How to do Custom Paint & Masking + Inkjet Decals Tutorial Lionel F-3 Santa Fe B Unit Rustoleum MTH

A friend sold me this Lionel B-Unit at a train show last year. It was brand new, unpainted, dusty but yet somehow, virginal. I knew that I wanted to do something special with it and I've recently been working on a lot of Santa Fe Locomotives. And now, my path forward was clear. Join me on this pilgrimage and explore the mystical arts of masking, painting and making custom inkjet decals on a MacBook Pro. Together, we will find a way through the misty mountains of a bygone era known as... the freakin' Lionel F-3s. What did you expect? I'm a train nerd, not a Dungeons and Dragons wizard.

[@paulbervid1610]

Great work as always.

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks Paul!

[@ChristopherBrown-mq1lg]

Looks great👍

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks Christopher. 😀

[@bobconrad5632]

Beautiful paint job! Great job!

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks Bob. 😀

[@r.c.1878]

Pretty cool!

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks my dude!

[@jimmelchin1531]

Looks terrific Bob...the materials portion is a must for all your upcoming projects. Thank You 👍

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks Jim. A few people asked so I included more info on the process. I hope you’re doing well. 😀

[@Cbtrainnut]

Very nice Bob! I think your decal should say Built by Bob! Not Lionel Lol! Thanks for sharing!

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks for watching and for being so kind. I hope you’re having a great week. Bob

[@railchief74]

@@bobsworkshop5181very well done Bob! I hope to try this out one day for my own custom paint job

[@chicagolandrailroader]

Great techniques, i have a few ideas i want to get to sometime.

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks. You’re a good guy and I consider you a friend. 👍🏻

[@billkilgore9575]

Bob, thanks for the masking tutorial. I'm going through it slowly again to make a step by step guide to make all the strips look good.

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Well dang Bill, thank you so much for watching it!

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

My colors for the pacific surfliner is royal blue charcoal gray too and glossy white

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Sounds cool.

[@joeystrains.9316]

Great tips on painting the stripes, Bob. I've sprayed under my masking tape too many times. I have several Warbonnets to touch up and can use all the tips given. Have a great week!

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks! 😀

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

Awesome job my passenger cars are not done yet had to orswe new trucks and wheels

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Buying parts gets expensive quick.

[@huntercoleman460]

Great restoration work Bob.

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks Hunter. I hope you have a great weekend. I need to swing by the library and check out some of the books you’ve been reviewing. Take care, Bob

[@genemanno1533]

Finally, a price ($20) that is reasonable for non powered “B” unit. Very nice recreation of Lionel “B” unit. Your paint lines came out very sharp, good tape. Nice painting tips. I cheat and just use colored pin striping vinyl tape. Not as durable but good enough for me. I’ve had good luck with a couple dry spray coats to start with then one almost normal coat. Amazon has transfers without clear background that stand out nice. But each letter/number has to be applied separately. The decal clear areas are not so much. Thank you.

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks Gene. I’m headed to my first train show of Fall 2023 this Sunday. Thanks for watching and for your nice comments. I hope you have a great weekend. Bob

[@moparmikesr]

Bob I really enjoy your repaint videos masterpieces for sure keep up the good work look forward to your next project videos

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Dang! Thanks so much Mike!

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks!

[@venmc]

Bob, your videos inspired me to try my first repaint on a "free" Polar Express starter set gifted by a friend. A tip on the decals... use MicroSet and MicroSol and always round all the corners of the transparency. The solutions make the transparency disappear. Then spray the entire body with matte clear. I was amazed my decals looked like painted images with no visible halo.

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Good tips. Thanks!

[@davevan8864]

Great find in that F3B unit. I have 2 WbB units......I'd take a few more!!! Nice paint work.....get a food dehydrator to cure paint.....you will never go back!! Nice work overall....ever clear over decals to help reduce the 'halo'?? Thx

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Good ideas Dave. I liked the dull silver. To hide the decals, I think I would have needed to put them on a glossy surface. If I did clear gloss, then decal, then a dull coat, I think it would get pretty thick looking. I’d rather just take them all off and go with the stripes alone.

[@markslioneltrains]

Looks Great Bob.!👍I'm afraid you may have to break out the Alka-Seltzer Max for that next shell?😲

[@bobsworkshop5181]

The broken nose F 3 actually turned out pretty nice. I just haven’t finished editing. I hope you have a great weekend. 👍🏻

[@markslioneltrains]

@@bobsworkshop5181 👍🏻You too.!😊

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

I repainted my passenger cars I have had for years I painted the in the pacific surfliner paint scheme dixie gray roof blue cars with a white pin stripes on top and bottom of the car

[@bobsworkshop5181]

That sounds pretty great. 👍🏻😀

[@wolfen216]

to hide the decals get the surface as glossy as you can then put the decals on. The film will hide better on the glossy surface, then you can top coat it again to really get them to hide.

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks. 😀

[@carldebellis7310]

Try using microsol for the decals

[@bobsworkshop5181]

I’ve tried that in the past but it doesn’t react well with inkjet decals. Thanks for the tip though.

[@mikefinney5269]

Great work Bob. If you do a bit of research you will find the "B" units did not say "Santa Fe". Actually the only decal on the original was the winged chief (no GM, or built by Lionel or number) with the flowing headdress like the decals you purchased. I ,like you, don't like the outline of the decals on my repaints. If you make copies of that decal you have, it might work better for you if you like how the original was done.

[@bobsworkshop5181]

Thanks!