(READ BELOW) Is this what I have to do to just patch a railroads logo or number? Is there not an easier way? I am not good at painting and just wanted to take a athearn ready to roll loco and patch it…any more thoughts.
Mask the rest of the model, clean the area to be painted by buffing the area very lightly with 1000 to 2000 grit sand paper, followed by one pass with a cotton ball moist (not wet) with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Wait 3 to 5 minutes, paint.
Paint once.
Mix - depends on color
very very little paint on the brush
Polly Scale is good, as are many other brands, the paint will not substitute for care in the job
Use Nitrile gloves, rinse with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol before touching the model. Wa***he shell with Dawn dish washing soap, rinse thoroughly, let dry over night in a protected area. A hair dryer on LOW heat can be used to speed the drying process.
DO NOT TOUCH THE MODEL WITH YOUR SKIN. Paint does not adhere to skin oils.
Of course not, but if you want to do a good job these are excellent steps.
Do you have to mask the whole model. Well no, you could just mask around the area to be painted to define the patch accurately. Protecting the whole model will avoid any mishaps. Masking the patch area accurately will give you a more precise patch rather than a less precise edge painted by eye. I don’t have good enough brush control to paint a perfect line.
Do you have to prep the surface before painting. Well again no, but as is so well pointed out, finger grease, dirt, or even the remnants of a decal can cause the paint to not adhere well and leave you with a poor looking job. The method described to prep is quick and result in a clean surface with some “tooth” for the paint.
The final step of washing and drying the model is essential if you are going to apply decals. But again you do not have to do it, but you may have issues with decals staying put.
This small patch job is so typical of many things in the hobby where good preparation takes far more time than the actual execution. But it make all the difference in the end result.
I personally weather the model first. then I add a piece decal trim film from microscale like a regular decal, then I add the appropriate “patch”, just like the prototype does it.
Next your trackside look at the motive power and rolling stock.
Tom