[switchback]

I bought a used Argyle SPC3 several months ago that had several chips in the paint on the boiler wrapper.  Not being satisfied with the paint, I have been buffing it with different finishing compounds....until I now have large spots where the primer is exposed.  Now I must repaint the boiler wrapper.  My question is...do I remove the boiler wrapper to paint it...or do I mask all the appliances and try to spray paint the boiler while on the locomotive.  I don't know all that is involved in removing the boiler wrapper and am somewhat reluctant to attempt something that may exceed my limited abilities.

Rick 

 

[seadawg]

Rick, I've never seen an Argyle SPC3, so I can not reccommend one method over the other for your specific engine. Judge for yourself if your masking / painting skills are better than your mechanic skills. If it was me, I'd opt for less masking to try to get a more uniform coat without overspray or masking lines.
 
I was very intimidated when I lost a suspension screw inside my boiler jacket on my C-16 and felt I could not operate it without that screw. I took me a couple of weeks to build up the courage to take it apart. I got a bunch of zip-lock bags and a permanent marker and began taking apart things I knew I would be able to put back, keeping the sub assemblies and thier associated screws together (labeling the bags). It wound up be very easy for this loco - basicly remove the cab, disconnect some fittings and the boiler almost fell off.

So do what you are most comfortable and maybe one or two steps past your comfort level and not only will you wind up with a better paint job, you will lean more about your loco.

Just my 2¢ worth.

 

[livesteam5629]

Rick,
Do NOT try to spot paint the wrapper...you will wind up with a worse looking wrapper than you began with. Believe me...experience. Do the following
1. Carefully remove the wrapper. Like Dave keep everything labeled in baggies.
2. Use strip ease or some other paint remover to remove ALL the orginal paint from the wrapper.
3. After stripping wash throughly ....I run mine through the dish washer without telling the wife.
4. Once throughly clean DO NOT touch with bare hands. Use lint free paper towels or surgical gloves (powder free) I put on the surgical gloves then wash my hands with them on to remove the powder. Throughly dry before handeling the wrapper.
5. Go to the Automotive store and buy ETCHING PRIMER. Use this as the primer coat. Let this dry for at least 48 hours. If you want to paint the wrapper black I found that 500 degree temp Low Gloss works great. Other colors are availble. I get mine at NAPPA or Pep Boys. Again after painting let dry for 48 hours then bake off in oven at 200 to 250 for an hour. This hardens the paint. Let it cool in the oven before handeling cause the paint will be soft until cool. My Mason Bogie frame is baking as I write. Wife is not too happy but .....
Hopes this helps
Noel

 

[artgibson]

youtube.com/watch Sea Dawg this is what the SPC3 Argyle looks like

 

[switchback]

Dave and Noel,
Thanks for your advice and encouragement.  I will attempt to remove the wrapper and paint it ...but first, I'm going to take it to ECLSTS and run it one or two times before I take it apart.  

Rick Hammack

 

[seadawg]

Posted By switchback on 03/21/2008 5:15 PM
Dave and Noel,
Thanks for your advice and encouragement.  I will attempt to remove the wrapper and paint it ...but first, I'm going to take it to ECLSTS and run it one or two times before I take it apart.  

Rick Hammack


Rick, I'm planning on making it, but not eating up too much track time. (For the first time I'll be taking my boys along (7 and 11 years old) so I'll be spending my time hearding them around.) I haven't decided what I'm taking but I don't want to be dragging box after box of rolling stock and Locos in from the parking lot. Noel might be showing up (Are you?).

Anyhow I hope to see you there. Here's a photo of my mug at Jim Stapleton's a couple years back running my Bee:

I still look like that if I suck it in a little!     /DesktopModules/NTForums/themes/mls/emoticons/whistling.gif

 

[Taperpin]

Rick,
Best to remove the wrapper and do acomplete repaint..
To remove, [1] take off nut holding front truck,
[2] there are 2 holes in the plate the truck rides on,, put screwdriver through the holes and undo the 2 8ba screws .
[3] remove the smokebox front casting , undo the steam line union inside the smokebox,[3/16th hex]
[4] remove the cab.
[5] ift complete boiler out of the frames.depending on wether its gas or alcohol fired you will need to undo pipes at rear end of cab.

[6] remove the stack, and take off the saddle.[4 10ba nuts on the corners of the cast saddle ] the middle nuts are dumiies.
[7] slide off the smokebox wrapper. undo the boiler band clamps,
[8] the front profile ring retains the wrapper , slide off and the inner boiler will come out , backwards.

The paint finish was.

1 coat epoxy [single pack] etch primer.
3 light coats of a "Ford" grey /blue metallic paint[ [acrylic auto top coat.]
2 coats of clear acrylic auto top coat..

That should keep you out of trouble for awhile!

 

[switchback]

Gordon,
Thanks for the detailed description of the wrapper removal process.  It doesn't seem to be as bad as I thought...and I may be able to do it myself.  Because you provided the primer/paint/top coat sequence, it will look just like the original, which I think is an extremely attractive locomotive.

Rick