Weekend Update 3/3/19

[craigolio1]

Craig:

M-420B looks good and your colours appear very good on my monitor.


This week's work comprised assembly of five additional PGE trailer flatcars from the Briggs Models kit:




A total of twelve new freight cars came home today painted BCR Dark Green so there is now a total of 24 cars here awaiting custom decals.

The replacement short hoods for the RS-3s are also now here and with the M-630 and M-630W having departed my workbench for painting, my attention will return to the RS-3s.


Tim

Thanks Tim. I used the CN Sig Scalecoat I paints.

Can’t wait to see your TOFC cars progress. Mine are on the way.

Craig

[peteski]

This is not the green frog tape. It’s the same colour as the Tamiya. Golden rod? I used it with lacquer based paints. I cut the edge. It sticks better than the blue tape. It’s thin and stretchy like Tamiya and feels like it’s the same type of paper. Regardless of what’s supposed to happen with frog tape, I achieved the result I wanted. I’m sold.

Craig.

I'm glad that it works for you Craig. But i still stand by my original statement. Here is a quote from the Frog Tape (yellow) web page :
https://frogtape.com/products/delicate-surface-painters-tape-yellow-188-in-x-60-yd

Get crisp, clean lines on your next painting project with FrogTape® Delicate Surface Painter’s Tape. How does it work? It’s made with exclusive PaintBlock® Technology, a super-absorbent polymer that reacts with the water in latex paint and instantly gels to form a micro-barrier that seals the edges of the tape to prevent paint bleed. The result is a crisp, professional paint line. Specifically designed to work on delicate surfaces such as fresh paint, wallpaper and decorative projects, this premium grade masking tape is perfect for when you need a lower adhesion level to help prevent surface damage.

[Lemosteam]

Finally finished the PRR B74dR Business car, with exception of road numbers (I cant find 7507 and I will not piece it).

First image shows the 3V button battery holder I was waiting for, connected to the wires:


Next pic shows the fine (6mm L X 4mm H x 2mm T) tiny slide switch I found at one of @peteski 's places, Electronic Goldmine and the switched wire:


The next few pics are with the lights on. They are not as bright as you might think with the 3V battery:

[narrowminded]

Get crisp, clean lines on your next painting project with FrogTape® Delicate Surface Painter’s Tape. How does it work? It’s made with exclusive PaintBlock® Technology, a super-absorbent polymer that reacts with the water in latex paint and instantly gels to form a micro-barrier that seals the edges of the tape to prevent paint bleed. The result is a crisp, professional paint line. Specifically designed to work on delicate surfaces such as fresh paint, wallpaper and decorative projects, this premium grade masking tape is perfect for when you need a lower adhesion level to help prevent surface damage.

I never really heard of that stuff but it might be worth a look.   Cut nicely, place, and maybe wipe down with a damp rag.  Last chance to get the last fuzzies off and seal the edge at the same time.   It does say moisture activates it so acrylics would probably work, too.  I think it could well be worth a look based on the description, and the remarks from a happy camper. 

[peteski]

I never really heard of that stuff but it might be worth a look.   Cut nicely, place, and maybe wipe down with a damp rag.  Last chance to get the last fuzzies off and seal the edge at the same time.   It does say moisture activates it so acrylics would probably work, too.  I think it could well be worth a look based on the description, and the remarks from a happy camper. 

While not mentioned in the description I quoted, I recall reading somewhere that only the original edge is treated with the water-absorbing polymer.  As you said, it will  likely work with water based acrylics.  But IMO it is too much futzing around trying to wet the tape to activate the polymer when using organic-solvent based paints.  When I mask I burnish plain masking tape really well using my fingernail and a toothpick and I don't have any paint bleeding problems.  And if I was really concerned, I woudl spray some of the same color that is under the mask before painting the next color, so if there was any bleeding, it would be the same color as the color under the mask.  Or use clear lacquer for the same purpose. 

[narrowminded]

While not mentioned in the description I quoted, I recall reading somewhere that only the original edge is treated with the water-absorbing polymer.  As you said, it will  likely work with water based acrylics.  But IMO it is too much futzing around trying to wet the tape to activate the polymer when using organic-solvent based paints.  When I mask I burnish plain masking tape really well using my fingernail and a toothpick and I don't have any paint bleeding problems.  And if I was really concerned, I woudl spray some of the same color that is under the mask before painting the next color, so if there was any bleeding, it would be the same color as the color under the mask.  Or use clear lacquer for the same purpose. 

I'm pretty new to painting at the miniature level but recently used the seal with clear trick and it worked perfectly.  I don't know if the tape would have done as well without the clear as I didn't even try.  Went straight to the clear.  As a side note, being newer to the miniature painting, one thing that has surprised me is that the paint buildup burying details isn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. 

[keeper]

Check out Singers micro boxcab:
https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/history/a-look-back-south-bend-s-singer-manufacturing-ran-locomotives/article_74569163-39ea-53aa-9943-b61f4df2ca0d.html

http://www.ericwilliamsblog.com/left-behind-in-elizabeth-the-singer-manufacturing-company-part-1/

This is what I get clicking on the first link:



Really? 

Thomas

[C855B]

... Really?  ...

Yep. If you're in the EU or are using a VPN through an EU exit point, then you're likely to see that or something similar on many U.S.-based sites - particularly news media with ad content - that haven't paid somebody to rejigger the site to meet the new EU online privacy rules. On some sites it may be nothing more than a "we set cookies" warning. It's a big issue - even the Washington Post was down for EU users for several months as they tried to get their advertisers to toe the line. It's a step forward, but has growing pains.

[craigolio1]

I never really heard of that stuff but it might be worth a look.   Cut nicely, place, and maybe wipe down with a damp rag.  Last chance to get the last fuzzies off and seal the edge at the same time.   It does say moisture activates it so acrylics would probably work, too.  I think it could well be worth a look based on the description, and the remarks from a happy camper. 

I simply cut it, applied, burnished with a tooth pic, pushed it down in cracks with the back of a blade, and shot the second colour. No water. No sealing with the same colour or clear. It’s thinnner and more flexible that the blue painters tape, sticks just right, and is a fraction of the cost of Tamiya.  I try not to over think this stuff.  In this case with the method I used it worked and for $15 I have enough product to mask another 275 locos. Works for me.

Craig.

[Mark W]

Not sure why I decided to print out an N Scale wheelchair, but I did. 

You could find a few of these and plenty of shopping carts trashed along the tracks near the end of the line of the California Zephyr.    Here in Nebraska, probably not so much.  But we'll hide one out in the layout anyway. 


https://i.imgur.com/Ia6VfXL.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/nOi3PsK.jpg

[rodsup9000]

Not sure why I decided to print out an N Scale wheelchair, but I did. 

 
 This is just plain crazy.

 Is that printed with clear resin???

 It's just unbelievable how well these printers will print things so small with detail.

[craigolio1]

With the success full test of computer printed masks and Frog Tape yesterday, I got more painting done today. The other M420 and a couple of other models that needed green while I had it out.

Craig

[peteski]

As a side note, being newer to the miniature painting, one thing that has surprised me is that the paint buildup burying details isn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. 

Except for the factory-painted models Made in China! 
If you notice, MTL (USA) and Kato (Japan) never seem to have problem with paint being too thickly applied.

Seriously, if painted without pouring the paint on, then paint thickness should not be a problem, especially when using an airbrush (where one has more control over the painting process).  Then there is the paint itself.  Some paints (like AccuPaint and Tru-Color paint). have very little thickness (body) to them.  I have heard that those are actually inks (not paints).  I do not use water-based paints, but I also understand that some of those will also go on in a very thin layer.

[SP-Wolf]

Time for new shoes



Thanks,
Wolf

[SAH]

Nice weathering job MVM.  And the motorcycle and wheelchair is stunning.  Once again, the photon thingee has put me behind the modeling technology curve.     You guys work out the glitches and I'll jump in later.   

Mama & I went to the Baltimore Museum of Art yesterday to view a traveling exhibition.  Our first time in the nitty gritty of the city.  Coming from the West side we to took the "scenic" route via US 40 East off of I-695 to Charles St and then North to the museum.  Enlightening.

After the museum visit we walked to W36th ST in the Hampden neighborhood.  We visited some of the incredibly hip shops and checked out the bakeries (baked goods are a serious weakness for us both) then had an excellent early dinner at The Food Market.  An enjoyable afternoon.  Nice to be in a vibrant city neighborhood.  Flet like home except we are too old.     Thanks to Ed K. for the dinner recco. 

I've been assembling, painting and decaling some Fine N Scale X31A box cars (PRR & DTI) and Red Caboose flat cars (ACY).  Photos when they are weathered.

I started trying to make something of the IM SS box car today.  So many things bug me about this model.  I think most are fixable.  The 6" overhang of the end panel vs. the sides and the ladder that obscures and otherwise well done paint job are the biggest.  There is room for upgrades in many other aspects as well.



To start I popped the ends off and sliced the sides to match the width of the car body.  So far so good.  We'll see what happens next.


Have a great week.