When bored... paint wheels (VIDEO ADDED)

Looks fine!  Today I've been painting window trim and seats in a passenger car, it's around 20 degrees here in southeastern Va and expecting snow.  I'm still trying to get over the flu, just a dry hacking cough now.  I'm surprised I was able to post as much as I did the past 3-4 weeks.

I like it...a very nice subtle detail.

Looks great. I have some N gauge wheels that need weathering like that if you're still bored.

That looks fantastic. I'm going to give it a try. To bad there is no Hobby Lobby around me... have to check out the internet store.

nice!

Excellently done, the best I have seen yet.  I got to ask, HOW does one get bored in this hobby? 

I bet you can find Testor's paint pens just about anywhere... I know my local ACE has them, or hobby shops.  These just happen to be a CreateFX 3-pack.

 

Joe, bring the N scale stuff over... and a microscope, too!

 

Thanks all!

- Mario

Last winter when I was down and out after back surgery I painted the wheels on quite a number of modern era freight cars. I used Badger Model Flex paint and painted different shades of rust on the wheels. Got it down to a science, spinning the wheels and holding the paint brush to them. Less than fifteen minutes a car. Any new modern cars I buy I paint the wheels. It does make a difference. Also did a few sd70Aces and ES44ACs. I didn't do any friction bearing wheels sets because they usually had more grease than rust on them.   

I'd love to see pictures...

Don't forget the GP30...

 

 

 

Thanks,

Mario

Man, that sure makes a noticeable improvement.

Nice work Mario. I've been doing it the hard way. I like the paint pen approach.

Make sure you clean any oil, etc. off the wheel sides before you paint especially when using water based paint. Painting wheels is worth the effort. 

Maybe I'll take a video of the next one...

 

Thanks,

Mario

I am going to need to get some of those, looks good.

 

Thanks, Black Davy!  I'm trying to better the enjoyment of the hobby by sharing easy-to-do improvements to our trains; sometimes it seems like I'm dragging some people kicking and screaming!

 

Here's a better shot of the interior... just done with a silver paint pen to highlight what's already in there.

 

 

 

Thanks,

Mario

I am more toward the toy train side of the hobby but one member of our club who is scale oriented brought an engine with painted wheels, I think it would look good even on my toy trains. Yours look fantastic.

Ray

I can get that for you - let me send you a few dozen window castings and pack of slip cover glass and you can install the glazing cutting each pane to fit.

 

Ooh, I know!

 

What are bloody fingers?  I started this process as well, on my 0-8-0; that cover glass is thin and sharp!

 

Thanks,

- Mario

 

 

 

Your wheels remind of how I like my bacon cooked... Well Done. 

OK so I am a bit puzzled here. What paint pens did you use on the wheels and on the rails. What do you mean by "dished wheels". Inquiring minds want to know.

How many "flat wheels" have you seen in railroading (and I don't mean flat spots on the tread of the wheel)? All RR wheels had a "dished" wheel plate, for increased strength.

Exactly, thanks HW.

 

Here's the Atlas dished wheels compared to Lionel flat:

 

Atlas: 

 

Lionel: 

 

When you look at the Lionel wheels with the sideframes, you see that they're pretty flat... By using paint, I can highlight the edge and simulate the "dish", as above on the Lionel F3 A & B units.

 

 

 

Compare these to the above pictures after painting. 

 

I used Testor's CreateFX 3-pack on the painted wheels; Rail Brown, Tie Brown and Rust.

 

Thanks,

Mario

Hi Mario,

Great job.

Herb

Looks fantastic. Great idea.

Here's the easy way to paint the wheels... I used a Legacy NYC RF-16 Sharknose for this video, but it can easily be done for any powered unit.  I also removed the sideframes to make it easy to see, but that is not necessary; I did the above painting without removing them.

 

 

Good luck!

 

Thanks,

Mario

Was a little bored too so I painted the wheels on my F3

Looks great!

They really pop!

Great suggestion, Mario. Doesn't take much to make that happen. Having the rollers to run the wheels is a big help. 

 

One suggestion for future videos, next time kill the sound as it will improve the sound quality of your voice over.

 

Ray