Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Painting Plastic Railings

0 views
Skip to first unread message

Booker1067

unread,
Jan 20, 2001, 11:57:06 AM1/20/01
to
In the last couple of months, I have purchased some Atlas and Walthers
Locomotives with the plastic formed handrails, and presently all my reference
books are boxed up pending a new move in the next few weeks which I know have
the how to information on painting these handrails. Till I can un-box the
books and re-connect my reference library in my spare computer could one of you
out there in cyber land pass along the proper paint type for these flexable
units to use so the paint doesn't flake off when they are moved. Many thanks I
want to do a little experamenting have 7 GP-15's awaiting to be detailed and
painted Missouri Pacific colors and don't want to mess up the handrails...
Again thanks for any information.

Michael McIntyre

unread,
Jan 20, 2001, 7:26:49 PM1/20/01
to
>want to do a little experamenting have 7 GP-15's awaiting to be detailed and
>painted Missouri Pacific colors and don't want to mess up the handrails...
>Again thanks for any information.

I think about any paint you use will flake off if you flex them too
much. No paint sticks that well to delrin. It seems to have an
inherent oily quality that makes the adhesion of any kind of paint
pretty iffy. It's best if you can avoid handling the paint, which is
of course impossible with handrails...

For best results, rough up the plastic with really fine sandpaper (not
so easy on handrails, I know) and spray the paint. If you brush it,
it's much more likely to come off in sheets.
---
D. Michael McIntyre | mmci...@swva.net | USDA zone 6a in sw VA

Vote for America's National Tree: http://arborday.org

Mike Epler

unread,
Jan 20, 2001, 8:49:49 PM1/20/01
to

I can't remember the name of the hobby shop right now, but somewhere
out in the pacific northwest there is a shop that has a delrin special
paint formula. Not many colors, but the colors typically found on
handrails. I'll see if I can find it in my archives for you.......

Mike

Rusty Keeney

unread,
Jan 20, 2001, 10:22:31 PM1/20/01
to
On 20 Jan 2001 16:57:06 GMT, booke...@aol.com (Booker1067) wrote:

Tamiya works fairly well - I haven't had any flake off, but it will
scratch off

TOM

unread,
Jan 21, 2001, 11:05:47 AM1/21/01
to
Mike Epler wrote:
>
> I can't remember the name of the hobby shop right now, but somewhere
> out in the pacific northwest there is a shop that has a delrin special
> paint formula. Not many colors, but the colors typically found on
> handrails. I'll see if I can find it in my archives for you.......
>
> Mike

Mike,

I seem to remember someone, maybe on this group, (Chuck Furlong?)
mentionined using fingernail polish...

I wonder why they call it "polish" when it doesn't polish the
fingernails (except for clear) but colors (colours) them. The world is
full of mysteries... :>))

<><><> TOM <><><>
-----------------

Trainman

unread,
Jan 21, 2001, 9:33:55 AM1/21/01
to

TOM <tom...@home.com> wrote in message news:3A6B08D...@home.com...

In England they call it Fingernail varnish.

FWIW, this IS one application where I think ANY "solvent based" paint would
probably work better than an enamel or acrylic.

Don


--
don.de...@prodigy.net
http://www.geocities.com/don_dellmann
moderator: WisMode...@eGroups.com
host: MRP...@eGroups.com


Christian

unread,
Jan 21, 2001, 1:09:18 PM1/21/01
to

| FWIW, this IS one application where I think ANY "solvent based" paint
would
| probably work better than an enamel or acrylic.


No. Acrylics remain flexible and stretchy.

CTucker
NY


ls...@my-deja.com

unread,
Jan 21, 2001, 5:29:36 PM1/21/01
to
In article <20010120115706...@ng-cj1.aol.com>,
> I think they are a real pain. Give me metal anytime - they are also
more durable. I think nothing looks worse than deformed plastic
handrails and they are very easy to deform. At least manufacturers are
now starting to produce them in the appropriate colour although they
still look like plastic. I always spray mine with Testors Dullcote
before dry brushing some weathering on them. Providing one is careful
that works reasonably well, possibly because the dry brushing only in
effect puts a thin stain on them. I have a Kato Dash 9 in BNSF livery
and unfortunately the handrails are produced in black and as far as I
am aware they should be green (Kato apathy?). I have been putting off
tackling these for a long time. I amgoing to try the dry brush
technique again in the hope that I can in effect give the impression of
them being green without having to spray the whole lot and then watch
it flake off. With a bit of mild weathering as well I may get away
with it. Of course it would be nice if Kato were to produce some spare
handrail sets in the right colour but I expect the earth would stop
spinning on its axis if that happened. Yellow and white areas around
steps are a problem.

Steve
Worcestershire
England


Sent via Deja.com
http://www.deja.com/

JHBRIGHT

unread,
Jan 21, 2001, 5:54:29 PM1/21/01
to

CTucker >>

Plasti-kote makes a flexible bumper and trim adhesion promoter which is
available at automotive parts stores like Pep Boys. They claim it bonds to all
plastics. It comes in a spray can, is clear and very thin. I brushed some on to
the railings and then sprayed them with an acrylic that I was using for
weathering. The acrylic would still scrape off but not as easily as before. As
for acrylic--it won't stick to much of anything anyway so if you use the
automotive paint designed for flexible surfaces it might hold up fairly well.

J. Bright

Trainman

unread,
Jan 21, 2001, 5:59:39 PM1/21/01
to
I was thinking something like Floquil would mildly "etch" the delrin giving
a little better adhesion.

Don


--
don.de...@prodigy.net
http://www.geocities.com/don_dellmann
moderator: WisMode...@eGroups.com
host: MRP...@eGroups.com

Christian <ctuc...@rochester.rr.com> wrote in message
news:iBFa6.145135$_G5.19...@typhoon.nyroc.rr.com...

Booker1067

unread,
Jan 23, 2001, 7:35:32 AM1/23/01
to
Many thanks for all the replies I've gotten on this subject, and what a wide
variety of answers they were, one of the best, but not the one I prefer to use
was. "Just remove them and throw them in the trash where they belong, then make
new ones out of brass". Ouch. Thank goodness I still have some time to
consided all these options and maybe find another answer.

Dave B

unread,
Jan 24, 2001, 3:30:12 PM1/24/01
to
[This followup was posted to rec.models.railroad and a copy was sent to
the cited author.]

In article <20010123073532...@ng-ba1.aol.com>,
booke...@aol.com says...

Bondo Billy (I think) recommended going to an auto shop and finding some
polymer material that is designed to be added to paint to increase it's
flexibility for covering tight curves and other similar problems. He had
tried it and it worked in model paints too.

If you can search deja news using Bondo Billy and paint you might find
the reference post again.

Sorry I can't remember what it was called.

Dave

--
_________________________________________
http://southern-railway.railfan.net/ay/
http://smrf.railfan.net/SMRF/
http://cvrr.railfan.net/cvmrr/

Joe Jefferson

unread,
Jan 27, 2001, 2:00:33 PM1/27/01
to
Booker1067 wrote:
>
> Many thanks for all the replies I've gotten on this subject, and what a wide
> variety of answers they were, one of the best, but not the one I prefer to use
> was. "Just remove them and throw them in the trash where they belong, then make
> new ones out of brass". Ouch.

If you know how to solder that might not be a bad option. And remember,
handrails are usually much simpler on steam locomotives!

--

Joe of Castle Jefferson
http://www.primenet.com/~jjstrshp/
Site updated October 1st, 1999.

"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the
poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the
hand of the wicked." - Psalm 82:3-4.

0 new messages