Hints and Tips
 For Marx® Train Operators

Restoring Sheetmetal Curves
With Simple Tools

Dented sheetmetal can often be hammered flat, but curves are more difficult. You can use common wrench sockets as anvils to reform curved surfaces. Their variety of sizes makes them usable for many diffferent situations, from boxcar body curves to larger radius pieces like the Canadian Pacific locomotive pilot (cowcatcher) shown here.

The pilot in the picture had evidently hit the floor at one time; it was crumpled, badly dented and actually had a 3/4"split. Though I didn't have a socket with a diameter as large as the pilot, I used the largest I had and was pleased with the result.

How to Do It

Remove the pilot from the locomotive.

Put the socket on the edge of a solid workbench, and place the pilot over it.

Tap the dented points with a hammer against the curved surface of the socket, gauging the curve by eye until it is correct. Do not hit too hard until you have the feel of how solid a blow will change the curve without flattening the embossed detail. Keep working until dents are flattened and the curve looks right.

Test fit on the engine and adjust the shape with finger-pressure or more hammering.

You will never get the surface perfectly smooth and shiny as it was originally, but sanding with the fine side of an emery board will take down the high spots and polish up the surface to a level suitable for a runner locomotive.

On this pilot, the hammering actually healed the split, which was just above the lowest rib in the picture.