Need help on blackening NWSL N scale wheelsets!

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’ve been having problems trying to blacken the N scale metal wheelsets that NWSL produces. I know that they offer their wheelsets pre-blackened, but was unable to find any in stock and I’ve had to resort to blacken the metal myself using a liquid metal solution called “Blacken It”.

The problems that I’m having are:

1:) When it drying, the metal oxidies into a green color (similar to the oxidation of copper pennies).[xx(]

2:) The color tend to rub off. I’ve tried to clear-coat the wheelset using Dullcoat, but it makes the finish uneven and I’ve had to strip it off using ELO and start again.[V]

3): Finally (and I’ve found out about this the hard way), the blackened wheelsets attack the finish on other blackened surfaces (namely Micro-Trains underframes that have been treated with a blackening chemical sollution).[:(]

So, I’m stuck and I need help! Should I try to take the finish off using a chemical metal cleaner and start again using a different brand of metal blackening agent? Or dip the wheelsets again into the sollution?

Thanks for any advice,
Robyn

2

Ever hear of black paint? Works great.

I’ve never had any luck with any of the chemical blackeners. They always leave an unconvincing finish, or don’t work at all. I’ve even tried commercial gun part blackeners, and none work well.

3

Micro engineering sells a chemical in small quantities that presumably is the same product they use to darken their pre weathered flex track. It is a rusty brown that would look good on wheels. The bottle has directions for dilution and how long to soak. it is shown in the Walthers catalog and sells for about $9 a bottle.
Dave Nelson

4

Yes, painting is a good solution to your problem. weathered black, grimy black, roof brown and rust all look great on wheels. I mix wheel colors around and also paint the truck frames. Personally, and speaking from what I observe on the prototype, I think roof brown and rust are the most realistic colors for the under-carriage, truck frames and wheels.