Need a recomendation for paint for my PRR M1a mountain for the smokebox. I prefer a water based paint for airbrushing, rather airbrush it than paint it on with a regular brush. I painted the rest of the boiler with Badger Brunswick Green and my harbor freight special deluxe airbrush, turned out nice! Mike
I make my graphite color with a mixture of Pollyscale “engine black” and “bright silver” with a few drops of earth brown. I don’t have a mixing ratio since the graphite color seemed to vary from locomotive to locomotive, but It’s probably somewhere around 70-30 or 60-40, silver to black.
Mike
Depending on the year you model most PRR locos were all DGLE with the red oxide cab roof and apple green cab interior. It was almost the twilight of steam when they started with the graphite smoke box and very few locos got that treatment. Heat blistering of the paint was not a real concern with the railroad due to the fact that they were built with some thick lagging around the smoke box. Tapered boilers had little or no lagging on the smoke box and paint would blister off quickly.
Pete
So I am safe to paint the smokebox DGLE, while the year of the future layout isnt set, the M1 isnt modernized, she still carries her generator up by the stack and has the 4 marker lights on the front, 2 up near the stack and 2 on the pilot deck. Speaking of those, what color jewels should they get. I am familiar with what green, white and red class lights indicate, but with PRR having 2 sets on the front, did they carry the same indications. I have see guys put clear on the top set, and either red or amber to the front and amber to the sides on the pilot deck lamps. She will have the 2 sets of claw foot lamps on the front and one pair on the tender, those getting red lenses of coarse. Thanks Mike
I have the 1927 Painting Specs for the PRR and they state the smokebox and ashpan are to be Graphite and Oil, DGLE is used on the cab, boiler, tender cistern, drivers, pilot, and pilot and trailing truck frames. Black is to be used on the tender frame, tender trucks including wheels, pilot and trailing truck wheels, engine frame, and running boards. Red Oxide is used on the tender deck and coal space in the tender. The cab roof is painted with three coats of paint, first red oxide, second, 75% red oxide and black and final 50% red oxide and black.
I use Scalecoat Paints on metal models exclusively. Their Graphite and Oil is the best representation for smokeboxes and ashpans.
Rick
With budgetary constraints, I painted it DGLE but with a drop of two of silver in it. While not completely correct, once weathered it will look fine. I got the boiler brass details installed, handrail installed and the engine back together. When funds permit, the marker lights ect will get bought and installed. I also plan on trainphone antennas on the tender. Mike