I put what I think is a stunning flat finish on my Linechief-Plus-Hudson-bashed-into-a-scale-ATSF-Prairie today: I'll post pictures when its all done, but its the best loco paint job I've ever done. What made the difference was using Rustoleum High Temperature black paint (yes, in a rattle can), as made for barbeque grills. It dries to a really flat finish, very smooth, at least when applied as several light coats, and is nearly black but with just a wonderful trace of cast-iron hue that just screams "iron horse" to me. This is going to be one lovely loco.
Anyway, I have decided I will hand letter the tender and cab numbers and letters, etc. Why? Well, I've never done it- it seems like it would be a challenge, and fun. I've used decals, dry transfers, and even very thin custom-made stick on vinyl letters in the past, with good results (the vinyl letters were by far the best). Never tried to just paint the letters. I bought some quality detail brushes and this was my first attempt tonight, on this old tender from my spare parts box (also painted with the same Rustoleum paint first). TThe lettering is Testors oil-based silver paint, diluted some since I want a slightly weathered look to the lettering, applied with an Aqualon 5/0 watercolor brush with 1/4 bristles. The tender numbers were easy to do and all except the 6 are acceptable - I will revise my 6 a bit when I letter the tender.
I clearly need to get the AT&SF lettering as will go on the cab level but that will be easy (I didn't try that hard here). The ampersand is the real challenge. I really had to study how one is shaped and I got it pretty close the second (rightmost) time, but I still need to practice a few more times. This is all new stuff for me, and I'm encouraged, and so far it is a lot of fun!
