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Post by Wabash2900 on Aug 2, 2020 0:17:38 GMT
I am glad I came across your post as I am in the process of stripping 6 K Line and Lionel 18" heavyweight Madison baggage and RPO cars in hopes of repainting three in Wabash blue livery and three in Illinois Central Orange and Chocolate livery. The IC repainted Madisons will be added to an IC mail train that has smooth side MTH & GGD RPOs and baggage cars. The repainted Wabash cars will join my 2 Lionel Legacy Madison passenger coaches to represent a short passenger train.
The stripping is the first step in my effort to paint my own cars. I am negotiating with a seller for some spray paint equipment and am conducting a not too successful internet search for the proper decals. I feel that the single color sides of the Wabash cars should not be too much trouble, but I am already searching for a custom painter for the IC cars as the three-color livery may be too much for a novice.
The professional results shown in your posting is certainly an example that reinforces my decision to enter an area of the hobby that I did not intend go when I started my own layout.
Any suggestions for a beginner would be greatly appreciated.
Wabash 2900
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Post by 4dogsinjersey on Aug 2, 2020 4:10:41 GMT
I did a quick scan of the four decal sources I use and there is basically nothing in the way of passenger decals for Wabash or IC. You will likely have to buy the right letter set and letter the Wabash cars one letter at a time. It can be done but it can be tedious. You can also find Wabash decals for other applications such as locomotives or cabooses that will help in decorating your passenger cars. Same with the IC cars. The brown and orange would be easy to paint with some good model masking tape. The fine yellow stripes can be done using yellow stripe decals that are available from Microscale in many different widths. They work fine with decal setting solutions like Solvaset and they are easier than trying to paint the stripes. K4 makes stripes too... k4decals.com/collections/stripe-decals/products/stripes-decal-stK4 decals makes many lettering sets in many colors. You just need to figure out the style and size you need. You can see them here... k4decals.com/collections/letter-decalsIn the past I used an airbrush for my paint work. After a long hiatus, I started back painting. This time I have been using Scalecoat II paint in the 6oz spray cans with good results. I am lazy, so the spray cans save me in set up and clean up time. Tom
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Post by Wabash2900 on Aug 2, 2020 13:53:49 GMT
Thank you for the information. As you noted, there is little available in Wabash and IC decals. I have started to list the stock numbers of decal sets from dealers like K-4 and Allegheny with hopes of combining enough letters/numbers to make a passable resemblance of the original cars.
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Post by Country Joe on Aug 2, 2020 14:14:22 GMT
Tom, the WAG boxcar looks fabulous. You did another outstanding job. 👍
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Post by 4dogsinjersey on Aug 2, 2020 14:44:19 GMT
Thanks Joe!
I have two more planned. A outside braced wood boxcar and a second 40’ steel car...both in WAG.
I started a new project yesterday. A two bay covered hopper that will be finished as a Lehigh and New England cement car...another one color paint job...
More to follow....
Tom
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Post by 4dogsinjersey on Aug 2, 2020 23:12:57 GMT
I started a paint job a two bay covered hopper Lettered for the Lehigh and New England. It was another rail line that once passed near my home, through Northern NJ. It ran from Campbell Hall and a connection with a number of railroads including the Erie and the New Haven, in New York State, down to Allentown, PA. From there they had many branch lines that served to local cement factories. Covered hoppers were used to transport bulk cement. The car being used for my project is an Atlas product. It is an undecorated model with some metal detail parts. The car is very heavy for its size. I started with a can of MofW Light Grey, made by Scalecoat paint. It covered perfectly. I sets quickly, so any runs or sags are nonexistent. It takes a day to dry completely. Once it is no longer tacky, we are good to start decaling. K4 decals provides enough decals to do three cars. The decals are trimmed to fit the various spots between the side ribs of the car. When I trim the decals, I cut them with straight lines, keeping edges perpendicular, so that they are basically square. I do this as the physical construction of the car is based on straight lines, and the metal is cut straight edged. The squaring of the decals will camouflage the edges should they appear. They will emulate the seams in the sheet metal sides. The K4 decals loosen in about 20 seconds. I pick them up with tweezers and set them in place. I use a fine paint brush to get them into their final position. Then some gentle blotting with a soft paper napkin.If the decal shifts, I re-wet it and reposition the decal. Once they are blotted and any air bubbles removed, the Solvaset is applied, wetting the entire decal. It will take about 30-45 minutes for the decal set to dry, exposing any bubbles or lifted areas. The bubble are poked with a sharp needle and hit with the Solvaset again. The process is repeated until the decals sit well with no bubbles or slivering. I am at that point now. One side is done and drying... More to come... Tom
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Post by RLM on Aug 3, 2020 0:09:00 GMT
Really nice job what you are executing and thanks for sharing!
Andre.
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Post by Country Joe on Aug 3, 2020 19:48:28 GMT
Looking good, Tom. It's nice to see these WIP photos.
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Post by 4dogsinjersey on Aug 5, 2020 19:47:51 GMT
Thanks guys. I finished the today, after decaling the remaining side yesterday afternoon. A final coat of gloss spray to seal the decals and achieve a uniform finish. The trucks were installed and we are ready to go. An Atlas product with excellent detail. A good practice car as I exercise my building/painting efforts. I now have 11 undecorated boxcars waiting for my boxcar red and red oxide paint to arrive. Scalecoat is really swamped with orders. I have been waiting a month for my order to arrive. Hopefully soon! Tom
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Post by Country Joe on Aug 5, 2020 20:24:42 GMT
You did a fabulous job on it, Tom. The paint and lettering looks like a factory job. 👍
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Post by Adam on Aug 5, 2020 21:13:50 GMT
Looks really nice Tom. Very professional!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2020 3:05:21 GMT
Another top-notch job! 2 thumbs up
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Post by 4dogsinjersey on Aug 7, 2020 16:43:55 GMT
Thank you guys!
I think I am going to leave it glossy for the time being.
Now, just waiting for my boxcar red paint to arrive. I have the same colors in bottled paint. I may fire up the airbrush and do the boxcars that way...
Tom
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