worth restoring?

Only if you enjoy the work required. I doubt it would bring enough to pay you minimum wage for the time involved.

It might bring more than you paid as is on ebay so wouldn't hurt to list it and see what happens....DaveB

Free time

That's not much of a concern.  I enjoy the work, and it's always nice to have a chance to practice and improve my skills.  I guess the questions is does doing a bunch of electrical, mechanical, and cosmetic work make the model significantly more valuable to the average modeler?  It would to me, in theory, except that I'm more likely to seek out a junker than I can work on myself, so I won't often pay a higher price for a pristine model.  Do most of the others who might be interested think the same way?

make the model more valuable to the average modeler?

A good job might make the model desirable to a certain person who wanted that specific model so if you enjoy the work it might be a good project. Sometimes the old trains from our youth can be something we'd buy when a nice example shows up..DaveB

Focus On Your "Target Market"?

Another alternative is to locate a local modeler (possibly a youth) that would be interested in operating your finished creation, and possibly offer to do it just for the cost of parts.  That way, you have some guarantee that you won't be stuck with a white elephant on your shelf, and having a particular individual in mind as you work may help keep the momentum going.  If you follow my earlier suggestion to find a younger enthusiast that's interested, you may help them develop a stronger attachment to the hobby down the road.

Tom Hillebrant

Washington, Idaho & Montana Ry.

http://wimryhpg.com/

Just like mom used to make, only better?

So you're thinking maybe that it would be wise to make the model what it might have been in a kid's mind?  Don't change it up, but replace cast on details with similar separate ones, improve the operation, add working headlights, DCC, etc..  In the end, it's still obviously recognizable as a Mantua 0-4-0, but not out of place running with more modern models.  Right?

but not out of place running with more modern models.

Yeah, that's what I did with my childhood Athearn GP7. I replaced the rubber band drive with a gear drive and added a few details to make it fit in better with the newer stuff.

Who knows, after you invest some time in this loco you might just decide to keep it for your own collection so i'd do it the way you'd want it if it was to be yours as it's hard to guess what prospective buyers might prefer..DaveBranum

A Place for Information

Ken

I enjoy reading the Tyco Collectors Forum. The forum is for guys that enjoy old trains and there are some good ideas there. The group is bent a little different then a scale group, but there is some amazing stuff there from time to time.

http://www.tycoforums.com/tyco/forum/default.asp

Regards,

John

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Engineers are always honest in matters of technology and human relationships.
That's why it's a good idea to keep engineers away from customers, romantic
interests, and other people who can't handle the truth.  <> Unknown

yardbirdtrains

Theres another forum called yardbirdtrains in the yahoo groups. They deal mostly with old mantuas, bowser, pennline, etc..

I pop in there occasionally. ive picked up a few older mantuas off of ebay. I also have a 0-4-0 manuta kit complete in an original box lying around.

Ive remotered all of mine with motors from helixhumper motors or one of the yardbirdtrains motors. Ive added dcc to a couple of them using the DH123 digitrax decoders.

But there is a market for the older pot metal engines. some people refuse to buy newer engines made in china.

Jerry

Restoring

I came across this little locomotive about 20 years ago while visiting another out of state modeler. It was in his junk box. It had no tender, pilot, headlight and other items. He was more than willing to give it away. It sat around in my scrap box until I came across the tender. I went into my Cal Scale parts and come up with a pilot, headlight and other details. It was remotored with a can motor and constant lighting was installed.

It turned into an exceptionally good running locomotive and is still running strong today. I have no idea who made it.  

...

That is the old Mantua 2-6-2...

They can all be made to run well.  The question is, do you want to have one on your roster?  Because any work you put into it, you'll likely not get much return on it.  At least, i don't hold much faith in them.