Repainting a HO Scale Fishbowl Bus

Hi Kevin. Can the model be disassembled? If not, I would think you would have to do some serious masking on the windows. You could wash the bus in warm water and Dawn, and let dry. I would paint with a primer first, let that dry, and then paint the finish color with the same paint manufacturer, making sure they were plastic compatible.

I’ve been using Rustoleum plastic compatible rattle cans with good results, as long as you keep the coats light, and follow directions on the can as far as re-painting.
I think some of the other forum members might improve on my advice. Good luck, and let’s see those results!

Aw Kevin, you have your work cut out for you!... My recommendation would be wipe down with a spray of alcohol on soft rag. Then your best bet, would be old fashioned Testors model enamel.  Use a soft brush, and try and get the longest stretch before loading the brush again.  Take your time. 

Now, any professional painter will tell you, primer and paint in the same can does not really work.  If you decide to spray, Use a primer, primer.  Let that dry one full day.  Then you final top coat. Let that dry for one full day.  Get yourself some blue painters tape, and cut with a small scissors and cover any areas and windows. (This will be the most tedious)  However, it is well worth the effort.

And Kevin, you should copy this thread and post it on the car lovers,  "Automobiles/ Trucks 1/43-1/50 scale let’s see them"

Plenty of professional car & truck builders.  And everyone will love the buses and you renovation........... And plenty of tips The OP has been building and painting  plastic trucks and cars, 1/43, 1/48 for 40 years.......... I look forward to his recommendation on painting your bus...  🤩 Either way, I'll be watching'... I love those buses'.. and the ones ten years older'.. when I was a youngster'...🧒🏽

Thanks gentlemen.  I will let you know if I go through with it or just buy another green one.

Kevin, go through with it.  Great destresser after a tough day at work'..

It turns out that Iconic Replicas (the same company that made the O Scale 2 fishbowls that I currently have) produces in HO Scale the Flxible version of the "New Look" bus, and specifically the two-tone blue used in New York City.  https://www.iconic-replicas.co...ew-york-city-87-0238.

The Flxible had sharper angle windows compared to GM's rounded windows and I'm glad to see that it is also available, so I will procure one off the secondary market.  End result, I will not be repainting the green HO fishbowl by to the two tone blue and will purchase the ready made one by Iconic Replicas.  I might also get their O Scale version of White & Blue fishbowl bus that the MTA changed the colors to in the late 70's now that I see one is made.  https://www.iconic-replicas.co...-in-a-series-43-1081.  The "New Look" buses will always have a place in my heart.

And here is a photo of the newly arrived HO Scale Flxible bus in the blue livery to go next to the GMC version.

Ahhh, fond memories of the rotting big apple of the 70s

Wow, Kevin, very cool... They say O scale is twice the size of HO, for some reason it looks larger, and the HO version looks smaller'...😃

@Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

Wow, Kevin, very cool... They say O scale is twice the size of HO, for some reason it looks larger, and the HO version looks smaller'...😃

Ted, yup, it's twice the size, but also twice the size on all 3 dimensions thus the mass is technically 8 times as large.