I just paint them, no primer, no washing with dish soap, nothing--just paint them and I use both acrylic and oil based paints. Never had a problem.
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
Jerry, you don't need to go nuts sanding all the wire. Only scuff it up where it will get wear from handling. F unit long door grabs for instance, no matter how gentle you try to be, these always seen to wear. roof eye bolts and other protruding parts always seem to loose the paint. and require touch ups once in awhile. A considerable amount of my stuff is on a club layout and these things tend to happen. (But if you break off my cab shades put them aside or let me know!!!!!!) That's why slowly I change them to A-Line brass w/ pins, will bend chip paint, but stay on the cab.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
yes ,this was my thought too,but tiny wire graps seam a tall order to sand that is why I was looking at etching with viniger (Used on some metal to aid in paint adhesion) or blacken-it since it is a bit acidic causing the blackening should also etch the metal (dont know this for fact) .... Jerry
Anything that has a super smooth surface, like a wire grab, should be scuffed before painting. Since it gives the paint something to grab onto, it will make the painted item more durable from later handling. I would use sandpaper on the wire grabs, before painting.
I use acrylic paints.....Polly Scale and have yet to have any problems with plastics or metals.
Dennis Blank Jr.
CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad
BIG JERR just a quick feeler ? on metal detail parts that need painting before application (units already painted ) like wire grab handles ...would you use primer or etch with say vinegar or "blacken it" to help with adhesion of paint on wire grabs ? and the same question for metal castings horns ,plows,bells etc. .....Jerry
just a quick feeler ? on metal detail parts that need painting before application (units already painted ) like wire grab handles ...would you use primer or etch with say vinegar or "blacken it" to help with adhesion of paint on wire grabs ?
and the same question for metal castings horns ,plows,bells etc. .....Jerry
Jerry, much of my painting is done w/ solvents, Floequil and Scalecoat. I have never primed and had excellent coverage and durability on any of the cast parts. It may be nec to prime for some colors when using acrylics. I find waterbase paint to be somewhat a bit transparent in it's pigment and certain colors do require a primer. Let others weigh in on the acrylics.