Model Building N Freelance Repaints - Stripping and Repainting Locomotives and a Caboose

Stripping paint off an old model and repainting it may seem like a daunting task, but it's doable. Reusing an old model can be a great alternative to buying a new model.
When Dan wanted a pair of N scale diesels and a caboose for the Siren Creek project layout, he decided to use some old models that he'd painted in a freelanced scheme for a project layout that never came to fruition.
Watch as Dan uses a Paasche Air Eraser to strip the old paint off an N scale Atlas GP7 and SD7, and a Micro-Trains caboose.
Once the old paint is gone, Dan uses Tamiya primer to get the models ready for fresh paint.
Since the Siren Creek layout is set in a coastal town, Dan turned to an old freelanced railroad he created back in the early 1980s, the North Coast (not related to the real North Coast that briefly operated part of the former Northwestern Pacific).
The North Coast diesel scheme is complex. Dan creates it using a combination of paint and decals. Microscale alphabet and striping decals come in handy for this job.
Interestingly, the caboose Dan is using was once painted for the North Coast before he repainted it again for another freelanced railroad. This will be the first time that Dan has attempted to repaint a model a third time to restore it to its original freelanced scheme.
The North Coast caboose scheme is classic red, and is a good compliment to the black, silver and red locomotives.
The techniques used in this program can apply to any scale, so even if you're not an N scaler you might find something to like.
Join Dan for some model railroading fun!

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

Nice video you done today. Hope there more to come.

[@DanielCortopassi]

There will be. I have some steam locomotives I want to repaint for the North Coast and Siren Creek, as well as some rolling stock. The little layout has become a source of a lot of projects. Thanks for watching!

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

@@DanielCortopassiThanks very much for replying to my comment. It's nice to see other people's work to get idea to improve my channel. Take Care & Stay Safe.

[@SwindellSteamWorks]

A mix of SP Black Widow, ATSF Zebra, and SOU Tuxedo. What a combo! Nicely done!

[@DanielCortopassi]

Kind of a nod to two of my favorite railroads, and I've just always liked the Southern black & white scheme. Thanks for watching!

[@Trains-With-Shane]

Those look fantastic, Dan! I'm glad that you added some diesel power to the roster for your little layout.

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks so much!

[@dave3156]

It is always enjoyable to watch you display your modeling talents Dan. Equipment looks great!

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thank you very much!

[@dtdiego9189]

Keep up the great work tiger king well away be here okay Daniel

[@DanielCortopassi]

Okay, I will! Thanks so much for watching!

[@Lefthandedhammer]

Very nice-looking paint job. I need to figure out a paint scheme for my layout, and this video was very helpful for figuring out how to do that. Thank you.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you like the paint scheme. Making a scheme for a fictitious railroad can be a lot of fun, especially coming up with variations for different types of locomotives like F units, switchers, etc. Good luck with your paint scheme and thanks for watching!

[@Longshadowsmodeltrees]

looks good Dan, saving money is always a good thing. Bob

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks, Bob! Yes, especially lately, saving money is a very good thing. Thanks for watching!

[@paulkirkmanMYTRAINS]

Very well done. Everything looks great !!!

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks so much!

[@chegeny]

Quality content, Dan. Cheers. Had a chuckle watching you sandblast away the TSG livery,. Looked like a cathartic moment. The new paint scheme for your fictitious company looks absolutely perfect.

[@DanielCortopassi]

It was a little cathartic, yes. I only wish I hadn't painted so many models purple. Thankfully there weren't many locomotives, but I have a lot of Micro-Trains boxcars to repaint. I'm glad you like the new scheme. Thanks for watching!

[@trainknut]

A very creative and inspirational scheme... This is actually really helpful to me specifically because my own freelance scheme is going to also heavily feature black and silver as the two colours with a stripe down the middle. I like how the caboose project has a sort if real life restoration vibe where it went from dirty on the original NCC, to repainted for another railroad (merged into SP maybe?) To clean, bright and clear after the restoration into its original colours. Like it was brought back to life by a heritage railway.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad I revived the old scheme for these engines and the caboose. It was kind of like a restoration. I'm glad you like the paint schemes. Having a good paint scheme that looks believable is important for a freelanced railroad. Thanks for watching!

[@beeble2003]

Wow, N scale is so fiddly! Very nice paint job, though, and it definitely looks appropriate to the era.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you like how these turned out. Thanks for watching!

[@boylesterminalshops6841]

Ah yes, the purple scheme. Been a minute since those saw the light of day

[@DanielCortopassi]

It has, and they won't likely see the light of day again, except maybe as starting points for future repainting projects. Thanks for watching!

[@sphynx108]

@@DanielCortopassi What happened between you and TSG Multimedia?

[@DanielCortopassi]

@Sphynx 108 I'll refer you to one of our past videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqCrnHp_l82GiNU

[@ciredfish]

@@DanielCortopassi I’m glad you posted that, because I must have missed it last year. Your build episodes on that previous channel were fascinating and educational. I watched and rewatched dozens of them when I recovering from a surgery. And of course when you started this channel I had to subscribe day one!

[@marksawyer5299]

Great work Dan. Looking forward to future updates.

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks so much!

[@bigbrianDASHncDOTcom]

That’s a sharp looking paint scheme, and very well executed. I had a good chuckle when I recognized the TSG scheme from your former project.

[@DanielCortopassi]

Sandblasting the old paint was a lot of fun. I'm glad you like the new scheme. Thanks for watching!

[@Dawsonsrailfanadventures74]

Dang dan those look good

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks so much!

[@Dawsonsrailfanadventures74]

@@DanielCortopassi i have a freelanced railroad to i can appreciate someone’s creativity

[@BritanniaPacific]

You could do the same thing for painting engines in the espee’s black widow livery. That was a real under appreciated paint scheme. Everyone was too focused on the bloody nose and daylight colors.

[@DanielCortopassi]

The SP black widow scheme has long been a favorite of mine. I don't model the era when it was in use, but I've always admired it. Thanks for watching!

[@rdanscale3416]

Looks Darn Awesome Dan... I know who could fix up some of my Engines how much ya Charge Sir... Take Care & give them Dittles 🐈 a Hug for me.. Allen D

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks so much!

[@timf2279]

Fantastic

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks so much!

[@ronvanhoose2130]

You are a pro

[@DanielCortopassi]

Thanks so much!

[@conrailfan6277]

Nice work Dan, I'm finding out myself N-Scale is kind of tedious to paint!! I love the Tamiya primer, I've used it several times on different models I've built and it gives an excellent base to paint over!! I repainted 15 rock cars to letter for Conrail but I soaked them in 90% IPA and scrubbed them with an old toothbrush!! I need to get one of those airbrushes, LOL!! The N-Scale layout will definitely be cool to railfan when it's done!!!!

[@DanielCortopassi]

I've used chemical strippers, too. Sometimes they work well. It sounds like you're making a nice fleet of Conrail cars. Good luck with your projects and thanks for watching!

[@beeble2003]

I'd be worried about dust inhalation with the sand blaster. Make sure you have a good extractor hood!

[@nynscaler2482]

Love the scheme. Ironically, Atlas just announced a new run of sound equipped N scale GP7s (and 9s). They also have matching 60’ coaches for the aforementioned locos. Might want to consider that as a future project for the NCC….

[@DanielCortopassi]

Having sound in N scale was a pipe dream not that long ago, and now we have so many options. N scale has come a long way from where it was when I was younger. I'll have to keep an eye out for those newer Atlas models! Thanks for watching!

[@legokid177]

Always like seeing Freelance Roads, really gets the creative juices flowing!! I'm curious to what brand of silver paint did you use? I'm going to be painting some passenger cars silver in the future and wonder what you recommend.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you like my freelance railroad! For these I used Testors Model Master Chrome Silver enamel because I had some in my paint stash. I think Testors is defunct now. If you're airbrushing you might want to investigate Vallejo Air, Tamiya, or Scalecoat. Of those I haven't used metallic colors yet from Vallejo or Tamiya, but my experience with their other paints is good. I really like Scalecoat, though it is a solvent based paint and has a strong odor, so use appropriate precautions. Thanks for watching!

[@patji123]

Great work. The decal application appeared to get a little fiddly there. Do you know where one would have custom decals made ?

[@DanielCortopassi]

These are a lot of work for sure. I'm not sure about where to go for custom decals these days. I'd have to do some research. I remember looking into it years ago but I don't know if any of the places I found are still in business. Thanks for watching!

[@TheyCallHimDietSeth]

Wonderful video, thank you so much for sharing! I'm teaching myself to custom paint in N scale and I've definitely picked up a few tips just watching this video. I have to ask, though - can you elaborate further on the Windex step mentioned at 3:25. Is that a separate layer? Or do you mix that into the paint? Thanks so much!

[@DanielCortopassi]

With some acrylic paints I usually add a few drops of Windex into the paint with an eye dropper as a thinner to make it spray easier. Some paints work better when thinned a little for airbrushing. Thanks for watching!

[@jhoodfysh]

Thanks Dan, I had never heard about the Paasche Air Eraser. I usually soaked all the shells in 91% Iso Propyl Alcohol and scrubbed them with a medium stiffness brush. Is the Air Eraser better for that purpose? Which grit level of Aluminum Oxide particles do you use?

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm using Paasche Air Eraser Compound, 240 grit. Thanks for watching!

[@WatsUpDuck]

Hey Dan, if I wanted to add trainphone antennas to a n scale prr f7 what would be the best way to go about it?

[@DanielCortopassi]

Gold Medal Models has a set of photo etched parts for PRR antenna mounts, designed to be used with brass wire. I'm not a PRR expert but that might be a good place to start. Thanks for watching!

[@WatsUpDuck]

@@DanielCortopassi thank you for the input very much sir

[@miguelChivasFan17]

Where did u get that model of Santa Fe 3751 its cool

[@DanielCortopassi]

I got that one used off eBay. It's a Sunset / 3rd Rail 3-rail O scale model. It's for a display loop track that's going to be in our game room, but for now it's parked in the office. I was originally looking for something a little smaller, like an SP or ATSF 2-8-0, but I saw the 3751 model and well... it's 3751! How could I resist? Thanks for watching!

[@miguelChivasFan17]

@@DanielCortopassi very cool Yes 3751 is super hard to resist. I had to custom make one cuase there is none commercially available in N scale. Also cool tips on how to repainting locomotives

[@JessicaKasumi1990]

Is it okay if I create a timeline for the NC, Dan? I love giving railroads alternate histories and fictional ones, a backstory.

[@DanielCortopassi]

Sure, that might be fun. Back in the day I had envisioned the route as starting north of San Francisco, or possibly Oakland, then going north along the ocean (rather than inland like the NWP). While the NWP stopped at Eureka, I had imagined that the NC would continue north into Oregon, eventually hooking up with the SP again somewhere. It would have been basically a bridge route, an alternate way to get trains between Oregon and California. I think there was a route proposed at some point that was close to what I was envisioning from Eureka north. I saw it on a map once but I've never found much information about it. I never did a detailed route map or a timeline. My interests shifted before I got that far. Anyway, if you come up with something I'd love to see it. Thanks for watching!

[@JessicaKasumi1990]

@@DanielCortopassi That's what I was thinking too.