Yeah, as a Third Class, I was wise enough to lust after them from a respectful distance. Then I went unaccompanied to Okinawa, and got out of the bidness, altogether.
One thing I learned was that Datsun 1500cc engin parts would bolt right on the MOWAG 1500cc engines. Seems that Nissan had a license to make the MOWAG 1500cc engine way back in 1930 or so, and just sorta forgot about the royalty part, after the war. So did the Brits. The Japanese stuff was lots better than the British stuff, and less expensive, too.
Dan Pierce said:
Parts by Marklin/LGB can be interesting as the new company is making kits of parts, but only for the new products.
SO, things presently not being made are:
Split case motor blocks
Stainz metal side rod parts
Mogul 3 wire blocks, top, middle, bottom.
Good news is demand is creating a secondary parts market for things like light lens and reflectors and many other small parts.
Some of these are available via Train-Li/Modell-land, but supplies are limited.
Mogul 3 wire blocks have 2 versions, only the one with 6 screws in the top plate is available.
Some of that old stuff is just too old, if the outfit who got all the spares from EPL doesn’t have it, it’s history.
TOC and I had a good laugh the other day talking about spares and such, my opinion was “best to buy two, one to use and one for spares”
TOC’s reply was “Except for xxyyzz make, then you need three. One that’s being used, one for spares and the third one to study how they put it together and how it possibly comes apart.” (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-sealed.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-sealed.gif)(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
I remember rebuilding a Datsoon 411, I think it was. Needed an oil pump…Leyland had it, Datsoon did not…bolted right in.
I once put together a motor for a MGA using the block from a Nash Metropolitan, the cam from Leyland, and the rest from Datsun, including the head. Nice little 1500cc motor. Early fuel injection kit and electronic ignition from BAPGEON. Once I got that tuned, it purred.