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Finally some definitive progress. X201
is now in the Calera & Shelby RR shop receiving paint. I began by washing
the caboose with a liquid detergent and scrubbing mold and grime from the
primer. It was amazing how much dirt came off that I hadn’t noticed
building up. After the caboose was shopped, I masked all the windows and
then masked the yellow belly, since it had been painted previously.
Next, I sprayed all the steps and handrails with the same PPG Alkyd Enamel
Yellow that was used on the bay windows. It took two heavy coats to cover
the brown primer.
About a week later, I was able to mask
the steps and handrails so that I could apply the red.
I inspected the yellow paint on the bay windows after washing the car. I
was disappointed in that the tops of the yellow bellies had faded very
slightly in just one year of application. Therefore, I began to rethink
the type of red paint I wanted to use for caboose body. Again, budget
constraints are preventing me from using a professional system like a
Dupont Imron or something of that nature. I had hoped to use the original
SR color “DuPont Fire Protection Red”, but I have been told by Dupont that
this is now simply “Saftey Red”. I contacted a Sherwin Williams Industrial
Coatings Rep from the Birmingham area and had him come out and look at the
caboose. He recommended a paint that Sherwin Williams currently sells to
Norfolk Southern paint shops for their rolling stock. This product is
called SherCryl HPA Gloss, an acrylic paint with performance properties
similar to a two-part epoxy, or a urethane paint. He also recommended I
use a clear coat, Sher-Clear 1K, on top of the red and also on top of the
existing yellow that would enhance the UV protection and in turn prevent
fading as much as possible. With this combination he estimated 10-12
years, maybe longer with minimal fading. The rep also recommended that I
roll the paint, instead of using a sprayer. I have applied one to two
coats of red to the entire caboose. I believe one more coat will finish it
out. The following picture shows X201 with one coat of red on one side.
I decided to spray the intricate places and roll the flat smooth panels. I
sprayed the roof ribs and all the rivets across and along the length of
the roof. As you will recall from previous updates, I have already brushed
two different primers on these rivets. I swore I would NOT do that again.
The next photo shows the brake valves and air tank. I also sprayed the
remaining handrails and brake wheel supports, as well as the bay window
braces and area under the bay windows.
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