Decal Question

[lirrman]

New, undecorated box car. Oxide color right out of the box. Is there a problem with applying decals directly to the car without painting?

[jonathan]

I've had pretty good luck with undecorated Red Caboose and Accurail boxcars.  Haven't tried any others.  You didn't mention whose car you are decorating.

Regards,

Jonathan

[lirrman]

It's a Front Range 40' box car. I didn't think brand would make a difference. Styrene is styrene.  What I don't know is if undec cars are painted before shipping and if that makes a difference.

[ebtnut]

If it is painted, it should be no problem applying decals.  You can normally see if is painted by looking inside the body.  If its a different color, then it is painted.  If it is cast in colored plastic, I would give a quick bath with dish soap and warm water to remove any parting compound from the casting process before decaling. 

[lirrman]

Just took it out of the warm soapy, Dawn, water.  It has not been painted, color in and out is the same even color, oxide.  Hope it works. I decaled an undec last week and it came out lousy. The Dullcote looked like I sprayed it with a light coat of powder and, the decals never "snuggled" down. I think I was getting a dry spray from being too far away. If the decal film on the first one would have been hidden by the Dullcote, it would have looked OK, a little weathered. Thanks for your input.
Walt

[barlojo1]

Always apply decals to a cleaned then glossed surface. I usually apply a gloss coat, then decal, then a second gloss coat before final finishes.
NJ John

[lirrman]

Thanks.
Walt