I have a couple of Milwaukee Road S-3s and would like to paint out the white painted running boards. Is there a good match for the black paint on these engines, or for other Lionel engines for that matter?
Thanks,
Jeff
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I bet you would be happy with magic marker. If not, Testors makes a felt tip paint pen. Choose flat or satin black.
Assuming the white paint is the same used on the cab numbers you might be able to remove it with lacquer thinner. I was skeptical when I first heard of the technique thinking it would damage the underlying paint but it removed it cleanly as seen here:
https://ogrforum.com/t...ng-removal-thank-you
Pete
I agree with Norton - try to remove it. Picking an out of the way place, experiment with goo gone, lacquer thinner, acetone until you find something that works or you exhaust the options you are willing to try. I've successfully done this on a couple of locos.
If that does not work, I would carefully scuff sand only the white with #320 or 400 paper, then mask off everything on the loco (without disassembing anything) except the area you want to change and then use rattle cans. The masking will take much longer than the spraying. The exact best match depends on the loco but I've used flat or satin black from Ace Hardware with good results when I have to repaint newer locos black. Older/flatter ones, a good "barbeque" paint is really, really flat and boiler looking.
One detail in my repainting that I do that I think is important (but don't know because I have never not done it) - I remove the masking within ten minutes of spraying, while the paint is still wet. Long ago I had cases where removing the masking would tear off chunks of the new paint, etc. This is actually the step that has the most potential for screws ups (you get paint from basked areas on your fingers and then transfer it to non-painted areas of the loco as you hold it). It's best to think about this and how you will do it carefully before setting up.
Just a thought but, you might try sand that shiny white off first, then touching it up with Loco Black paint from either Scalecoat of Floquil (if you can find any Floquil). I have done a few older MTH models that way, and the process works well.
And, you can use either my suggestion or Hot's, and if you do not like it, then any of the above ideas will work right on top of the magic marker or Floquil. You can also have a preview for easy and cheap.
In my opinion, the problem with using a black magic marker is, as soon as you happen to touch the edge of the walkway, your fingers might remove some of the black, and that white shows thru again.
Had mine painted out right after I got the engine. Also had the engine weathered because it was going to be used in freight service much like the original. My Lionel S-3 is cab #265, the engine that is now at the Illinois Railway Museum.
My #261, the excursion engine, is a Weaver Model from some ten years or so ago, still runs well, is in the bright, almost shiny paint with the white accented running boards, and is generally found on the head end of a set of K-Line 21" Milwaukee Road cars, all modified to replicate that excursion train.
Which engine do I like the best? The answer is "Yes"!
Paul Fischer
OK thanks for the tip Originally Posted by bob2:
I bet you would be happy with magic marker. If not, Testors makes a felt tip paint pen. Choose flat or satin black.
OK, I'll consider this operation.
Originally Posted by Norton:
Assuming the white paint is the same used on the cab numbers you might be able to remove it with lacquer thinner. I was skeptical when I first heard of the technique thinking it would damage the underlying paint but it removed it cleanly as seen here:
https://ogrforum.com/t...ng-removal-thank-you
Pete
OK, I have several options. Thanks.
Originally Posted by Hot Water:
Just a thought but, you might try sand that shiny white off first, then touching it up with Loco Black paint from either Scalecoat of Floquil (if you can find any Floquil). I have done a few older MTH models that way, and the process works well.
Thanks Paul:
I too have the 265, since I saw it a million times while on display in Milwaukee as I grew up only a few miles from the engine. The 267 is also in my roundhouse, and will receive the same "white out".
Jeff
Originally Posted by fisch330:
Had mine painted out right after I got the engine. Also had the engine weathered because it was going to be used in freight service much like the original. My Lionel S-3 is cab #265, the engine that is now at the Illinois Railway Museum.
My #261, the excursion engine, is a Weaver Model from some ten years or so ago, still runs well, is in the bright, almost shiny paint with the white accented running boards, and is generally found on the head end of a set of K-Line 21" Milwaukee Road cars, all modified to replicate that excursion train.
Which engine do I like the best? The answer is "Yes"!
Paul Fischer
