Large Scale Central

Does anyone else paint their couplers?

General Discussion
#1

I’m finally nearing the end of my body mount Kadee coupler project. Kadee couplers are nice but the shiny black plastic doesn’t look much like a real coupler.

I painted all of the couplers thus far with craft paint. Americana Asphaltum. I really like the rusty brown color it dries to. However, now that I’m nearing the end of this project, it likely would have been a lot easier and quicker to use a spray paint.

Does anyone else paint their couplers?

Stock Kadee #906 (stock other then cutting off the metal pin) on the left, painted on the right:

I like this paint:

#2

Yes, I spry paint mine with a dusting of Krylon ruddy brown and a dusting of Krylon flat black. I like them to look a bit rusty and grimy, but I am careful to not paint them so much that I cause them to stick. You don’t want so much paint that the moving parts don’t move anymore.

#3

And I also paint the trip pins, by hand with charcoal coloured paint, or I colour them with a Sharpie, after painting the coupler.

#4

Matt

I personally don’t I just use chalk and spray it with hairspray to seal it …add water as needed

#5

Paint all mine before they go on the car. I use a rust brown I found at Hobby Lobby.

Don

#6

I am painting the only one I will have that is not L&P

#7

I cut of the pin(use proto hands hoses). Weather them with rusty brown. Don’t get to much paint on them or they will tend to stick!

#8

A note on sticky paint.

I’ve found using water based paints works best…with little to no sticking once the paint dries. And if it is stuck a bit just move the knuckle back and forth a few times and it’s back to smooth operation.

Oil based and similar paints seem to gum up Kadees. I’ve noticed this more so in the smaller scales, like HO. Because of this I don’t use oil based paints for painting couplers.

todd whittier said:
I cut of the pin(use proto hands hoses). Weather them with rusty brown. Don’t get to much paint on them or they will tend to stick!

I use the proto hand hoses on my passenger cars and a select few locos. For freight and everything else I use non operating Ozark glad hands and mini surgical tubing for the hoses.

#9

Yep. All the couplers get painted with brush applied acrylics and then highlighted with dry brushing.

Doc Tom

#10

Couplers what are those? I use hook and loops and paint those with a rattle can LOL

I would say for moving parts like a kaddee use a brush and that acrylic hobby paint. You can use 3-4 different colours and get a nice affect for cheap and little effort.

#11

I have about 175 cars and locos. Everyone has painted couplers.

#12

I use to do it years ago. Now I just run em as is. Later RJD

#13

If I am weathering the car, the couplers get Floquil rust applied with air brush. If I am not weathering an industrial-type car, the couplers may get brush painted with diluted Floquil rust. If I’m not weathering a passenger car, I leave the couplers as they are (all Kadees).

#14

I paint mine, using craft paints.

#15

As I recall the hanging hose you cut off is used for a uncouple of some sorts. Why do you cut it off?

#16

Mickey Kelley said:
As I recall the hanging hose you cut off is used for a uncouple of some sorts. Why do you cut it off?

I cut them off because I don’t use them, outdoors. Magnetic uncoupling is difficult at best, outdoors, and usually impossible, because of the fine grit that builds up in the mechanism after it has been outdoors for a short time. Additionally, that curved metal bar gets hung up on the track at the most inopportune times. Think of Murphy’s Law.

#17

Mickey Kelley said:
As I recall the hanging hose you cut off is used for a uncouple of some sorts. Why do you cut it off?

Yes the Kadee “hose” is what is used for magnetic uncoupling. However the appearance is not very realistic. More so if you add brake hose details. And as Steve says, they tend to catch on things. Especially on turnout points, and grade crossings.

Since I don’t use the magnetic uncoupling feature, I cut the “hoses” off. I do use Kadee’s newer RC remote uncoupling on one of my locos.

#18

I use similar acrylic craft paints, and while the paint is still tacky, brush rust-colored weathering powders onto the couplers. Gives them a dead flat, rusty look to them.

Later,

K

#19

Kevin Strong said:

I use similar acrylic craft paints, and while the paint is still tacky, brush rust-colored weathering powders onto the couplers. Gives them a dead flat, rusty look to them.

Later,

K

That’s a great idea. I’ll have to give it a try.