Painting brass

H

hornbeam

Registered
Morning all.

Im now the proud owner of a GRS 'B set' gauge 3 coach off E bay. I need to fit out the inside and make some bogies but thats another story.

My first task will be painting it. Its is in a bit of a sorry state in the pics (its not arrived yet) with green/ blue colour spots in areas and on some larger sections are also this colour, but imagine this is just surface tarnish or where the flux was lest on so will clean up ( he hopes).

Now I dont have an airbrush and have nowhere to use one. So will my only option be to hand brush etch primer on then either hand or spray colour over thr top. Also if I use halfords for the top ciat bit worried it will react with the primer, but guessing standard primer will be of no use?
 
Hi Horn beam ,the brass coaches will clean up well i use a fibaglass brush to get into the edges then wash in soapy warm water ,rinse by dunking in clear water allow to dry well (must be totally dry )( warm the coach with a hair dryer )try not to touch it with your hands at this stage use good fitting rubber gloves ( pink ones are allowed ) - the etch primer can be got in spray can form ,from a car paint factor shop , but i am not sure about Halfords stocking them ?? leave this to cure for a good 24 hrs -do not rub down as this can break the etch barrier ,.. you can spay on car factor paint on top of etch regards Dave
 
whizzo said:
the etch primer can be got in spray can form ,from a car paint factor shop , but i am not sure about Halfords stocking them ??
Click to expand...

Mr Halfords does a rattle can of etch primer - I've used it on nickel silver, brass & all sorts of plastic :rolf::rolf::rolf:

It's Ok stuff :thumbup:

Ah - a thought - it's underneath the blue & yellow of my avatar :bigsmile::bigsmile:
 
yes the fibregalss brush is a good idea...I'd strip and old finish off, then a good clean with the fibregalss brush and then wash with some prepsol or similar and etch prime from a spray can and then paint...
 
many thanks for the tips, been to Halfords picked up the primer and topcoat. Just got to decide if to do the lining on them or not. looking on the web thay were just plain crimson but some pics show them lined. I'll be painting it late era as a trailing load for my DMU.
 
Cellulose thinners is another good degreasing agent for brass and once cleaned only pick it up if wearing latex gloves
 
Well its arrived, will take pics later. I?m amazed how pitted and tarnished the brass- it?s like it?s been left outside ( didn?t realise brass went like this so badly as brass rail doesn?t). Will need bogies and some brass angle to replace missing truss rods- easy job. I washed in the bath last night ( and before we get any wisecracks I wasn?t in the bath with it!) and started on it with some wet and dry paper- in wet mode and it will come up a treat. I?ve also ordered a fibre glass pencil and re fills. Contacted GRS as I need door and grab handles. It?s annoying as I won?t have much time this weekend and its going to rain so won?t be able to paint it ( I do all mine outside). Will start a tread on its painting and fitting out, after I?ve done the one about the cheap gauge 3 coach I built. Even If i buy some bogies for this it will still save about £250 off the new price.
 
Rhinochugger said:
Mr Halfords does a rattle can of etch primer - I've used it on nickel silver, brass & all sorts of plastic :rolf::rolf::rolf:
Click to expand...

This is a bit puzzling. I've heard many people recommend this.
When I needed to prime and paint a N/S body kit, I looked in Halford's, it was out of stock.
Looking at their website, the small print states that their etch primer will not adhere to brass!

I used Phoenix Precision two part etch primer.
After spraying topcoats, and masking etc, the maksing tape peeled of the lot in patches - primer and all!

Puzzled of Merseyside.
 
OK, back track.

I went into Halfords and bought U-POL #8 Acid Etch Primer.

It doesn't say on the can what it does or doesn't stick to.

All I can say is that I haven't tried it on a blanket :rolf::rolf: however, it has stuck to everything that I've pointed it at :thumbup::thumbup:
 
I use the Automotive etch primer then topcoat with epoxy enamel. But cleanliness is beyond essential if you want the paint to stick. Paint is one area where you cant do it on the cheap..... My best tool is a huge ultrasonic cleaner that I found at my local recycling centre that just needed, believe it or not, a fuse.... As has been said no touching with bare fingers and dont leave the surface exposed for long periods after cleaning before priming. Dry off with a hair dryer and paint ASAP.....
 
i watched this on ebay with a view to gauge 3 once i win the euro lottery

be nice to see it restored,,,,

how does it compare size wise to g gauge
 
heres a few pics. Im a little unsure about something that I cant find an answer for on the web. The coach is fitted with vac brakes- has the detail underneath. However look at the ends- no pipes. There are two pipes but these look like electrical connections. Should there be vac pipes?
 
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