I know some of you use an airbrush for weathering. When working on couplers (Kadee) do you need to worry about getting paint in them?
Rick
I always dismantle rolling stock before painting, or more likely just paint a kit before assembly. I don't paint couplers, but I recognize that paint can get where you don't want it and affect coupling.
I paint trucks, and I make sure to mask the axle sockets and even the screw hole in the bolster to keep those free of paint.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I use only Kadee semi-scale couplers, 153s prefered, 156s if necessary. I brush paint them with solvent based paints, usually a bulk pack at a time. I have found that using a dry brush technique allows for painting the entire coupler without gumming them up. Once they have dried for a few days, I check them for proper operation. Any that are stiff are easily corrected by grasping them by the shank and moving the "air hose" in a wobbling circular or stirring motion which restores them to normal operation. I have no coupling issues caused by paint.
Never had a problem with Kadee couplers after light painting/weathering, either air brush , dry brush or powders. Use the above ^ NHTX^ post's advice and be sure to clean the paint or ''weathering'' off the face of the knuckle. The painted face will create drag/resistance when the couplers try to mate.
PC101Never had a problem with Kadee couplers after light painting/weathering, either air brush , dry brush or powders.
Ditto. After a few laps around the layout with slack running in and out any stiffness the coupler may have exhibited usually is gone. I do use an occasional dusting of moly disulfide powder (graphite will work, too) if the coupler needs to be freed up at all.
SL-SF_XM by Edmund, on Flickr
I'm one of those types that clips off the trip pins.
Good Luck, Ed
I spritz Kadee couplers with Model master flat black. I have ruined a few through the decades by getting too much paint in the wrong place. It’s technique sensitive and keep the airbrush moving.
LION throw out couplers.
Him use DRAWBARS!
(And who is going to argue with a LION!)
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
I go to great effort to avoid getting any paint on my couplers.
-Kevin
Living the dream.