I’ve got one of the new Atlas N scale GP9s here, that I’m painting into Conrail colors. Are there any tricks to painting the handrails and stanchions to keep the paint from scraping off that @%#$#$%@ acetyl plastic, or whatever it is that they make these out of? So far as I know this stiff can’t be glued either, which is always fun when something breaks.
Anyway. Yeah, how do I keep the paint on the handrails, instead of having it scratch off so easily? I’m using Pollyscale, which has to be the oddest smelling acryllic I’ve ever used.
Any of the paints made for those clear bodies the R/C guys use will work well. How-ever, if not done properly, it will flake as well. The secret is to be certain the hand-rail is fully encapsulated with paint. If it’s just on the outside edge, it is still prone to flake off. Brushing does work well, but I’ve found a thinner coat that has been airbrushed on is actually quite durable.
Actually, the trade secret from Weaver’s (S-scale trains) service department is Napa’s (auto parts) # 7223 polyproylene clear primer (flexible bumper primer).
Completely encapsulate the handrails, (spray it on if not attatched or spray some ina container and brush it on), then paint with the paint of your choice, although the Tamia for lexan RC car bodies is best, Polyscale & Modelflex work fine with the primer as well (and you don’t have to mix any colors). Another brand for Lexan bodies is Faskolor.
For Floquil & Scalecoat, apply a coat of the primer, then mix 72% paint and 25% primer and apply.
I have handrails using this process that were done 5 years or more years ago that have not chipped or flaked to this day and I’m not the most gentle handler. One of the Weaver techs showed me a handrail that he tied in a knot with no flaking!
Hate to bump this from this far back, but I just wanted to sy thanks to everyone.
Sadly, I don’t have any of that stuff on hand. For now the railings have gotten a coat of Future floor poli***o help protect the paint. I’ll most likely end up redoing them with the suggestions from this thread, sometime later.
At the recommendation of a friend who does great detailing work, I bought a jar of “Pactra Racing finish” for the handrails on my P2K SCL units. He’s had sucess with it.
For SCL handrails, the RC85 Bright Yellow is an excellent paint match when compared to prototype photos.
I’ve used Testors enamel on mine with good luck.A lot of times you can just get away with useing black and white. (or yellow) For the glue- use a CA adhesive. Regular model glue won’t work.