To repaint or not? Mk.III & SE4 Restoration

James · To repaint or not? Mk.III & SE4 Restoration

Well, I really don't know what to do. I was going to paint the SE4 again, but I can't make me mind up. The frames need to be the lighter Mamod green, not the darker Hobbies green, and the base and firebox need painting to fill the pitting caused by sand blasting and to make the firebox heatproof.

The firebox and base I could bake as they are, to make them heatproof, I think.

Would you put a decal on it, and leave it as it is for now? Or repaint it now?

Have a vote!

Here it is now:

Nick

Since it has already been repainted, I voted for a repaint.

If that was the original paint, I'd leave it.

James

If I repainted it, it would look like this:

Nick

Or, at least you hope it will turn out that nice.

Go for it James!

James

We'll see!

I dunno, part of me just can't be bothered

toxx

... depends if you want to use it, Jim. The colours can be made heat-proof, but the polished boiler doesn't stay golden after firing. As a pure show case engine, I'd rstore. For use: Shine her up a bit and steaaaaaammmmmmmm ...

Nick

I am guessing you already have your mind made up for the repaint, so the voting won't have much of an effect.

James

Naa I dunno!

Will defo steam her!

johnreid

Not voting, this is something you will have to decide for yourself.

Nick

Everyone seems to disagree with me.

You said it has already been repainted before in its life, right?

Sandman

It's been repainted anyway Jimbo.

I would strip and repaint properly.

Too good an engine to leave with a bodged paint job mate.

IndianaRog

Ditto what Sandy said James...you are NOT protecting the Shroud of Turin here, it has been stripped, sandblasted and repainted before. Easy route would be to leave it as is, but for what you must have paid, I would restore it to look like the one MM has, a showpiece to say the least. Add the proper decal too.

You have absolutely nothing to lose and are not in any way diminishing the value of the piece...heck, you bought a repaint and if you ever sell, a better repaint will sell for more.

A strip and repaint would also allow you to fill in the pits in the firebox sides if you can find a heat proof filler...Sandy knows one I believe called P-38 or something like that.

Now get after it and do it up right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Refurb Rog

Atticman

Its been repainted with non fireproof cack James, so I would strip it, and redo. Especially if pitted

If you fire it as it is then the paint will burn off the firebox and look worse than if you restored it. and I would think any meths spilt would stain the red paint, bet it hasnt been laquered

Therefore if you want to run it (thats what its meant to do in my opinion) it will have to be stripped down

But heck mate its mere scrap- brass and that- Ill take it off you hands for a fiver and recycle it proper

James

Just sending mother to Wilkos to get some nitromors incase I feel the urge to do it

tmuir

All history is already lost so do what you want.

Nick

Not only do I vote for the repaint, I vote to make it shiny!

James

I think that I'll repaint it... I just want it nice and runnable...

Mamodman123

Les Marsh

Only repaint it if you feel that the colours that it is now are not right, therefore I am voting 'maybe'.

johnreid

Is it done yet?

Les Marsh

James

Well I've decided to go with the repaint.

I'm doing it in a bit, got the nitromors now!!

Will have it stripped and probably painted tonight.

johnreid

You doing the M158 at the same time?

James

Naaa dad wants to do that

Mamodman123

James

James

The paint was just so bad that I went with the repaint. It's stripped down now, paint taken off base and frames with nitromors. Skin taken off aswell

Wallace

Ok I'm late anyway, but I went for the repaint.

Having bought an engine restored by the same guy I made the mistake of firing it.

The firebox smoked, got worse, then there was a pop and the smoke ignited.

Besides a burning throat and feeling crap from the fumes, it was a mess

Well worth repainting.

Also, just flush the burner out with meths before using it. It may contain sand. Mine did

Top looking engine mate, well done

MooseMan

Repaint mate! Get it to a state where it can be run, that's what these things were made for.

bessytractor

I voted for leave as is seeing as if it were me I'd just leave it as is because I'd be playing with it too much

Though in all honesty, like the votes atm, I'm totally divided on the issue. I think a repaint in all honesty would do wonders for it.

James

Wallace, the burner I bought seperate, from MF

Well, I stripped it down, got the frames and base bare metal. Ain't started on that firebox yet

Tried painting the frames, but it DOES need primer (hoping I could get away with it just on the frames). My red primer won't cover very well so I'll have to get some white stuff. More expence

Starting to fill the pitting up in the base soon.

MamodFan

flywheel61

James, if you are going to fire the engine, you have to repaint it. You know what happended to both mine and wallace's FB engines restored by the same source, when we fired them. Please don't fire the engine without getting rid of the current paint first. In both our cases it was a lot harder to get the paint off after firing. It was bad enough with or two later model FB's, this is an SE4

When I get the new burner for my prewar SE3 (restored by the same source), I'll be stripping and repainting it first, before I fire it.

Cheers

Chris

James

Cheers Chris!

I think I'm going to go and do a bit more to it now!

Mamodman123

James

Frames are painted!! Mit keinen primer

James

Frames are finished, ready for baking, 1 side of the base is totally finished, just need to do the other side, firebox is half naked of paint, will have it done tomorrow probably!!

DOn't want to rush it and spoil it though

Les Marsh

Lewis

priming mm

with smoothrite you can just wack on no primer needed

well thats what i use anyways and i bake it a week after

James

The frames after the 1st coat of nitromors (I insist on calling it nitromers)

After 1st coat of paint:

Base after nitromers!!

Filler!

Frames after 2nd coat

Base with filler (I sanded it down while talking to GJ)

Hardening next to the fire

Mamodman123

That may require a bit more Sanding Jimbo unless you did after the picture was taken

Frames look good though

James

Oh aye I sanded it after the pic! Got it down a fair bit but not enough, so it all came off and sanded it back down a bit more!!

Mamodman123

Wallace

Looking great James. Keep up the top work, and pics

MooseMan

Nice work so far mate!

steamyjim

Good work James!

James

Thanks guys

Sandman

Jimbo, when you've painted your base and let it dry, I suggest a couple of coats of clear lacquer to give you a really hard finish and a deep shine. (After baking of course)

James

I might do just that Sandy

James

Frames in the oven!!

James

I'm REALLY struggling to find gloss black VHT paint...

Do you think the firebox will look OK in matt black??

steamyjim

Aye do it matt James

I always do

Mamodman123

James

HAmmerite is like £9 a tin! I picked it up, looked at it, saw the price, fainted, put it back, walked out whislt muttering a load of cheap skate comments!

Mamodman123

steamyjim

James

THis were in Lincoln Chavfords!

steamyjim

Ask a chav to then

Mamodman123

James

Chavfords it rate dear lad!

Wilkos is cack!

Mamodman123

steamyjim

Halfords is dear

I usually use this local little garage sorta thing to get paint

Atticman

The original fiebox is gloss, so I would try hard to reproduce that if possible James.

in this thread
http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/ftopic8819-0-asc-105.php

Roly put up 2 suppliers for gloss, not i dont think shiny, just semi-gloss. Matt is too dull in my opinion

http://www.usautomotive.co.uk/sto...&Msg=Product+added+to+cart%2E
http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/cata...Path=894_896&products_id=7290

James

I ideally want caliper paint!

Atticman

cant gets Roly link to work, is this the stuff?

http://www.usautomotive.co.uk/store/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=369

Or this

http://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=7290

James

Aye mate! It will take ages to come though

IndianaRog

James

Aye, I'm baking the frames as we speak. In the oven for 2hours up to now, and on 150c

Will crank them up to 200 in half an hour, for 30mins.

IndianaRog

James, for your frames, not sure what the paint you are using, but don't over heat it, I found that causes it to change color completely if it was not meant to be cured at high temps. I painted something fire engine red, over cured it and it came out plum color

I now read the directions on the can a bit more thoroughly!

James

Cack

MM baked his with the same paint, so I guess it will be alright!

James

Frames are finished, base is painted, needs to cure and then bake, firebox is nearly finished in matt black (can always take it to bits and repaint it gloss when I find some, no love lost!)

Atticman

Another possibility would be to put some Zeebright on, its available for woodburning stove shops, probably Hemswell will have it.

The stuff is out of production but this black grate polish is what we put on fireplaces, looks really good

http://www.housemakers.co.uk/epag...;gclid=CNr4u9mOyZICFQQx1AodEHdraw

Its like black toothpaste, rub it on, then polish hard, and its a shiny gloss that old firplaces have.

Dont know if anyones tried this?

May be best to try it on a modern MM1 before putting it on the SE4

James

Good idea

Might try it!

James

steamyjim

Looks brilliant James!

IndianaRog

Oi James...that's like staring into the sun!!!! Should be perfect paint for what you are doing if good to 500 deg.

I'm really glad you re-did that SE4...it's base was pretty pitted and now that's gone.

Excellent work sir!

Sandman

Looking good jimbo.

Just resist the temptation to rush it.

Take your time and do it right mate.

You've waited a long time for this, and a few more hours won't make any difference.

James

Thanks guys!

I'm rate happy!

The firebox shall stay matt for now, at least til I find gloss.

Will not touch the base now tonight, and then tomorrow I'll cram it in the oven for a bit!

Same with the firebox, I'll bake that tomorrow

James

steamyjim

Bloody hell James...looks brilliant!

James

Ta Jim

Les Marsh

That looks good, well done.

James

Thanks

Atticman

Great work James

James

Thanks Tom, but I've not finished yet, might go totally wrong

steamyjim

It might explode into a million little SE4 peices

Sorry im still a child

James

steamyjim

My imagination runs away with me at times

James

LOL!! I decided NOT to use filler on the firebox, instead, build up loads of thin layers of paint.

oldstuff

Jeez, thats gonna look like a million bucks!

steamyjim

johnreid

Where are my sunglasses, the glare is going to be too much! Real good so far James, I bet you are anxious to see it done.

toxx

... oi, Jim! Damm good work!

James

Thank you so much guys!!

I just keep stroking the SE4 base... soooo smooth it should be 18 rated!!

Brass is shined, frames baked, firebox sprayed, base sprayed, will be finished tomorrow!!!

Nick

One fast restoration!

James

Aye Nick! Just thought I'd give the base one last coat, just to make it super smoooooth

A very kind member is letting me use some of their gloss black VHT paint

johnreid

I cant wait to see the next bit of progress, keep posting as it develops.

James

Will do John

1st steaming ain't too far away

johnreid

Make sure that all paint is properly cured first, this one is worth the wait.

James

Aye John! I'm leaving the paint overnight, then baking it for about 2 hours, then I'll leave it a few hours, put it back together and steam her!

Should be alright shouldn't it?