Can you paint a chrome painted engine?

[Boyd]

Well the little LASER engine I have would be nice to have in a RR paint scheme instead of it looking like it came out of the movie Star Wars. Has anyone tried painting one of these or painting over chrome coating on a model train or car?

[Jumijo]

You can paint it, but first, you should strip the chrome off by soaking the shell in Castrol Super Clean for a few hours, possibly over night. Rinse thoroughly, then paint the plastic shell in the usual way. don't forget to prime the shell before painting.

Jim

[philo426]

Fantastic works as well.If you want certain areas to retain its chrome then coat the areas with vaseline which will prevent the chrome from being stripped.After removal from the stripping solution rinse well with warm soapy water and wipe-off the vaseline.This method works very well.

[cheapclassics]

Boyd,

Nooooo! Don't do it. There are plenty of regular shells of that type of engine that you could use instead of removing the chrome off the LASER. I am kind of passionate about those little DC engines, and I would hate to see another of one of the more unique engines "modified". Lionel made three shells that were just painted in the early 90s for some inexpensive diesel switchers that are the same as the LASER mounting points. I mean you can do what you want with your own equipment, but I would urge you to reconsider.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Boyd]

Well the shell is already modified as I drilled holes in the shell for a switch and a plug in to run it R.C. Sounds like buying, then painting a non-chrome shell would be easier than stripping the LASER shell. I don't even know the name Lionel used for that engine type or what road names, numbers they used. Anyone know? I bet I could get a shell for close to $10 on ebay.

[cheapclassics]

I will try to look up the numbers tonight, but I want to say it was somewhere in the 18900 series, but I am not sure.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[Chris F]

Mike, I'll save you the time. Here's a listing of the other industrial switchers:

8350 - US Steel (73-75)
8377 - USMC (83-84)
8670 - Chessie (76)
8769 - Republic Steel (77)
18900 - Pennsylvania (88-89)
18910 - CSX (93)
18911 - Union Pacific (93)
18912 - Amtrak (93)
18924 - Illinois Central (94-95)
18925 - Denver & Rio Grande (94-95)
18926 - Reading (94-95)
18930 - Crayola (94-95)

[cheapclassics]

Thanks, Chris. I have the 18900 PRR, and when it is weighted down properly, it will pull four or five cars with no problem. The latter ones have a self-centering dummy coupler that makes coupling easier. The Crayola set was a good idea, but they only made one extra car to go with it. I think it was the last of the cataloged play mat sets.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[SPFan]

Go to an automotive paint store and ask for self etching primer. Degease, prime and then paint. You don't have to sand the primer or chrome and it goes on thin so you won't lose any detail.

Pete