I want to attempt to paint the stair sills like in the proto but really not sure how to go about it. I'm wondering if there is a way to do this without painting everything around it that I'm not aware of. Thanks! Also just realized only 2608 is correct with the white face... hmmm
Pick up a package of Testors microbrushes. These will help you be able to get those little yellow stair stripes on, and you can even fix up 2596's white face by painting half of it black, like the prototype, too.
Do the best you can with the smallest brush you can, but don't necessarily panic. When you're done and the paint is dry, take an Xacto #2 blade and simply run across the top and bottom edge of the step face to even up the edge. Works great, particularly on delrin-type material.
And an arts supply store or a Micheals Craft store and get the very fine point brushes. Almost come to a needle point. When you shake up the paint and open it just go from the lid for a very small amount and almost dry brush it on or keep a paper towel nearby to soak excess from the brush.
I echo Randgust's advice... First...are these Kato units?...disassemble to the walkway/railing stage...don't necessarily need a fine 'tip' brush...a long 'thin' bristle brush is preferred.... next...use acrylics!...the whites and yellows may need two light coats....but no worries... use the back of an Xacto knife, or better yet, a chiseled toothpic end to chisel and scrape away any gaffs (the wood of the toothpick won't scratch the plastic...also, the delrin plastic of the walkway/railing assembly will allow the acrylic paint to be scraped away w/o leaving a paint residue (Delrin REALLY doesn't 'like/want' to be painted!) Have fun...(it's not as hard as it seems) Sincerely, Bruce
I would echo Sandro. I used to paint the real detailed parts of my 1/72 airplane models using just a toothpick, one end with paint, the other end to scrape it away. Works well with any paint type. Saves trying to maintain those needlepoint extra-fine paint brushes.
Only white anyone's talked about is the white face around the windows not extending all the way down on 2 of his 3 locomotives.
I said 'whites and yellow'...referring to the amount of paint needed to paint the ends of loco steps...as almost all locos these days use either white or yellow for this safety feature...I'm speaking generically about 'how to' paint loco end steps...not JUST specifically these particular NS units, which, of course, use yellow... Without airbrushing...black is notoriously hard to cover with white OR yellow by hand brushing, especially when using a small bristled brush, or toothpic as stated above, with only one coat....especially if one desires the loco to look 'fresh'... Now, since the title of the thread is "What is the best way to paint stair sills"...I made the assumption that this thread could be beneficial for painting stair sills 'other than yellow' as well...the technique would be just as similar for a UP engine with white sills, as well as the NS units pictured, which of course have yellow sills... I apologize if I confused anyone with my answer... Sincerely, Bruce
I've used decal stripes for step edges, but that's not necessarily easier than painting them. Either way, you need good magnification, patience, and a steady hand.
I am familiar with the Micro Brushes mentioned above. Even the smallest will be too large. I would go with Randgust's suggestion.
2599 and 2608 had the white face when they entered service in to 2003 but had lost it within the year; 2596 doesn't appear to have ever worn the the full white face
Take the units apart and take the steps and walkways piece out of the sill. Now don't bent it so it sits like a rainbow when re assembled. Take a saftey pin and carefully paint one step edge at a time!!! I have learned don't hurry youre less likely to mess up doing this... Use a saftey pin and keep it cleaned off. Wait until each layer is dry.
HI the pics. that i have looked at shows the white paint did not hold up well and flaked off accept across the top.
Put me down for decal stripes too. I can't hand paint worth a dime and this gives me the control I want. The time it takes is small compared to the rest of the work I like to do on a loco so it's not a factor. But I agree that it's not for everyone. Here is a sample:
