Rainbows in the Lehigh Valley Gorge

[TMo]

I will say, Tom, it's a challenge for the fingers and my patience.  Tiny, tiny parts.  Can't tell you how many times I was under the desk hunting by tactile feel...

Well, the stage 1 weathering began tonight, and I began with 5023.  Key things for me to hit with black were all of the intakes, the walkways, trucks, undercarriage...  Prototypical for these units in 1976-77.  I've seen some pictures where the locomotive is incredibly grimy - looks like it took a bath in coal dust.  After the intakes I work a very soft dry brush in vertical strokes from top to bottom, making sure I hit seems, hinge plates, door handles.  I'll do a similar treatment on 5018 and the C628 which now has it's windshield wipers.

The shot below is the equivalent of a before stage 1 (5018), and an after (5023).


   

Stage 2 is rust and grime washes - ain't for the faint of heart if you're into pristine locos fresh out of the paint booth...