Painting a 259E tender

Well here is the completed tender, finally!  Things I learned:

1. Using an air brush to paint O gauge is slow and frustrating, learned there were 3 sizes of orifices to the brush, finally switched to #5 which is for heavier paints. like the Hennings gray metallic.  Took 4 coats and the paint is a flat or satin not a high gloss. Harry Henning recommended using a paint sprayer and not an air brush for O and Standard gauge.

2. Used K mart clear gloss to shine it up.  Too powerful and too much paint comes out at once.  Make sure the spray is not too close to item being painted. 

3. I did sand the final two flat coats with a wet sandpaper to take the edge off. Once I put the gloss on it was all smooth.

4. thinning and storing the paint is tricky and cumbersome. You need one bottle for the paint, one bottle for thinner(Naphtha) and then another bottle for storage of the unused paint.  Is there a better way?  

Final results, see for yourself:

 'Lionel Lines' are stick on from Hennings

Not even close on the color match. Engine should be original color

All in all I learned a lot and I now have a tender for the 259E.  It is just an average job but it was the first time in years I used my air brush.  

I was very interested in your thread, Dave.  I have never bought an airbrush because the whole process just seemed like too much trouble.  And I think you have corroborated my opinion!  It looks like you have done a fine job on your tender there;  too bad a closer color match wasn't possible.  But, using spray cans for years, I have had to be satisfied with "close enough" more than once.  Anyway, now you have a nice tender for that fine little engine.  My 259E is one of my best running locos; I love it.

Dave,

   Real nice job on your 259E Tender, matching the original Gun Metal paint is real tough, especially after your 259E Engine has aged and the paint is even harder to match.  Fortunately I now have the original paint on our 259 and Guns is upgrading with her ERR for me.  Very nice job on your tender, I like her a bunch, pick up the right couplers and run your 259E with double tenders, you will have a real special 259E train set with double tenders.

PCRR/Dave