Fixing an Old Cast Tyco Sharknose Loco & Passenger Set. 

Another award-wining presentation ! Plus background information ! Ron, you are a real Pro !

Ron. Thanks so much. By the way, Baldwin made both RF15's and 16's. Amazing how well Tyco made trains back in the late fifties and early sixties. One thought. Consider quit smoking. As a RN for 30 years, I've seen the end result of COPD or Emphysema. I pray for your health to be robust you live to be 100 years old. God Bless Friend and I love that AF Santa Fe set you fixed and I bought on Ebay. William Gratchic RN, BSN

Ron is the vice grip garage of model railroading. edutaining at its finest. train looks superb.

I 'm jammin on the colorful backdrop Ron, no kidding, i'm cracking open a bottle of wine and chillin watching Classic model trains👍

MAN-2-UHH for me Ron. Thanks for keeping the history of our hobby running strong! Never know where to go until you see where you've been!! God Bless and best wishes from VA!!

OOOOWEEEE! Tawney Kitaen! Who will ever forget her appearance in Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" video! Great pick.

Classic model is Tawny Kitaen. That locomotive and cars look awesome. Good job on the restoration.

I'd say Mantua. As long as they're not calling it man-tu-tu . We'd have a whole different problem then. 😆

Superbly Done Ron And I love how you Ran the Train Slowly nice keep up the Nice work.

Super. I have never even seen this version of the Mantua/Tyco RF-16 Sharknose before, and I have looked at a lot of used Sharks. A superb locomotive, but I have always liked those passenger cars since I first read about them in one of my model train magazines. My railroad is still able to operate cars equipped with the Mantua Loop coupler because my MOW work train is equipped with them, and my car repair department (Me) is somewhat unmotivated to replace them, so I still have a Mantua Loop to Kadee knuckle Train Miniature coupler conversion MOW car in operation. FYI: Properly adjusted Mantua Loop couplers work great, and the same manual or electric uncoupler will also work with the Maerklin Relex coupler. Good job on the locomotive. Hello from the Tracy Mountain Railway in Colorado. 💙 T.E.N.

I learned something about that set watching your video thanks. I have the exact same set except mine is still waiting to be cleaned and serviced. Yours is the only one I have seen except mine . Thanks Ron for all you do sir

Hey Ron, The best thing to clean those aluminum trains would be Barkeeper's Friend Liquid version for non scratch and the powder version for rust, chrome, tile, any metal you can thing of as long as it is not mirror finish. This stuff works in one pass. Those passenger cars would have required about 15 minutes of work for the whole set and they wouldn't have tell tale signs of corrosion. You can buy this in your local super market next to the kitchen cleaners. When you have rust, nothing gets it off as well as the powder version.

This channel is top drawer!

Man those cars are gorgeous! And it's man-choo-ah lol

That finished product ,Ron, is one mighty nicely sparkly passenger hauling Shark consist! The polish job on the extruded aluminium cars came out excellently. And wasn't it a pleasure working on that '57 Shark MU all setup with screws instead of rivets? How things have changed...I digress .. Man- phoooey ...but then again I come from Joisey... Bruce...who ??? 😄🚂🤣

I dig the shark nose!! I love the tyco metal passenger cars!! Nice explanation of to 2 units! 💯✌️

Thanks Ron! Your talents teach me much about tedious repairs and restoration.

I think Model Railroader magazine did a factory story about Mantua years back and in the article they called it “Man-chew-a.” Seems to me it’s named after a city in Italy and that’s how the city name is pronounced, but ya know, among us model railroaders, I don’t think it matters- “toe-May-toe/toe-mah-toe.” We are miniaturists, not lexicographers. Your rebuild/restoration of this old set of loco and rail cars is masterful! You have brought passenger service to your layout/town and that is worth celebrating! It’s really quite surprising how beautiful this old set it as it’s running on your tracks. About your model- I recognized her picture but couldn’t name her. Is that Raquel Welch’s little girl, all grown up?

Nicely done Ron!

Cool trick with the toothpicks. I know if ever I was to try doing what you do, I would record and take thousands, well maybe hundreds of pictures so I'd remember how to reassemble.

Hey Ron. You are correct. We here in New York say Ma2a as well. LOL That’s a nice little Tyco you rescued. It’s amazing how well they were originally made back in the day. Your beautiful model is Dave Coverdale’s music video queen Tawny Kitaen!! It’s a shame she left us all to early.

Tawny Kitaen Man-chew-ah. It's a township in New Jersey named after a city in Italy and also where John Tyler had Tyco's first production facility. So, yeah, an East Coast thing mangled by we phonics obsessed Midwesterners. Nice work!

Hey Ron! Great video! 🚂🚃🚃🚃

love the sharknose fine rare one good video thanks for sharing

Another great rebuild. Always fun to watch. And those passenger cars look fantastic!

Hi Ron. I have the same loco. My brothers he received for Christmas back about 1957 or so. One of the drive wheels have been missing for years but about 8 years ago I found 2 drives for it. Looking forward to getting it running again now that I am retired.

All I can say is Congratulations on obtaining one of these! Great repair as well:) I’ve always been curious how these work

Bit late checkin out this one, but glad I did! I gotta find one of these diecast sharks. I think that metal stuff in the shell was somebody trying to add extra heft to the shell, rather than fixing that post- I've seen similar things done and done it myself a little. The reason folks will say "don't take apart the magnet, it'll kill the strength" is because a lot of older models used an Alnico permanent magnet for the magnetic field. These magnets can be nice and strong, but they're not great at holding onto that magnetism for whatever reason- somebody out there knows! Fortunately, if the magnet is up against some magnetically attracted metal, of a certain mass, it creates some kind of magnetic flux that keeps the Alnico magnet's strength somewhat stable. Removing the motor armature, magnet, or field pieces disrupts that flux, and the magnet's strength is no longer being kept stable. But that's only one piece of it! The other matter is this- the whole motor assembly (magnet, field, and armature in all) is magnetized in an assembled state at the factory, because for one reason or another, the complete assembly can hold more magnetic strength than the alnico magnet can hold all on its own. So by disrupting the relationship of the parts/breaking the magnetic flux between the armature, field, and magnet, you loose some of that magnetic strength that was held by the complete assembly. As far as I know, this phenomenon only really affects Alnico magnets, at least to such an extent that anyone should bother worrying about it. The only reason it's a problem is that a weaker magnet will give the motor less torque, and it'll be more inclined to overheat. If the magnet on a motor is too weak, people have had a lot of success replacing them with rare earth (neodymium) magnets. You could also purchase or build a magnetizer, and zap the strength back into the original magnet. I have a vintage magnetizer Lionel sold to service stations in the 1960s for use with their HO motors. It's a very handy tool, but unfortunately Lionel didn't design it to be adjustable so it only works on motors that will fit between its magnetizing poles. There's somebody in the UK who sells a motor magnetizer but it isn't cheap, I think he hand-makes them. But as far as I know, all you need to make your own is some handy skills, some iron bar/rod stock, and a big ol spool or two of copper wire.

Great Video; always a joy to see what you will do nexr. Great restoration.

Very informative and entertaining video. I really enjoyed it.

Very cool! The aluminum passenger cars turned out fantastic as did the RF-16! I do not have any MU1 motored locos, wish all my MU2s were MU1s lol. You probably have done this already, but if you, painfully, break off the plastic side trucks on an MU2, you can at least clean up the commutator and some gearing. Super glue works great to reattach the side trucks! Just repainted a Mantua/Tyco RF-16 in jade green New York Central. Yep, also knew recognized this weeks classic model. All the best!

Man-too-ah. Another fantastic restoration of the whole kit n kaboodle. Those cars really came out nice.

I think we need a Flyer Alco restored to a sharpness like this one.

Fantastic job! Those look great. And you are correct, they do not build them like that anymore, which is a bit of a shame.

Enjoy watching your videos, you really having a lot fun getting those old trains running again, without going crazy and keeping that original charm and just right amount of good upgrades👍,this hobby can be affordable with how to repairs, 👍

I only recently found your channel. I can only say that I like your info, your energy, and your way of presenting.

Hey, Ron. Places like the front truck wheel points&coach pick-ups for lights that are conductive. I use ACT-6006 Track&Rail Cleaner(conductive). It's got a lube factor to it. Also, use it on track switches.🚂🇨🇦🇺🇲🙋

I say it the way you do. This here's the U. S. of A. and things get Americanized just because it is. Thank you for this epic clean, lube and reassemble video.

I really like how these engines were built. Very solid for the most part.

You did a spectacular job on the entire restoration of this vintage TYCO MANTUA set looks brand new. I too have a TYCO MANTUA cars different road names. I applaud when you replaced the old horn hooks with the coupler box installed onto the extension. When I put on a KADEE coupler it needed a sleeve that was no problem... Since KADEE & WALTHERS PROTO are metal I attached coupled another MANTUA car I was having overload & sparks until the warning light on my powerpack lit up. The conversion done is 100% recommended. the plastic box insulates the metal couplers. Very well done on your project very well done. 👍🎥

I'm from Mantua, NJ, where the Mantua Metal Products company was founded and it is indeed "Man-choo-ah". Tyco was the Ready to Run arm of Mantua and stood for TYler's COmpany. The Tylers were the founders of Mantua Metal Products.

Awesome restro. Ron you did a great job, looks fantastic. 👌👍😇

So shiney, the glare is painful. Very nice...

Grew up in Boston in the 1950's. Never heard it called Man-choo-ah until you just said it, only ever heard Man-tu-ah, just as it's spelled.

Amazing how well built these old machines were (and are)!

Beautiful job Ron. Looks great.

I have one that has been mine since new. I replaced the armature long ago. It runs fine.

Just found your channel. Love your videos

Great video. You did magic on the locomotive and the mechanism. Runs like new. I have never seen a old 50's Tyco Mantua Sharknose RF-16's at any swap meets or model railway shows over here in Australia, just the later plastic ones. Love the aluminium coaches, it's great when someone restores them like new. You did a top job 🇦🇺

Really enjoying watching your videos. I have a sentimental tyco rock island with power torque drive the same as the one behind you. It's very good condition but has cracked wheels. Turns out they're not that easy to find.

Great video!!! I swear the farther you go back the better they were built, sure the details weren't the best but back then they knew the difference between a model and a replica. Most rivet counters in the hobby are completely clueless and make hilarious review videos blasting the details that are missing that they didn't pay for lol.

Awesome work and looks great

Thank you for sharing. Very nice.👍

Man - Chew- uhhh. As another chap mentioned here from Joisey ,too. Where there is a town in Jersey pronounced that way with ironic connections to Tyco itself back in the day... Now that be said, personally I used to always pronounce it " Man- too - ahhh" ..until I was corrected by the owner of Hi-Way Hobby House, formerly of Ramsey ,New Jersey, back in the '50s to '80s which was a huge HO model railroading retailer..

Great job restoring the engine and cars. Also you lay out is look fantastic.

Amazing job Ron! Thanks for sharing the work on the MU-1 (never have seen one before). The cars - and your work on them - are superb! Congratulations my friend! PS: Mantua’s pronunciation like an Italian would do (as Mantua is a city in Northern Italy)- MAN as man in manifest; TU as tu in Tucumcari; and A as a in hArbor. The tonic is in MAN. Ciao amico mio! Auguri!

As always another excellent video Ron. Keep up da good work enso.

That is a nice paint scheme I never seen that Tyco before... Would definitely add DCC to it :) Stu

Excellent restoration Ron. I am curious as to the country your particular Sharknose Diesel was manufactured in. The cars as well. I found the loop and hook couplers to be something not seen often in USA manufacturing. Hope to see more vintage restorations which inspire me to look for these early HO scale gems in my local second hand hobby stores. Until next time, best wishes and thank you for sharing.

Unfortunately, I have never had the opportunity to see a sharknose in person. It would be a pleasure to see one. I do have a Tyco A-team and a Rock island in the box along with a Roco that I purchased and painted up for my personal rail line. Your passenger set is truly fantastic

Each of your videos keep me "riveted."😮

Mantua...another great video I wish I could do mine as well as you do yours great job Ron always enjoy your videos ...Gary

I knew a man (through my granpa) that worked for mantua . He said Man - tu - wa, so that's how i been saying it since childhood,lol.

I like passenger car set up's looks good TY

Very nice, the cars look spectacular! 👍 BTW - Pronounce it any way you want. "Man-chew-uh" is the Italian pronunciation. In Ohio, the town of the same name is pronounced "Man-ah-Way"! I know, how the heck does THAT work?... 🤯 Keep up the great videos.

Nice!

This weekend ill try making a vid. ( never done for RU-vid) i have one of these tyco sharks a friend gave me that has a Hobbytown drive. Pretty unique. Weighs a ton but runs good.

Keep Uo The Videos Ron.👍

You have educated me on these Sharks,I never knew about the 50s Era die cast models, I would not mind getting one. Love to find a 70s Era D&H shark, mine was the midnight special.

Awesome video keep them comings

Awesome video, love your new layout!!! Thanks for the eBay info!

Great job.

If there’s a chew in there, I don’t see it. I’m with you

I watch SMT mainline so I call it Man-taw

I have the blue & yellow one you showed & yeah it needs fixing never has run since I got it & the one you have came with a B unit & matching passenger cars Plus I want the dummy & B unit for mine

Fun video, I learned something today, really enjoyed it! Thank you Sir!

Thank You for this video. I have this same type of Shark nose diesel (a unit) with the same MU-1 motor setup (It has the open pilot with the hoop-link couplers). Although it does run, it will need the wheels cleaned and the power truck relubricated. Along with the A unit, I have the dummy B unit still in the kit box from Mantua, and many of the Mantua aluminum passenger cars of each type. My plan for the A&B unit sharks along with the Mantua aluminum passenger cars is to create my own version of the Tyco Streamliners train. Also, I would love to find another MU-1 motor kit to make the B unit powered, but I have not been able to find any at this time (the search still continues). As far as pronouncing the Mantua name, I say it just like you say it. I guess this is due to my Midwest Ohio speak.

Great video Ron I have the cars but not the locomotive I have seen them before need to get one

As you said...Mantua and she looks like Raquel Welch, but I'm 71 and all women look like her , ho hum :)

On those that power travels through axels. After a well deserved and neglected cleaning. I like to use a small dab of dielectric grease. It helps make better contact for power to travel through. Plus greases them. Do not use as regular grease. Don't use to grease everything. Your engine will not work properly or not work at all. Will ground itself out. If you don't know anything about dielectric grease.

Some interior coach lights would really set it off

I had to scroll down the comments to find out who the classic model was. And as a big fan of Whitesnake and Ratt back in the days, I'm ashamed I didn't remember her name! Also I pronounce it "Man-TWO-ah".

cool I have one in Santa Fe paint .

No "ch" in Mantua! Here in Mississippi it's Man-tu-a! I think those Tyler boys would agree!

Oh man , that was historical .. That set goes back so far .. I think about who owned it , if it cost a fortune back in the day (Ill bet it did ) and all the time it was displayed and enjoyed on layouts , maybe at train clubs .. OH man I love Tyco ... I just do ... Just because .... Mantua better though ..You made that one young again and it looked like it could slow start too? Could it?

Acetate or clear sheet plastic in place of the original opaque windows would look a lot better. Also, I wonder if those cars were based on the original Central of Georgia Man-O-War consist that ran between Atlanta and Columbus, GA. At any rate, I think those cars are probably incredibly rare.

Man-too-ahhh. I'm from Bama.

Instead of buying those small bottles of Micro sol which cost you $5 each... you can use vinegar which is less than a 1/3 of the cost and most houses have it in the kitchen... I try to save $$$ bu not buying or using specific model applicable items which they always mark up for hobby $$ when most houses have the necessary items in a house without purchasing specifics.... that engine and those carriages came up great.

Then Tyco would be Chi-co (cheye-co), But like you said on Mantua (man two a)..

Yes

Man-too-ah, Man-choo-ah, Toe-may-toe Toe-mah-toe… As long as we recognize the great work you to with these projects! Excellent job on restoring the engine and the passenger cars. Thank you for sharing. Does the wax remove the decals on the Tyco passenger cars? I have the Santa Fe passenger cars and I want them to shine too.

Fantastic viewing. Love these shows. Just wondering who sells spares bits and pieces. Haven’t touched my tyco for nearly 45 yrs. Midnite express.

Any idea what brand those coaches are? I just polished up a set that looked similar but mine were made by Herkimer and mine are the shorty 60 foot versions. Did a video on that last Fall. Or December. Then I got some long ones that were badly corroded. Those took a while with the wire wheel. I should try actual wax on mine too, they are not as shiny as they probably could be. Yours would look sweet with that Burlington Varney engine you did. Maybe use Burlington decals on the coaches?

Mantua😊

Good job and a great result. That's a fine lookin' classic model train! Are you going to fit lights in the future? Get a bit of O. Winston Link action in the the cabin!

I'm a Midwesterner and I say Mantua with the t but I say the ua at the end faster

Man-to-a. 100%

Where in the world did you find that old thing? Thanks for the cool video.😮

Lol they went from to many screws for maintenance. To no screws no maintenance. With 2 rivets. If they would've used 2 screws per truck they could've used extra screws to save money by not having to buy rivets. Why would designer take something that's made to be maintained by taking apart. To something that isn't able to be taken apart and harder to service properly? I have few of them. I'm replacing rivets with proper screws for era. Great video.

My guess: Stephen Tyler of the rock band Aerosmith!