Update 10/4:
Well, it has taken two weeks to fix my painting mistake and that bad decision in not researching Krylon compatibility with Scale Coat II made a very memorable photo. With Acetone on a rag I scrubbed the wrinkled Scale Coat II paint off the aluminum shell. Then, thoroughly cleaned the chrome shell with 91% alcohol. The next step was re-applying a fresh coat of Tamiya primer to the clean shell (again).
That bad choice may have made a memorable photo but I learn from my mistakes. This time around I’m going back to painting with Tru-Color Amour Yellow #TCP-026 and Tru-Color Harbor Mist Gray #TCP-025.
After waiting 24-hours for each color to dry, I crossed my fingers and sprayed with Krylon gloss. Success! I now have a high gloss finish on this shell to make the Microscale decals blend in better.
The next step is to apply the correct decals for the year I’m modeling. I picked how the Pacific Shore would have looked in Union Pacific service between the years 1952 and 1969. Microscale decal sheet #48-114 was used for the red stripes. Microscale sheet #48-195 was used for the large Pullman name in the center of the shell and the smaller Union Pacific decals on each ends. As seen below Microscale sheet #48-198 includes the name Pacific Shore.
Micro Set was used under the decals and Micro Sol over the top of the decals. It took several repeat coats of Micro Sol to get the red stripes to mold down into the shells side channels. After the decals were dry the final step was spraying the whole shell with Krylon Flat (2 coats) so this paint job would match the exact same finish that's on my other factory painted K-Line passenger cars.
Other small items were added to the Phoenix aluminum shell like clear windows, roof vents, inside hand rails, LED lighting kit, outside grab bars and a horizontal plate for the name Pacific Shore. Lionel end cap part numbers 2532-010 and 2532-012 were painted with Tru-Color to match the shell. The Keil-Line Products diaphragm kit part number 4825 was purchased at a local train store and installed.
The real Pacific Shore (UP car number 1439) stayed in Amour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray streamliner colors until Amtrak took over in 1971.
Its paint was removed down to the stainless steel finish underneath and its number was changed to 2632 by Amtrak in December of 1971. In 1978 when it was converted to Head End Power (HEP) its Amtrak number was changed to 2932. Pacific Shore went for sale in 2001 after being in passenger service for 51 years. The Pacific Shore’s current owner is SAM Shortline Excursion Train based out Georgia.
In my next update I’ll post a How-To guide on making the interior for this sleeping car and photos of the finished product.
