This 445 re-issue is one of the few toy-like accessories I own. I've always liked the animation, and the figures are a reasonable size. This one had a red base and stairway, and a green roof. I thought the main color could pass for PRR buff, so I got out my paints and went to work. I wouldn't have done this to a Postwar original, but I figured this piece has little collector value.
The base was done in Krylon gray primer. I don't know what color PRR painted exterior wood walkways, but I think the gray looks OK. I used cardboard paint masks because I didn't want to risk breaking something if I tried to remove the base. For the roof and stairs I used my old bottle of Polly Scale Roof Brown. Except for one small corner, no part of the mechanism touches the visible parts of the stairs, so the paint won't wear off. The Roof Brown is fairly close to the brown of the add-on detail parts.
I used a #17 X-Acto blade to shave off the chimney detail because the "mortar lines" were raised instead of recessed, and just didn't look right. Then I painted the chimney a concrete color, and added a vent pipe made from a small scrap of plastic something or other. The last thing I did was to paint the handrail with silver paint to kill the shine.
I consider myself a high-railer, but it's fun to incorporate a bit of whimsy here and there. Now I'm looking for just the right place to put this.
