Photos of my Repainted C430

[tom]

As posted in one of the original messages of the new Bowser Penn Central C430 I was not satisfied when the paint and graphics of the RTR unit. After some debate I finally decided to completely disassemble the unit, strip it, detail it, and then paint and letter it with Microscale Penn Central decals.

Here is the first shot showing the redone unit. I added Details West Speed Modulators on this side of the unit but broke one during installation so I still have to install another one. I used 0.010" wire for the cables but I think 0.012" would have been better.



Here is another shot. The handrails look much better that I removed the very thick yellow paint on the ends and then applied a thinner coat. The Microscale decals also look a lot better than the Bowser applied lettering plus I was able to model a different locomotive than Bowser offered plus the scheme is correct (only one of Bowsers PC C430s actually has the correct graphics. The handrails are nicely done but I still have to add a little tacky glue to handrail that goes into the back of the cab.



Here is a closer shot of the front of the unit. I replaced the too small horn with a Cary horn with one of the bells removed. The Bowser wipers were replaced with finer A-Line wipers plus the crude Sinclair antenna was replced with a Detail Associates version. Bowser applied thick paint to the class lights so I removed them and left them clear. PC's were colored so I will probably color them later with appropriatly colored Sharpee's.



Here is the other side. Bowser did a great job on those Hi-ad trucks and a letter weathering really brings out te details. While I had the cab interior out I repainted it from the pale yellow to gray and then painted the seats black.




On the front of the unit I removed the crossover platforms since the NYC/PC C430s did not have them. I also added a real grabiron to the front of the pilot since Bowser just had a painted line here.



Bowser did a pretty good job on these but they could have gone just a little further. However because of the sturdiness of the unit and good engineering the unit was able to be disassembled, redone, and then reassembled without any real problems. With the Microscale decals, new paint job, some new details, and finally some weathering I am very happy with the C430. This is one of those engines that I thought would never be done in plastic. My C430 looks and operates great with my Atlas C425s pulling a long coal drag.

[TBird1958]

It came out real nice, dirty black is awesome, that loco looks like it's all business! The contrast really brings up the model's detail, especially the trucks. Did you add the sand lines as well?

[edwardsutorik]

Nice! Very nice!



Ed

[wmcbride]

That's a beautiful job.

How hard was the "glass" to get out? I'm thinking of stripping one of mine.


Bill McBride

[tankcarsrule]

That's a super looking loco! Your additions brought it to life.

Regards, Bobby

[theengineshed]

Well done! Really looks the part.

[mlehman]

Outstanding!

You can buy pretty nice RTR these days. But you still have to do it yourself to really stand out.

[alcoc430]

I would say you are a gluten for punishment, but there is no argument for the results. Awesome!

[tom]

Thanks!

The window glass was not too hard to remove but getting to it took a little while plus some courage as working on a detailed RTR engine can be a little scary. However removing the handrails (but not the front and rear ones) started easily enough so I just continued. The cab was the hardest part but once I release the tabs below the walkway assembly it came off OK. The cab interior connects to side window moldings but can just pop off. The windows are glued on but once I got a screwdriver under them the glue gave away so the windows then were able to be removed. I also removed the headlights, number boards and class lighte.

While I may be a glutten for punishment I turned an expensive engine that I was not entirely happy with into a locomotive that I am now very pleased with!

[wmcbride]

Tom,

Thanks for the details on the glass. That often is where I chicken out especially since replacement parts are a thing of the past.

Again, it's a really nice job since it looks so well done even with such large photos which can magnify any wart or mis-step.

Bill McBride

[trebor]

Yeah, looks more "railroad" than all those DISCO clean super fleet or heritage units. Even though I've seen many dry brushed weathering jobs, a light and subtle airbrush job is still more in my limited capabilities. Great job.

Did you use 2 shades of "black" for frame and body? If it was a NYC original factory painted and relettered, then it would be all black. There were reports that PC even used a frame black and a body black or Brunswick.

[markfj]

Great work as usual Tom! Are you going to add the chain that runs from the tube to the truck on the conductor’s side?

Regarding the distinction between the body and frame color, I recall reading that Dark Green Locomotive Enamel (DGLE) aka Brunswick green was a mix of one part dark green to three or four parts black applied to the body while the frame was pure black. Apparently, the one part green paint contained a rust inhibitor that the three or four parts black lacked. This information was claimed to come from an actual paint shop mixing instruction. However, do not quote me on this; it is only something I read on the internet. The whole “DGLE/Brunswick green, is it black or not debate”, is open to conjecture. Some claim that only new PC units were painted with two different colors with inherited NYC/PRR units getting pure black.

Personally, for repainted units I believe that the paint crews were likely overworked and probably more than a touch dismayed (if not disgruntled) about the merger and financial state of the railroad, so they painted using whatever colors was available at the shop regardless of instructions.

[Canadian Atlantic]

Knowing what you started with and seeing the difference after is quite impressive. Nice overall look of the weathering. It looks like the typical ALCO of the era.

[Amboy Secondary]

Feb 13, 2014 17:06:42 GMT -8 markfj said:

Great work as usual Tom! Are you going to add the chain that runs from the tube to the truck on the conductor’s side?

Regarding the distinction between the body and frame color, I recall reading that Dark Green Locomotive Enamel (DGLE) aka Brunswick green was a mix of one part dark green to three or four parts black applied to the body while the frame was pure black. Apparently, the one part green paint contained a rust inhibitor that the three or four parts black lacked. This information was claimed to come from an actual paint shop mixing instruction. However, do not quote me on this; it is only something I read on the internet. The whole “DGLE/Brunswick green, is it black or not debate”, is open to conjecture. Some claim that only new PC units were painted with two different colors with inherited NYC/PRR units getting pure black.

Personally, for repainted units I believe that the paint crews were likely overworked and probably more than a touch dismayed (if not disgruntled) about the merger and financial state of the railroad, so they painted using whatever colors was available at the shop regardless of instructions.

First, Great job Tom. Looks great.

Concerning the paint. I believe the "Standard" was black, with white lettering, and yellow on handrails at steps. Having said that, Each locomotive shop used what they had on hand, or what the Altoona Storehouse sent them, therefore, some locations did black frame, DGLE body, others were black on black. Cab interior color was generally gray in newer cabs, and a version of PC green in older units. Lettering and numerals were determined by stock on hand, and sometimes the mood of the General Foreman. Even GG1 color schemes varied, and they were all maintained at the same location.
Check photos for individual units.

Joe

[tom]

I painted my model using a 50/50 mix of ModelFlex Gloss Black and Polly Scale Steam Power Black which is baically black. Weathering changes the tone of the color. On my actual model the weathering is more distinct than in the photos.

While there has been a lot of discussion if Penn Central used DGLE or black but looking at freshly painted PC units (either factory painted or by a Pc shop) they always look pure black to me. Freshly painted PRR locomotives show a hint of green that is not present in PC units.