01-10-2010, 11:44 PM
Thanks, Gary. 
The n/b/w detail is from the cast-on grabs that were on the car. I simply shaved off the grabiron part, using a modified X-Acto #17 chisel blade, re-scored the board detail with a #11 blade (one pass with the cutting edge, one pass with the back of the blade) then drilled for the wire grabirons. The car was an unpainted one, so no issue with matching the factory paint. You can't see it in that photo, but I didn't bother with the grabs on the car's ends, and usually don't. The one below is an exception, one of three highly modified Train Miniature cars which got re-built sides, new underframes, ends, doors, and roofwalks, along with the full grabiron treatment:
![[Image: 2007-01-10231.jpg]](http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/doctorwayne/freight%20cars/2007-01-10231.jpg)
I was looking for a picture of a car like the DSS&A car, but with factory paint, but can't seem to locate one. Anyway, the procedure is the same as for the unpainted car, then, after the grabs have been installed, I brush paint them, and also touch-up the areas where the grabs were removed. Often, I use the same paint to randomly re-coat various boards or groups of boards along the car's length - boards were routinely replaced when damaged and usually only the new boards got new paint. After any necessary modifications have been done to the lettering, I then use my airbrush to weather the cars in the usual manner. This doesn't hide the touch-ups completely, but it does help to make them look as if they really belong there.
Wayne
The n/b/w detail is from the cast-on grabs that were on the car. I simply shaved off the grabiron part, using a modified X-Acto #17 chisel blade, re-scored the board detail with a #11 blade (one pass with the cutting edge, one pass with the back of the blade) then drilled for the wire grabirons. The car was an unpainted one, so no issue with matching the factory paint. You can't see it in that photo, but I didn't bother with the grabs on the car's ends, and usually don't. The one below is an exception, one of three highly modified Train Miniature cars which got re-built sides, new underframes, ends, doors, and roofwalks, along with the full grabiron treatment:I was looking for a picture of a car like the DSS&A car, but with factory paint, but can't seem to locate one. Anyway, the procedure is the same as for the unpainted car, then, after the grabs have been installed, I brush paint them, and also touch-up the areas where the grabs were removed. Often, I use the same paint to randomly re-coat various boards or groups of boards along the car's length - boards were routinely replaced when damaged and usually only the new boards got new paint. After any necessary modifications have been done to the lettering, I then use my airbrush to weather the cars in the usual manner. This doesn't hide the touch-ups completely, but it does help to make them look as if they really belong there.
Wayne