Painting A Brass Locomotive for Erieman

[ACL1504]

Doesn't cutting into the speaker ruin it or at least decrease the sound volume?  Wouldn't it be much easier to get a speaker that fits?   


Jeff

Dr. Jeff,

Forty some years ago when PFM came out with the PFM Sound I system it was the state of art DC Analog sound system and far ahead of others at the time. The system was developed by Bob Longnecker for Don Drew, owner of PFM Models.

Anyway, at the time these speakers were also state of art speakers and were made in Japan for PFM.

To honestly answer your question, my answer would be YES, it is much easier to get a newer speaker that fits without all the cutting and adjustments. That said, I've been installing the PFM, PBL Foreground Sound, Tsunami and TCS WOW sound for years and the speaker cutting is not an issue for me.

As far as sound loss or distortion the answer is No. There is no loss of sound. The PFM 8 OHM speaker has a great base. However, the older PFM speakers don't work well with the new TSC WOW sound as that sound is very much state of the art sound and therefore the newer smaller 8 Ohm speakers are best.

I'm installing the Heavy Steam Loco Tsunami sound decoder for Frank in this loco. These speakers are perfect for the Tsunami sound installs.

Hope this helps your understanding of my reasoning.

Tom

[ACL1504]

After marking the tender for the speaker I started drilling holes in the bottom of the tender deck. I used a small drill bit for this purpose; however you can drill larger or smaller holes if desired.

NOTE: Be sure you use a new or sharp drill for this as a dull one will cause the brass to heat up and you may run the risk of softening the already soldered parts. This has happened to me once so this is experience talking.




In the photo above you can see the tender deck is just laying there. During the drilling process I hold the tender deck secure with my left hand as I operated the Dremel Drill Press. Also for the drilling, I use the powered Dremel tool and not the cordless. Obviously the powered Dremel is more powerful.

When the holes are drilled, you can go over the holes with a slightly larger drill to "ream" the opening and de-burr the original holes.



Continued in a few.

[ACL1504]

Frank isn't the original owner of this brass loco but I want to point out to ya'll the difference between a custom painter and a professional custom painter. Look at the following photo.



Notice the pattern of the wheels/drivers on the side of the loco main frame? The previous painter of the loco didn't remove the drivers, side rods, cranks, etc and etc prior to stripping and painting. The loco was painted with all the parts still on the frame.

This is non-professional in my opinion and possibility the result of a couple of things.

1. The painter didn't have the knowledge or confidence to remove the running gear prior to painting.

And last but not the least -

2. Just pure laziness, plain and simple.

I've only painted one brass loco in this manner and that was at the request of the owner/customer and certainly after my objections. I've painted 358 brass locos over the past 40 years and Frank's loco will make 359.

Continued in a few.

[ACL1504]

Now comes the time to strip the old paint off the loco. I use a product called Acetone. It is one of the same chemical compounds in your wife's nail polish remover.

NOTE: Acetone is nasty stuff, very nasty stuff. Be sure you use eye protection and industrial rubber gloves to protect your skin.

I've found that I can use the yellow gloves from the grocery store. These are the gloves worn while washing dishes.

However, I have to work fast as the gloves start to degrade after about 15 minutes.

Your hands won't fall off if exposed to the Acetone but the chemical can be absorbed and it's not as good as your God given blood.

There, I've done my part in warning ya'll to be careful.




I have an old glass Pyrex bread bowl to soak the brass in the Acetone. I start with the small parts and work my way up to the tender and boiler.



Continued in a few.

[ACL1504]

In the next couple of photos you can see the loco boiler soaking in the Acetone.

The first photo is after the loco soaked for just three minutes.



Three minutes later I hope you can see or tell the Acetone is doing it part. It doesn't take long for the Acetone to "eat" the old paint.



After the brass has been stripped of the old paint, I take it to the laundry sink and wash all the parts with warm soapy water and set aside to dry. You can also bake them dry in the oven. I'll cover the baking process in the other thread.

Continued in a few.

[ACL1504]

Fast forward and the brass has been stripped, washed in warm soapy water and dried. The loco and parts are now ready to be pained.

[tct855]

Yup!, watching this process and all the attention to detail & time involved is what I hope everyone who asks someone else to do to their brass models pays attention too! So when the bill comes in the sticker shock will be better understood. ha...   Please sir, continue.  I'm riveted to my seat in how this movie turns out.  Thanx Thom...

[Zephyrus52246]

Thanks for the explanation on the speaker, Tom.


Jeff

[Erieman]

Tom,

I don't know what to say. Watching the stripping process, the painting and mechanical problems you have found and everything else you are doing to my engine are beyond words. You are definitely a magician and your presentation process gives me goosebumps. This is going to be my story engine on the layout. I don't know what else to say. Even the wife is amazed with your work. I really look forward to the painting stage.

I have to tell you a funny story that I heard from a couple of guys here in Arizona. There was a guy who painted a lot of brass. He had just finished painted an engine when some of his friends stopped by to see what Bill was doing. While the boys talked about trains, a very strange sound started to emanate from the kitchen. Running to the kitchen, he found that the oven temperature had been changed. The wife had decided to make some cookies. Needless to say, the brass engine warming in the oven turned out to be a pile of pieces. I don't know what the client said upon finding out about the oven temperature mistake.

That being said, please make sure that Pam or her mother don't make cookies about the time you want to cure the engine. Thank you very much my friend.

Frank / Erieman

[tct855]

Man!  Some people have all the luck.  I hope I never get to tell a shivering story like that.  T...

[martin.ojaste]

Tom,


I used to think painting brass engines was difficult/challenging; now I know better.  Great thread.

[ACL1504]

Yup!, watching this process and all the attention to detail & time involved is what I hope everyone who asks someone else to do to their brass models pays attention too! So when the bill comes in the sticker shock will be better understood. ha...   Please sir, continue.  I'm riveted to my seat in how this movie turns out.  Thanx Thom...

Thom,

Thanks for stopping by and posting your thoughts on painting brass. A great majority of people think or don't think painting brass is a big deal. Obviously, You, Thom know it is if done correctly or professionally.

Frank and I are in the bartering mode for this paint job.

Tom

[ACL1504]

Thanks for the explanation on the speaker, Tom.


Jeff

Dr. Jeff,

You are most welcome my friend.

Tom

[ReadingBob]

Hi Tom,

As usual....WOW!     I can't even begin to imagine tackling a project like this.  It's fun to follow along though.  Thanks for sharing.   

[ACL1504]

Tom,

I don't know what to say. Watching the stripping process, the painting and mechanical problems you have found and everything else you are doing to my engine are beyond words. You are definitely a magician and your presentation process gives me goosebumps. This is going to be my story engine on the layout. I don't know what else to say. Even the wife is amazed with your work. I really look forward to the painting stage.

I have to tell you a funny story that I heard from a couple of guys here in Arizona. There was a guy who painted a lot of brass. He had just finished painted an engine when some of his friends stopped by to see what Bill was doing. While the boys talked about trains, a very strange sound started to emanate from the kitchen. Running to the kitchen, he found that the oven temperature had been changed. The wife had decided to make some cookies. Needless to say, the brass engine warming in the oven turned out to be a pile of pieces. I don't know what the client said upon finding out about the oven temperature mistake.

That being said, please make sure that Pam or her mother don't make cookies about the time you want to cure the engine. Thank you very much my friend.

Frank / Erieman

Good evening Frank,

It was great speaking with you this morning. I always enjoy our conversations.

Funny you should mention that brass melting in the oven story. I actually did the same this thing. I was horrified and realized it was my fault as I set the oven on the wrong temperature. Sadly the painting on the brass had to be stripped and then repaired. The repair took me close to 80 hours.  Now, I have a sing I take to the oven which reads in red - Caution, trains in the oven _ DO NOT TOUCH OVEN!

If I can find the photo of the Brass melt done I'll post them on this thread.

Tom