Hi,

I'm doing a restoration of a flyer 350, using Charles Wood's train enamels.

His blue is a close match but just not "royal blue" enough, like it's off a couple shades. I did not strip the interior for a comparison and, sure enough, the repaint is just a little lighter blue. I've already stripped the shell (outside) to do it again, this time not with a spray can.

Anybody adding something to the paint to get it closer? What might that be and in what ratio to one jar of Wood's royal blue? Also somewhere along the line on the forum at one point I got advice to use one part paint thinner to three parts paint if that sounds right.

Thanks!

Which version of blue? The 1948 version is darker blue than the later 1950 one.
al

Albertstrains is right. I also see SO many people making the same mistake then blaming it on Charles Wood paints. They try to do a partial re-paint on an old piece, and the colors do not match. Old toy train paints change color over time, they will NOT match current batches of paints. Old paint more often is darker than current batches. Some colors are more prone to it than others. If primer is used, it WILL affect the top coat colors. Strip the WHOLE loco and paint all of it with the new paints and you'll not have this issue to bug you.

PRRDave

Yes I get these two points but I think i have a 1948 loco which is the deeper blue and want to tint the paint a little to get is closer to that.

It doesn't bother me if the repaint doesn't match exactly but, since I have the flexibility to tint the paint I was wondering if anybody else had done it successfully.

I just prefer that deeper shade, judging from my first try but that was with a spray can. It was distinctly lighter. Today just primed the shell with a dark grey automotive primer which is a lot darker than the primer I used before.

Anybody have tinting advice?

Thanks!

Check around Walmart or Home Depot for a real good enamel in a spray can. You maybe pleasantly surprised at their offerings.

Humbrol makes/made a dark blue that was almost perfect. I painted some 650 cars to match my loco years ago. the color was right and the hi gloss looked great.

Anyone have a suggestion on how to do a good job repainting the nose "bullseye" stripes?

BTW Valspar "Royal Blue" looks very close.

I would try to find a way to "transfer" the paint onto the nose. Like using the rim of a small glass, maybe a shot glass. Of course you'd have to practice first, on something else. Just a thought.

Richie

Thanks I tried freehanding and it didn't work too well.Tried to figure out how to mask it but couldn't make it small enough. It should not be too hard since Gilbert mass painted them, I'm just stumped.

Brad

quote:

Originally posted by Brad Rock:

...I tried freehanding and it didn't work too well.Tried to figure out how to mask it but couldn't make it small enough. It should not be too hard since Gilbert mass painted them, I'm just stumped.

You could try inking. Roll out the ink properly using a roller, then use the roller on the stripes.

Testor used to make a felt tip paint pen that would do the job but I don't think they make them anymore.

Looking on the web for paint pens I found this:
http://www.markingpendepot.com...=VIEWPROD&ProdID=347

Looks like a similar pen.

Carl

I have purchased Testors paint markers at Michaels. If you have one nearby try looking there.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I used a small pin and used dilute white-out to fill in the cast in rings. Worked fairly well but I will try the paint pen idea.

Brad,
On every restoration I have seen the bullseye feature is usually painted over. I believe american flyer had a tooled rubber stamp, it was dipped in paint and applied using the head lamp hole as a guide locator. I have tried doing this free hand with 'eh' results.
Masking could be done but the line painted is only as good as the mask cut out. and it would have be three mask set ups and paint and dry cycles.
I always threatened to make a rubber stamp...

quote:

Originally posted by J Daddy:
Brad,
On every restoration I have seen the bullseye feature is usually painted over. I believe american flyer had a tooled rubber stamp, it was dipped in paint and applied using the head lamp hole as a guide locator...

Flyer may have used one, but you don't need a special stamp. Get an inking roller and some white ink. Squeeze out a small amount of ink on a flat surface, like a mirror, and roll it out thoroughly flat with the roller. Now, the roller has a uniform amount of ink, and it will hit just the high points of what it's rolled on, such as the lines on the front of the Royal Blue.

Thanks guys. My wife rubber stamps cards so I'm sure she has the ink and rollers.

Let you know how it turns out, I painted over my last free hand attempt, just not satisfied with it.

If anyone wants another Royal Blue project, I have a set here in rough shape I will be selling. It will need total restoration, and I have decided it is not a project I am adding to my list of things to do. Anyone want a project? Email me.. blu_skyz@sbcglobal.net