Transformed H-9

Gorgeous!…I zoomed in looking closely,….flawless work,…nice!..

Pat

Thanks Pat.

It was a bit of a struggle for me. I think I was lucky it turned out the way it did!

Tom

@Krieglok posted:

Thanks Pat.

It was a bit of a struggle for me. I think I was lucky it turned out the way it did!

Tom

...and I think you're being modest...🙂  A very handsome engine... nicely done!

Mark in Oregon

Looks great Tom. I’m a WM modeler, specifically during the fireball era (40s-early 50s). I think it’s very cool you did the pre-fireball scheme. You never see that on models. Great job!

I had to look twice, I was expecting to see the fireball.  Great looking conversion, what we've come to expect from Tom!

Thanks guys.

Mark, I tend to be my own worst critic with my work!

Ryan, while the scheme is a bit plain, I think it makes the engine look a bit more “beefy”.

John, it isn’t that often I have a chance to work on a steam engine. It usually all freight cars and a diesel now and then.

I considered the fireball scheme as the decal set included that option. I tend to prefer the “plain Jane” look as it makes the mechanical aspects of the locomotive stand out a bit more..

Tom

It looks great. If memory serves me correct (I'd have to go look in one of my books), the fireball was introduced around 1940 when the M2 Challengers were delivered. The H9 is a great, beefy looking locomotive. MTH did a great job on those. I have both the MTH (scale wheels) and Overland brass versions of the loco. It's one of my favorite WM steam locomotives.

Tom, As always fabulous work. I always look forward to your posts on Boxcar Sunday.

Tom,

Did the lacquer thinner do any damage to the underlying black paint? I have a locomotive whose number I would like to change.

MELGAR

Thanks again, Ryan! I love the smaller locomotives, especially when they are “chunky”..

Thanks Dave. I have been diverted from boxcars lately, but should have a new one for this weekend!

Melgar, if the tender is MTH or Lionel and metal, the lacquer thinner doesn’t attack the black paint unless you leave it on for a long time and over scrub it with the Q-tip you are using to remove the lettering.

There may be some residue left after removing the lettering or number. I use alcohol swabs and wipe down at area. On my H-9, some of the high spots, like rivets, had the paint wear down during the process, but if you touch up any bare spots with black paint before clear coating the engine, it will come out fine…

Tom

Tom, looks fantastic!  What do you use for the clear flat and how did you apply it?

@MELGAR posted:

Tom,

Did the lacquer thinner do any damage to the underlying black paint? I have a locomotive whose number I would like to change.

MELGAR

Tom is correct, and I’ll add, you don’t have to flood the area at all, ….as Tom says, q tips or something similar …..I use a microfiber towel, with just a small tip of the rag dampened with lacquer thinner,…..keep turning the rag or q tip, so you’re not re-depositing what you’re taking off….

Pat

@Scott R posted:

Tom, looks fantastic!  What do you use for the clear flat and how did you apply it?

Scott, after masking off the windows and coal pile, I used Tamiya TS-80 clear flat finish and it comes in a small spray can.

It works well and I gave it two separate coats. It dries very quickly too…

Tom

@Krieglok

Great job on the conversion! This is why I trusted you with my 2 caboose makeovers. excellent work as always

Very nice! I like that it has a nice big tender to go with that beefy boiler!

Thanks RJ and Big Jim.

RJ, Always fun doing caboose repaints!

Big Jim, the six wheel tender seemed like overkill at first, but with the huge boiler, like you noted, it tied in better than I expected. This engine is one of my favorites now!

Tom