I’d like to paint one side of the GT handle red (diverging route) and the other side green (through route). I’ll just be painting the top of the handle. Any advice on how to do this? The Delrin plastic is so slippery that I’m thinking it will be hard to find paint that sticks. Does a primer help?
*** Add-in, Please give brand names if you can. I need to order online.
I used Tremclad rust paint, because I had some open at the time. Still holds after 3 years of handling. I used a file to thin the top of the handle a bit.
Simon
Thank you, Simon! Must a Canadian product? Approximately $33 with about half of that as shipping… Seems that it is a member of the Rust-oleum family so may be a cheaper version here in the States. Will check that out!
I found a reference for Napa # 7223 primer in the forum railwire.net Author reported great success painting plastic hand rails and being able to paint over the primer with Accu-paint or Tru-color. It is available at my local Napa store. May give it a try.
Add in: A trainboard post also reported good results with the Napa 7223 primer and claimed one could paint over with Modelflex or craft acrylic paints.
ADD in 2: Apparently Vallejo surface primer also works on Caboose ground throws.
A good auto primer should also work.
Simon
I used craft paints when I used Caboose throws and it lasted years.
Dave, do remember the company name and product line? Some craft paints are labeled as multi-surface acrylics which may increase the odds of sticking to delrin. I’ll have to take a look around at craft paints in town. They’re cheap enough to try several different ones. Thanks for sharing Dave!
What is with ground throws. Use a GRS machiine!
I paint white first on the throw lever handle end then the red/green over the white which makes the red/green brighter, and I used Tester’s paint pens over the years.
If I remember right, someone used nail polish.
Quick Follow-up I had two bottles of craft paint available to try (Craft-smart and Americana). Paint came off easily with a 10 hour dry time. The multi-surface version might work better but unfortunately not available locally in the desired colors (white, red and green).
PC101 Great idea to use a white background with green or red dot. Will use that idea on my ground throws! Will look for testors pens locally.
Simon Lots of different auto primers out there with a range in price. The Napa 7223 primer has some positive reviews online for uses on a model RR, leaning that direction if I go with a primer.
rrbell Nail polish, an intriguing idea! Will call a friend and see if she is willing to donate a dab of polish to one of my ground throws.
Lion I’m a cat fan and my cat enjoys watching the trains go by. At times he’s tempted to go full Godzilla on the train but he gives the game away with black eyes and a wiggling butt. A sharp no and he resists and goes away sulking. The GRS machine is cool!
I used some cheap paint pens I picked up at Michael’s craft store. I painted one side of the ground throw handle red and the other side green. I have not had to repaint any after several years and several operating sessions where some operators can be a little rough on these ground throws.
I used Testors enamel that is in the little bottles. It has lasted since I painted the ground throw handles 2005.
Joe
Hornblower Thanks for the tip on cheap paint pens at Michaels ($4 these days). I’ll pick some up tomorrow, easiest solution and cheapest!
Joe Thanks for the tip on testor’s enamel paint. Not available locally but could be ordered. A bit more than the paint pens + would need to buy paint thinner. A worthy suggestion!
We’ve had Delrin paint threads before. I recall the recommendation was a primer used by RC car modelers.
EDIT Forum member Zstripe recommended Polycarbonate Paint
Thank you to all who replied to my thread! Lots of different options out there to add throw indication colors to my 12 ground throws. Implementation costs range from $13 to $32. I have decided to go with Vallejo surface primer (VSP) + craft paint due to having the lowest cost and alternative uses in other projects. There will be minimal waste and no product sitting on a shelf waiting for a purpose.
I have listed the price total for the different options below.
Vallejo SP + craft paint $13
Napa 7223 primer + craft paint $15
Michaels color pens + shipping + craft paint $18
Tamiya surface primer + craft paint $19
Testors bottles, thinner, shipping, craft paint $26
Testors paint pens, craft paint $32
You should be fine. You can always do touch-ups from time to time.
Simon
UPDATE: I tried the Vallejo Surface Primer (VSP) + craft paints on a CI ground throw. A moderate single coat of VSP was easy to remove from the ground throw. Three thin layers of VSP, applied a few hours apart, was more durable than a moderate single layer. However, the combination of VSP + craft paint peeled off the ground throw by light probing with a skewer stick. Result: FAIL
For Option 2, I will try JoeinPA’s approach where he cleaned the ground throw thoroughly and then applied Testor’s enamel paint to the handle. The ground throws have retained their enamel paint spots since 2005. Testor’s enamel paint bottles are available on-line at widely ranging prices ($2.69 to over $8). In my searching, Hobby Lobby had the best price.
I’ve already ordered the Testor’s paints and thinner.
I found this comment on a different forum:
“In the April 2006 issue of Model Railroader (page 36) is an article about “Curing chipped handrails”, and it addresses a product called Plastic Adhesion Promoter #SXA 1050. The product is made by Specialty Performance Products.”
Might be worth trying if painting Delrin handrails. My MR’s are not organized, too lazy to search out the article…
My CIGT’s throw lever heads have been painted with Testor’s enamel paints since I started using ground throws, of course it is only me throwing them and who knows how often and which ones have been thrown more or less then others. Saying that, since this posted subject, I just started to scratch with my fingernail to see what happens, well the Testor’s enamal comes off. So the real railroads have to paint and repaint their property do to weather and use why should my equipment be any different. Also my CIGT are of course all within easy reach.
I am going to rub the throw lever’s head with fine sandpaper to ruffen it up some and repaint it, then let it dry for many days then scratch at it just to see what happens.