I have just finished painting and detailing an Erie F3A&B consist and want to make it look as good as the prototype pictures I have.
I know techniques for painting wheel sets by taking them from the trucks first but what does one do with 4-6 axle locomotives?
I don’t think the wheels are easily removed and they don’t turn at all well. I suppose I could try my Kadee truck cleaners to turn the wheels as I lay up a brush but there must be an easier way?
I suppose I have missed this thread someplace [:I] , can anyone shed light? [bow]
This is not true for all manufacturers, but for Athearn Blue Box (and I assume RTR) and All of the Life Like P1K/P2K I’ve seen, the Truck sideframes are removable exposing the wheels. Use a flat head screw driver to gently pry the side frames off. Be careful to not break the stud that holds it on. Other trucks might be a clip that holds the wheels in. In this case their will be clips to pry up with the screw drivers and expose the trucks and gears.
If your diesels are plastic, you should be able to remove the sideframes by prying gently with a small screwdriver. Check the exploded drawing that should have been included with the locos. Most have an integral pin (or two) cast onto the rear face of each sideframe, which is a press fit into the metal sheet which holds the axle bearings.
For other locos, including brass ones, simply remove the body shell and use jumper cables to power the motor directly, then use your brush to paint the wheel faces as they turn.
And contrary to the suggestion about removing wheels from rolling stock for painting, I find it faster to paint them while they’re still in the truck. I did fifty freight cars last week, wheel fronts and backs, plus axles, all in a couple of hours.
Wayne
Well, I have Broadway Limited and Atlas locos so I will look at the schematics and try to gently remove the truck sideframes. [:P]
What color paint do you like to use for wheel sets?
For diesels with friction bearings, some version of black works well, while those equipped with roller bearings are more likely to be rust-coloured. Don’t forget, too, that the wheels are subject to most of the same dirt and grime as the rest of the loco. I think that it’s more important that the wheels get some sort of paint on them rather than simply being left shiny. [;)]
Wayne
I turn the loco wheels up in a cradle and attach power leads to rotate the wheels after I have painted a section. For color I mix equal amounts of Brown rust and weathered black from Joe’s Model Trains in Erie, PA (it’s his track paint).
Duckdogger - that is exactly what I am going to try as I attempted to remove the side frames from this F3A and found that the pickup connections and wiring are also attached. I got one free but think I would have ruined the others.
I like the idea of rust with a little black, thanks. [swg]