37251.0
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=26339.0
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=27613.0
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=28652.0

[central.vermont]

I sure do miss the product that was called "Chameleon" that stuff was great!!

Jon

[cjm413]

I sure do miss the product that was called "Chameleon" that stuff was great!!

Jon

I miss the products that were called "parts"...

[mecgp7]

The Life Like SW8 and SW9/1200 headlight assemblies do have part numbers. They are the same as the shell. The parts lists list all the main body shell parts together under one number.
Doug, I have headlight assembly be for you including the glazing. I sent a PM.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I sure do miss the product that was called "Chameleon" that stuff was great!!

Jon

Scalecoat II Wash Away is a very good alternative to  Chameleon.  It is usually plastic safe though I did have a bottle that attacked Bachmann plastic (and only Bachmann). That seems to be so fluke though.