PRR J-1 2-10-4 painting and decoder install.
I'll be painted my remaining two PRR engines, the other being the S-2 6-8-6. I purchased these engines because I, either, consider them iconic or representative of the latest steam power.
This is a Westside model made in 1977. The open frame motor gets replaced with a can motor. First I tested it on DC power to insure the engine has no binding.
Disassembly.
Parts that will be baked.
Parts that will be air dried.
Parts removed from engine which includes the brake pads since they are plastic.
Came with a huge lead weight so engine, already, has plenty of heft.
While cleaning the parts in vinegar and soap the cab moved: surprised that it was removable and very well executed.
'J' slots in the side of the cab.
Matching 'J' slots in the cab deck.
Engine only had a blank backhead.
A PSC backhead (32321) was added. Some filing at the bottom of the backhead was necessary to fit the cab floor.
All receptacles getting LED's were drilled out, ie: headlight (engine/tender), marker lights (engine, tender), cab, running board lights plus slot made in bottom of tender's front under the deck for the decoder wires.
Masking off parts.
My tweezers weren't picking up the masking tape efficiently so the insides were pulled against some 220 sandpaper, folded over, to get them to be parallel to each other.
All electrical contact surfaces masked off.
Tender axle ends are always fun to mask!
Painting.
The PRR Brunswick Green is, virtually, black and one can only tell if it has some green is to place it next to black.
Boiler, cab and tender got the 'green' while everything else got black. Into the toaster over at 200 degrees for 2 hours.
Air dry.
