Repainting an IHC Crane and boom car

[cnrglen]

I was recently given this:

   

To repaint into this:

   

I also have to rework both the crane and boom car to convert them from truck-mounted horn-hook couplers to body mounted Kadees. 

Wish me luck.....

[FiatFan]

I've seen your work. You are an excellent modeler. You don't need luck, just time.

Tom

[LiveSteamer]

Glen, I’m sure it will turn out great. Good to see someone else repainting one. Mine is almost finished that I did.

[cnrglen]

Change of plan:

   

I found an Athearn Crane and idler car at an estate sale that is a much better model than the IHC. This also has frame mounted couplers that the customer wanted. I've been disasembling it and getting it ready for paint.

     

And while I was at the sale another modeler bought a second Crane and idler car that he wants me to paint in Northern Alberta Railway. I'm still looking for good photos and decals for that one. In the meantime, I'll be working on the Canadian National version.

[cnrglen]

Dissasembly and primer over the last couple days.
   

I took the crane and tender apart, mostly. I removed the carbody but left the mechanism together as I can't remove the swivel assembly since it was glued together. 
Everything took a swim in isopropyl alcohol for a day or two. 

   

I then airbrushed a light gray primer from Vallejo on everything. I masked the inner cab mechainism before painting. I'll leave this unpainted since it will be inside the carbody and I don't want the winches being gummed up.

[ngauger]

That looks great, all primed!

[nachoman]

I've got one from the early 1980s, probably a life-like, and the crane looks similar to the Athearn, but the boom car is completely different. I am enjoying watching your progress.

[cnrglen]

Thanks. There are a number of crane models out there I perfer the Athearn model since it is designed to be taken apart for repainting or customization. I have one myself, but I built (kitbashed) my own idler car, based on a Canadian National prototype:
   

I used a Rivarossi combine that I cut down the passenger compartment to accomadate the crane boom.

   

Getting back to the project at hand. I started to look at the back of the crane's body:

   

I had two issues with it. One, the crane had been dieselized so the was no reason to have the large coaling doors in the rear, as well as the cast-in ladders. Two all these detail would make masking the black and white lines very difficult so I sanded the back smooth:


   

Then a quick repaint in both primer and then white