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Question about Painting a undecorated loco

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  • Member since
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Posted by rolleiman on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 10:19 AM

I've personally never had much luck brush painting trains. They always came out looking exactly like what I did. Brushed on on paint, Regardless of the paint used. Spray cans will work if you learn to control them or rather control how much paint actually hits the model. Your best bet of course is the airbrush.

Not much help, I know but still my 2¢ 

Modeling the Wabash from Detroit to Montpelier Jeff
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Posted by AlreadyInUse on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 8:41 AM

 4-6-6-4 Challenger wrote:
Thanks for the info so far.  It sounds to me that I can to ether.

4-6-6-4 Challenger! Absolutely do not use ether. It is a solvent and extremely flammable. In additon, diethyl ether can form diethyl ether peroxide which is a contact explosive when dry.

You can never have too much glue
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 3:15 AM

This is just my opinion but I think that I would put up the cash for a airbrush. I mean if you are going to being detailing your locos and rolling stock it will pay for itself in no time.

 

Norman......

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Posted by UpNorth on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12:58 AM

Ah ha!.. Been there, done that many many many years ago.

Put my painted model car in a shoe box to keep dust off and put a 50W bulb above it.. removed the box.. model car was no more,  just this blob from StarTrek.  I bet it was my best paint job ever.

Thin the paint and brush paint it if you can't afford an air brush. A can will cover/hide all detail in N-scale.  It is just too corse.

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Posted by Rotorranch on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 12:10 AM
 davidmbedard wrote:
 dti406 wrote:

One of my friends was a custom painter, he often painted brass models with Floquil spray paint and they came out beautifully.

Rick 

 

Tis too bad your friend hasnt discovered the joy of Scalecoat II.  You actually BAKE the stuff on (175 at 2 hours FYI). During the baking process, the pigment melts leaving you a perfect gloss durable surface.  The difference between using Floquil and Scalecoat is night and day.

....but this is only my experience....

David B

On plastic?

I'm leary of heat on plastic models, ever since I melted a nice model car on a lamp when I was a kid.

Rotor

 Jake: How often does the train go by? Elwood: So often you won't even notice ...

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Posted by dti406 on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:32 PM

One of my friends was a custom painter, he often painted brass models with Floquil spray paint and they came out beautifully.

Rick 

 

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Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:04 PM

If you're on a tight budget, this is a great airbrush.
http://walthers.com/exec/productinfo/704-2203

I've had mine for a few years now, and it does a fantastic job.Big Smile [:D] It's easy to clean too. So far, I've painted three steam engines, three diesels, and a few plastic car models, and all have gotten nice, smooth coats.Big Smile [:D]

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Posted by Guilford Guy on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 8:30 PM
Have you ever tried brush painting modelflex paint? No streaks, and it goes on uber-thin... .00025 of an inch.

Alex

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Posted by Rotorranch on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 8:22 PM

You'll be way better off painting with a spray can, or an airbrush. It will do a much nicer job than brush painting.

I usually use a $25 Badger Model 250 Mini Spray Gun for most model painting. It's almost as easy as a spray can to use, almost as easy as a brush to clean up. 

Rotor

 Jake: How often does the train go by? Elwood: So often you won't even notice ...

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Posted by 4-6-6-4 Challenger on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 8:10 PM
Thanks for the info so far.  It sounds to me that I can to ether.
Nothing is better that a big old Union Pacific Challenger or Big Boy rumbling the ground as it roars by! Modeling the CB&Q in the 1930's in Nebraska
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Posted by Kenfolk on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 7:53 PM

This was brushpainted with acrylics, n-scale. 

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Posted by georgev on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 7:42 PM

I will second the recommendation from Guildford Guy on brushpainting with Modelflex.  Worked fine for me.  I could not find a spray can of the correct PRR Tuscan Red so I tried the brush and it worked. 

George V.  

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Posted by Packer on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 5:52 PM
Spray Paint  should work, but you have to make sure it's okay with plastic. If not, you'll need primer.

Vincent

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Posted by Guilford Guy on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 5:26 PM
Modelflex's Engine Black Paint goes on very thin with a regular brush. Search Modelflex on walthers.

Alex

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Question about Painting a undecorated loco
Posted by 4-6-6-4 Challenger on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 5:21 PM

We are talking N scale loco.

My plan is to buy a undecorated loco and paint it to my satisfaction.  I want to make up a railroad and call it the "Black Goose"  What I want to do is buy some Alco RS-2's paint them all black and make a logo for them and then re-number them and have "Black Goose" on the side. 

So my question is if I dont have an airbrush what will it look like if I use spray paint.  Also what will it look like if I brush it on?  Should I just go out and buy a airbrush? dont really have the money right now trying to get my layout started up.

Nothing is better that a big old Union Pacific Challenger or Big Boy rumbling the ground as it roars by! Modeling the CB&Q in the 1930's in Nebraska

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