LGB 3020, need comments

stevedenver · 22 Apr 2017

I need some thoughts.
I rarely think "owner improvements" really are.
This 3020 is the first I have ever seen outside of a collectors guide, no less owned.
It is listed in the LGB guides as the most pricey in resale value of the early postal vans.

Compared to the 3019 postal we all know and love, it has different window configuration, and, a different platform and gate.

I bought it very inexpensively off flea port (ebay) without a box. $35.00 delivered.

Other than missing the filigree roof supports, (of which I have spares, but have not yet installed) it is really quite clean. It has an original, plain grey ribbed roof. I has no electrical (they didn't) and the old thick metal axels and coupler system. I has a place for an internal divider wall , like the 3019, but no wall. it is closer to a box car body, with equal end wall roof arches, compared to the different arches on the 3019s.

I am a se;f admitted "hoarder", ie I have lots of LGB stuff, all of which I run. I am not really a collector, but I do seem to buy variations of cars. And, I really love my LGB stuff. I do have an appreciation and interest in LGB, Lehmann, and its history.

Yet, I am tempted to paint this car. More accurately, bring out some details.

I would paint the end iron body upright frames black, possibly the sliding door frames and corner supports, the window frames (and bars???) either white or yellow, and, possibly, the roof might receive a sprayed black edge, as per the current practice. I feel it would be more consistent/matching in appearance with other similar cars I have. ie closer to either the 3019, or, the DEV Fakultative cars.

fwiw, I am reasonably competent at painting. However, I find this car plain, almost too much so.
I have had it a couple of weeks and am thinking it needs just a touch to make it a bit more interesting, less plastic-like toy-like.

what would you recommend, please?

stockers · 23 Apr 2017

Nice looking van, never seen that one before. I like the half open windows. I think it needs some transfers more than paint.

G-force1 · 23 Apr 2017

I'm generally in the 'keep everything original' camp, though I see where you are coming from in it looking a bit plain. Perhaps add the filigrees to the roof and have another 'live with it' spell, before deciding. Alan's 'just add transfers' is a good compromise, as they could be removed later to return it to original.

Henri · 23 Apr 2017

If it is that rare and valuable, i'd try to sell it on and get one to alter. But if the overall appearance of this particular van has cought you, grab the paint & brushes!!

I discovered the postal van I painted gray last week was originally a blue 1985 so-many-yeas celabration van. I like my version better...

sparky230 · 23 Apr 2017

It's one of those that the collectors books will tell you it's rare but actually it's not that rare, I have a set of the original 4 wheel coaches that match, I have repainted one in the correct shade of green as they often fade, I have a couple as they often came in the original starter sets.

stevedenver · 23 Apr 2017

quite right sparky, those collectors books ......from a different era entirely.

I shall bide my time, until, some impulse hits me.
btw, where might i find transfers available, gentlemen?

stockers · 23 Apr 2017

Try Troeger - in the links section here.

sparky230 · 24 Apr 2017

stevedenver said:
quite right sparky, those collectors books ......from a different era entirely.

I shall bide my time, until, some impulse hits me.
btw, where might i find transfers available, gentlemen?

The writers of some of the collectors books would die if they saw my living room shelves, I have approx 75 stainz locos, I have all the production varients I know off, and most of the special editions I'm aware of, currently there are 12 specials I'd like, but dont have the avalible cash as these do hold money.

Gizzy · 25 Apr 2017

I brought one of these myself recently, from a G Scale Society member, along with a couple of other wagons, one of which is a 3019 Post van.

Paid £60 for the lot including P&P....

dunnyrail · 25 Apr 2017

Needs the raised LGB chieseling off, carefully mind. Depending on needs for Railway Grey Spray Swiss old RHB and others. Bauxite would cover another multitude of lines Germany, Austria more Modern Swiss. But for Swiss RHB a little small but ideal for many of the minor lines. Bothbcolours Matt from Halfords Rattle Cans.
JonD

D J Mason · 19 Jul 2017

stevedenver said:
I need some thoughts.
I rarely think "owner improvements" really are.
This 3020 is the first I have ever seen outside of a collectors guide, no less owned.
It is listed in the LGB guides as the most pricey in resale value of the early postal vans.

Compared to the 3019 postal we all know and love, it has different window configuration, and, a different platform and gate.

I bought it very inexpensively off flea port (ebay) without a box. $35.00 delivered.

Other than missing the filigree roof supports, (of which I have spares, but have not yet installed) it is really quite clean. It has an original, plain grey ribbed roof. I has no electrical (they didn't) and the old thick metal axels and coupler system. I has a place for an internal divider wall , like the 3019, but no wall. it is closer to a box car body, with equal end wall roof arches, compared to the different arches on the 3019s.

I am a se;f admitted "hoarder", ie I have lots of LGB stuff, all of which I run. I am not really a collector, but I do seem to buy variations of cars. And, I really love my LGB stuff. I do have an appreciation and interest in LGB, Lehmann, and its history.

Yet, I am tempted to paint this car. More accurately, bring out some details.

I would paint the end iron body upright frames black, possibly the sliding door frames and corner supports, the window frames (and bars???) either white or yellow, and, possibly, the roof might receive a sprayed black edge, as per the current practice. I feel it would be more consistent/matching in appearance with other similar cars I have. ie closer to either the 3019, or, the DEV Fakultative cars.

fwiw, I am reasonably competent at painting. However, I find this car plain, almost too much so.
I have had it a couple of weeks and am thinking it needs just a touch to make it a bit more interesting, less plastic-like toy-like.

what would you recommend, please?

James Day · 31 Jul 2017

Steve,

I think the basic moulding of this is one that all the early vans were derrived from, even the later early postal van that eventually gained pick ups and became the 3019N. Details were added and changed over time, so the version for the postal van effectively became another moulding, which branched off from the others with a dummy door to the balcony, extra windows and the moulded on postal horn and dummy letterbox etc. These eventually became decals and then markings.

The plain vans are more common in Brown, or the off-white Magnesite/Magnesium one.

As you point out this is devoid of any paint details, decals or shading, but the balcony with triangular gates was common to all early vans. Possibly the blue 1985 version was the first to have the ungated goods type balcony?

As a runner rather than collector I like to fit all these early items with new bogies with the reversible couplings, replace the wheels (as the flanges on this one will be deep and it will realy rattle over points and crossings). I usually fit roller bearings, tail lamps and internal lighting. I guess this may well already have moulded in provision for tail lamps? Not sure when that was added. Usually fitting lighting means drilling out a hole in the centre of the bogies to let the wires in!

Whilst I love the charm of the early plain LGB, I take your point about it looking 'too' plain. As has been said, people will tell you it is rare and valuable, but it is yours - you own it, do what you feel is necessary to make it useful and enjoyable for you. That is just what I do too!

Enjoy!

James

dunnyrail · 1 Aug 2017

Just a forlorn request, this body is ideal for the kind of van that sits in the middle of my Selktalbahn Trains. Does anyone have an old Body Only or even Van that they would like to part with please?

If I get one will be adapted to match the kind of van that I would like and be repainted Red. The Window openings on the side are a good start to this process.
JonD

James Day · 3 Aug 2017

dunnyrail said:
Just a forlorn request, this body is ideal for the kind of van that sits in the middle of my Selktalbahn Trains. Does anyone have an old Body Only or even Van that they would like to part with please?

If I get one will be adapted to match the kind of van that I would like and be repainted Red. The Window openings on the side are a good start to this process.
JonD

Jon,

If you don't mind painting the one you acquire, my guess is that you are more likely to find a cheap later one. The yellow banana ones seem to be the least desirable and consequently cheaper. Alternatively, one that someone else has already repainted. The body would be basically the same.

James

dunnyrail · 3 Aug 2017

James Day said:
Jon,

If you don't mind painting the one you acquire, my guess is that you are more likely to find a cheap later one. The yellow banana ones seem to be the least desirable and consequently cheaper. Alternatively, one that someone else has already repainted. The body would be basically the same.

James

Thanks James, but I beg to differ so far as can see the later Banana ones do not have the openings which is what I desire if I can get them. I could cut holes in the current vans that serve my needs, but so much easier to get holey ones that I would like.
JinD

James Day · 3 Aug 2017

Good point Jon,

My error.

As you rightly point out this has the full height openings and is from the postal van branch of the LGB van family tree.

There are a couple of 3020s on E-bay DE right now and the groups of image on there show that this is indeed the same basic moulding as the early 3019, all the post horn etc detailing is there except that one is in the early the light colour plastic and both have the lower roof! The light one is also in the very early buff coloured LGB box.

There are also some early 3019s on there too - Dark green, high roof and all the postal details. I have just fished mine out the garage to look at too.

Quite interesting to compare the 3020 and early 3019 body to the later 3019N moulding, but then again I don't get out much

You have got me wanting a 3020 now, but I won't be looking to buy one just yet!

James

dunnyrail · 3 Aug 2017

James Day said:
Good point Jon,

My error.

As you rightly point out this has the full height openings and is from the postal van branch of the LGB van family tree.

There are a couple of 3020s on E-bay DE right now and the groups of image on there show that this is indeed the same basic moulding as the early 3019, all the post horn etc detailing is there except that one is in the early the light colour plastic and both have the lower roof! The light one is also in the very early buff coloured LGB box.

There are also some early 3019s on there too - Dark green, high roof and all the postal details. I have just fished mine out the garage to look at too.

Quite interesting to compare the 3020 and early 3019 body to the later 3019N moulding, but then again I don't get out much

You have got me wanting a 3020 now, but I won't be looking to buy one just yet!

James

Last time I looked the 3020's were in US at megga bucks postage. Will wait for a discarded body or cheepish one in UK. But will look at the alternatupives you mention. Also the Fire Car may be a good bet for me, already the right colour but always mega bucks!

3019N has too many Windows but the 3019 would work. I do get out a lot, but am still pretty sad!
JonD

James Day · 3 Aug 2017

Good point,

From Germany you are looking at £18 postage on the light coloured one of these, but the van itself is not yet at £12, (but there are six days to go!).

The dark van is £45 buy it now, plus just under £15 postage.

At least if you buy from the EU there is no nasty Customs Charge plus carrier handling fee! (while it lasts).

One other thought, there is that double balconied two windowed van, (like 41390), it comes in green or brown? I guess the issue is finding one cheap enough to justify 'grounding'.

Good luck!

James

dunnyrail · 4 Aug 2017

James Day said:
Good point,

From Germany you are looking at £18 postage on the light coloured one of these, but the van itself is not yet at £12, (but there are six days to go!).

The dark van is £45 buy it now, plus just under £15 postage.

At least if you buy from the EU there is no nasty Customs Charge plus carrier handling fee! (while it lasts).

One other thought, there is that double balconied two windowed van, (like 41390), it comes in green or brown? I guess the issue is finding one cheap enough to justify 'grounding'.

Good luck!

James

I have a couple of them and they do not work in the context of what I am trying to get/create.

Pretty poor screen grab from a Vid.
JonD

LGB 3020, need comments

stevedenver

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stockers

Trains, aircraft, models, walking, beer, travel

G-force1

Prevarication Rules!

Henri

refuses to grow up

sparky230

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stevedenver

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stockers

Trains, aircraft, models, walking, beer, travel

sparky230

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Gizzy

A gentleman, a scholar, and a railway modeller....

dunnyrail

DOGS, Garden Railways, Steam Trains, Jive Dancing,

D J Mason

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James Day

Guano Corner Rly - Runs weekly - Guano permitting

dunnyrail

DOGS, Garden Railways, Steam Trains, Jive Dancing,

James Day

Guano Corner Rly - Runs weekly - Guano permitting

dunnyrail

DOGS, Garden Railways, Steam Trains, Jive Dancing,

James Day

Guano Corner Rly - Runs weekly - Guano permitting

dunnyrail

DOGS, Garden Railways, Steam Trains, Jive Dancing,

James Day

Guano Corner Rly - Runs weekly - Guano permitting

dunnyrail

DOGS, Garden Railways, Steam Trains, Jive Dancing,