MANTUA 0-6-0

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What I need to figure out is how to remove the old numbers from the cab as I'd like to avoid having to paint that. I'd like to keep the red window frames and since Patrick's has them, I'm within the realm of reality.
I usually use 70% Isopropyl Alcohol and a magic eraser for getting stuff like that off (Although I have not tried on a Mantua Cab). Just be careful near the windows. It might even work without the Alcohol.
Great job so far!
 


Been working on color matching the paint. Have been using Patrick's photos as the reference. I have Tamiya paints and I think I'm close with the red and silver. I may try a flat green as it is darker.

I painted the samples on a black board since the loco is currently black.
GN COLORS CLOSE.jpg

TAMIYA XF5 FLAT GREEN.jpg
 
I'm buying a lot of extra paint in this process. The XF5 turned out to be very light, not what the picture above shows. I also bought some spray paint based on the swatches on the website and the caps don't match those as well. I'm going to spray a black board and hope that they don't match their caps.

XF5 in the middle, dull red, then regular green.
XF5 SWATCHES.jpg
 


Got the lettering off the tender. Watched a few videos after IPA and magic eraser didn't work. The paint was coming off, but it was spreading everywhere and drying, so I had a big mess to clean up. Might have worked, but it was very slow and messy. A few of the videos talked about decal solvent and decal setting solutions. I was thinking about getting this stuff, but wanted to find something local. After getting distracted by something else for several hours, I decided to try what one guy did. He used the decal solvent and scotch tape. He let the solvent soak in for a minute, dried it off and then used the scotch tape to pull the lettering off. I just tried the scotch tape and used my finger nail to burnish it on. Hah, it pulled some of the paint off. So I kept going and found out that you just rip that scab off, no babying worked best. and I could use the tape more than just once.

REMOVE LETTERS.jpg


I have the Great Northern decals coming in. I was going to leave the cab numbers on, but since the tape method works easily, I may renumber.
 
3 coats of green on the cylinders. It's a bit dark, but it'll do.
GREEN CYLINDERS.jpg


3 coats of red on the cab. This color is hard to use for some reason as it is very thin, so last coat was blob it on with a fine brush.
RED CAB.jpg


And while it is all apart, went back to work on the firebox. Will be using a yellow and red flickering led. Have to figure out the best placement in the hollow tube that I added to the backhead. Also created some clearance for the tender wire to pass through. Yeah, the silver sharpie didn't do me any favors...
FLICKER LED.jpg
FIREBOX.jpg
 
Applied another coat of red and silver and it looks a lot smoother now. Changed to the lighter green on the cylinders and I think it matches better than the darker color. So, colors figured out, started on the boiler. This is 2nd coat. Going to have to do a lot of cleanup work for the Friday is everyday paint shop crew.
BOILER GREEN.jpg

BOILER GREEN TOP.jpg
 


Finished painting the base colors and letting it cure overnight. Will paint the piping black and the cylinder covers either silver or bronze. May or may not renumber, but have a couple of decals to add. Then a dull coat to seal it all up.

PAINTED SIDE.jpg
 




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