Want to start custom painting locos and stock

[PatOC]

Hi all - First off, I can't believe what a gold mine I've stumbled onto with this site. No wonder it's after 11PM on a Sunday and I'm still up reading all the posts! Quick background: I've been an avid plastic modeler for several years and have gotten fairly adept at painting and weathering technigues on airplanes, armor, etc. I have recently decided to try building a DCC model railroad in my basement. One idea 've been tossing around is creating a fictionalized 1950's era Door County, Wisconsin passenger line and was hoping to learn more about painting undecorated locos and stock. Your posts have been a great help in answering several questions I had, but one still remains: Do any of you ever paint the undecorated locos and stock like the type that Walthers sells? If so, is it fairly easy and straightforward to disassemble them for spraying? Is there any specific brand manufacturer you'd recommend? I ask since most of the posts I read seem to mention painting locos and cars with already-existing paint schemes, and having to strip the paint, etc.

Thanks for the info!
-Pat

 

[Red Oak & Western]

About two-thirds of the rolling stock I custom paint was purchased undecorated. As I'm sure you've noticed the mantra is still clean, prime, then paint. The reasons for stripping the existing finish are that the loco or car you want to model isn't available undec, or you already have something and just want to change the paint scheme. All the major brands: Walthers, Accurail, Athearn, Atlas, Branchline, and on and on, are no problem to dissemble, though, as I know others will point out, some are fussy and take a little more care than others.

Oh yah, Pat, welcome to the best model railroading forum on the internet!

 

[macjet]

Welcome PatOC!

I have only stripped one locomotive, a Proto 2000 SD60, and I will never do it again if I have the choice. I completely destroyed a GP20 trying to get it apart. My three most recent paint projects include two undecorated Proto 2K SD60's and one Accurail undecorated ACF covered hopper. I prefer the undecorated units since there is no disassembly. I've broken too many parts on painted units as I was either trying to get them apart or stripped.

A lot of guys prime the undecs and I would recommend that if you are using light colors. I've never primed and I have not had any problems on the undecorated units. I am painting dark colors though. I did have a problem with the stripped unit. The stripping process discolored the plastic in areas and that unit required extra coats of paint to cover the different base colors.

Be sure and wash the parts in warm soapy water prior to painting to remove the mold release.

 

[CP9302]

Most undec products come unassembled because the manufacturer knows you are going to paint it. When it comes to taking apart ready to use products, it can be very hard. Proto engines are especially hard to take fully apart.

As a general rule of thumb, the more detailed the model, the hard it will be to take apart.

As for manufactures, one of the best for undec stuff is Atlas/Atlas Trainman. Their undec products are cheaper then the painted ones. Which makes sense. Some manufacturers charge the same price.

 

[GAPPLEG]

I too go out of my way to find undecorated units , even though it's easy to find SP painted items , I just enjoy painting them myself. And I can take my time to detail things corectly with an undecorated item. I prime everything before painting , personal choice I guess. But even unndecorated items need to be washed really well before doing anything.
If I can't find an undecorated item I want, I'll just pick up any scheme and strip it , but that a whole nother story.

 

[PatOC]

thanks!

Fellas - thanks so much for the quick replies and for sharing your knowledge. I'm twice as excited about getting into the hobby knowing that not only can I customize my layout and structures, but my trains as well!

-Pat