Thoughts on dulling the shiny trucks on the Menards Santa Fe locomotive

Silver paint? I found Tamiya silver to work well and easy to use. B unit trucks painted with Tamiya.

Pete

Why in the world did Menards think plating underframe parts on a loco is a good idea?

Silver spray paint is the best way to go. Remove the sideframes and spray them. Tamiya is excellent spray paint.

Paint doesn't adhere well to plated surfaces. Brush paint doesn't cover evenly or adhere as well as spray paint (just my opinion).

Ken

As Norton says...Silver paint. Dullcote is clear and will not do what you are thinking it will.

No idea on the idea or the expense to plate these trucks!

Thanks all, I am convinced to avoid the dullcote.  Off to the local hobby shop today to find some Tamiya silver. 

I painted mine using a Best Hardware spray can in “aluminum “ color…that pretty much matched the trucks on the Lionel B unit that I added.

@UKE KAT posted:

I painted mine using a Best Hardware spray can in “aluminum “ color…that pretty much matched the trucks on the Lionel B unit that I added.

This one?

https://www.doitbest.com/shop/...ray-paint?SKU=780131

John

@Craftech posted:

This one?

https://www.doitbest.com/shop/...ray-paint?SKU=780131

John

Yes…That looks like the same one…

@hokie71 posted:

...However, I would like to dull the locomotive trucks... (I realize I may be costing myself thousands in doing this since these diesels are collector's items.)

Wait, what? Are these diesels the ones that were just recently released? If so, weren't they a few hundred bucks? 🤔

Mark in Oregon

Costing yourself thousands…  A cheapo Menards toy train engine is a collectors item…  It’s almost too funny, but good luck with all that.

@Strummer posted:

Wait, what? Are these diesels the ones that were just recently released? If so, weren't they a few hundred bucks? 🤔

Mark in Oregon

and... @William 1, That was tongue in cheek!  Like these are collector items, probably NOT.  However, as we all know, stranger things have happened in our lives.... I think I paid less than $200 including shipping.

@hokie71 posted:

and... @William 1, That was tongue in cheek!  Like these are collector items, probably NOT.  However, as we all know, stranger things have happened in our lives.... I think I paid less than $200 including shipping.

Oh, okay my bad.  😊 As you said "stranger things have happened...", so I thought there might some day, somehow be a run on these things... you never know...🙂

Mark in Oregon

I used dullkote on mine. I wasn't trying to match silver/ aluminum trucks,  just wanted to knock down the shine.

4 screws hold the frames on. At least you dont have to remove the trucks to get at them.

A few days late but here are the results of Tamiya plus dullcoat on top.  Thanks to all for the ideas and suggestions.  (I need to do the step ladder too!)

@hokie71 posted:

A few days late but here are the results of Tamiya plus dullcoat on top.  Thanks to all for the ideas and suggestions.  (I need to do the step ladder too!)

Looks nice. Will you do the fuel tank as well? Did you use primer? Let us know how well it holds up.

Glad it worked out okay for you. If you bought the Menard's engine to actually run as an engine then the collectability or not won't be an issue, if you want that as a 'collector's item', keep it in the box, untouched and hope like I am sure some people do, that it will be a 'scarce collector item' in the future and don't run it. Yeah, I realize that Lionel's prototype units and one offs can be valuable (prob only post war stuff that is these days), but once Menards produces these engines, likely they aren't going to be collectors items except in some people's dreams of glory who bought them hoping to make a killing *shrug*. 

@BobbyD posted:

Looks nice. Will you do the fuel tank as well? Did you use primer? Let us know how well it holds up.

I did not use a primer, the Tamiya went directly on the trucks. I probably will do the fuel tank area and the "cow catcher" too to match everything.

@hokie71 posted:

A few days late but here are the results of Tamiya plus dullcoat on top.

Looks nice Paul.  You said this is Tamiya silver and dullcote.

Can you post a closeup so we can see it better?

Thanks,

John

@hokie71 posted:

I did not use a primer, the Tamiya went directly on the trucks. I probably will do the fuel tank area and the "cow catcher" too to match everything.

I think it came out great looking. Through bitter experience I have learned to use a good primer when painting over something where I didn't know what the paint or material was underneath, had too many cases where paint ended up bubbling or not working right. Doesn't mean I don't get lazy and not use (and sometimes regret it), but I try

@Craftech posted:

Looks nice Paul.  You said this is Tamiya silver and dullcote.

Can you post a closeup so we can see it better?

Thanks,

John

Here is a blown up and cropped view- may be clearer.  You can see the original finish more or less in the step ladder. I think you can download it and expand it on your computer too.

@bigkid posted:

I think it came out great looking. Through bitter experience I have learned to use a good primer when painting over something where I didn't know what the paint or material was underneath, had too many cases where paint ended up bubbling or not working right. Doesn't mean I don't get lazy and not use (and sometimes regret it), but I try

Good point, I probably (I hope so far) dodged the bullet in assuming there was no oil film or similar on the parts I sprayed.

@hokie71 posted:

Good point, I probably (I hope so far) dodged the bullet in assuming there was no oil film or similar on the parts I sprayed.

There also can be incompatibility with the kind of paint used, as well, some paints don't play well together , have seen this more and more over the years.