P2K 2-8-8-2 USRA Tender undeframe

[NW Mailing List]

Don:  I examined my two Proto 2K 2-8-8-2’s and the cast tender frames are fine.  Both of my models are labelled on the bottom of the box: Made in Austria.  So I assume they were made by Roco.   I couldn’t find any markings on the models themselves to identify country of origin.  Your tender frames definitely show the effects of zinc pest: warping and cracking.  If later production of the Y3’s shifted to China I think that source is the problem.  

There are many on-line references to zinc pest and this is the simplest explanation of what causes it:
“Zinc pest (from German Zinkpest), also known as zinc rot or zamak rot, is a destructive intercrystalline corrosion process in zinc alloys containing lead.”
I would actually label this as lead contamination.  

This discussion prompted me to examine a chassis for a Life-Like E8 which I bought without its shell at a train show many years ago.  The E8 frame is thinner than the Y3 frame, but it looks good.  What I do see are cracks under the black paint in the 1” x  5-1/2” long weight that is firmly attached to the 1/8” thick frame.  So the frame is bowed down from its center
because as thick as it is, the weight is bowed toward either end. The length of the frame is 9”. A body shell will not sit on this frame.  I paid $20 for the chassis and its not worth trying
 to fix, so I will use it as a parts source.

I have a few ancient Athearn blue box F7’s which have what looks like zinc frames and heavy weights which sit on the frames and straddle the motors. I have never seen zinc pest in any Athearn units. 

--Rick Morrison


 

From: NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2023 3:24 PM
To: NW Mailing List
Cc: NW Mailing List
Subject: P2K 2-8-8-2 USRA Tender undeframe

David Jacobs, et all,
Attached are photos of the warped underframe for the Proto 2K 2-8-8-2 USRA tender produced by LL from China. I have yet to ascertain if any of the USRA tenders were produced in Austria. As of today I have heard from only one other person who has issues with their tender warping. Can’t imagine there have been only 3 like this.
As you can see it is really warped plus the front beam also has issues as it’s off the tender, warped and seems to be coming apart. 
It surely seems to have signs of zinc pests.
Don Yelverton

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