Okay guys. Basically the situation is that I have 2 engines that I bought off of eBay which had plows already installed and painted. Then, once I got them, I added mu hoses, windshield wipers, cab shades, and drop-grab irons.
My question, is now that I want to weather them, I need to wash them off so erase fingerprints before I can Krylon-them. I used Pollyscale paints on the grabs and mu hoses..... my worry is that the paint will come off when I rinse it. But I guess I could repaint it......... i just dont want to have to do that.
I should still be okay, right? I mean.... i'll just run the faucet really lightly, but I just wanted to check first to see if I would un-do all the painting I'd done by rinsing it off. I really dont want to have to re-paint those tiny-*** windshield wipers after they're already now installed on the engine body, lol.
i just got a dummy-engine kit from ebay that i'm working on now, and I'm seeing now, first-hand how much better it is to get all holes drilled before you do ANYTHING to the engine..... like, i got all the drop-grab, mu hose, and plow holes drilled before I Kryloned it (i actually forgot the cab shade holes, but i got those drilled and having the dull coat on the model really helps with keeping finger prints off, even though there are now a few teeny splotches).
and i'm also seeing now that you should do all weathering before you add ANYTHING to the engine, like handrails 'n whatnot.
So, for anyone planning on building an engine from an Athearn kit or anything, follow this procedure:
1. drill all holes/file down nose for headlight casting/any other body modifications
1a. paint the trucks, wheels, couplers and any other parts that need to be painted.
2. wash off model with warm water and let air dry. DON'T TOUCH with bare hands!!!!
3. NOW you can Dullcote. Do any final painting detailing beforehand, like highlighting the cab window sills.
4. Do all weathering you're going to do
5. Install all the details you're going to install, like drop grabs and mu hoses. This way, you can have the engine weathered underneith all the handrails and grabs, saving you from having to reach underneith them.
6. Put the engine on your layout.
7. Turn your layout on.
8. Grab a throttle.
9. Turn it up and go! haha