So, I got this idea stuck in my head a while back about adding a Lehigh and New England red coach to my setup. Don’t see many of those around, you know? Especially in that distinct red color they used for some equipment, maybe a caboose or a special passenger car. I just felt my little rail yard needed that splash of color.
First thing, I had to figure out exactly what I was aiming for. Spent a good evening just digging through old photos online and in some books I have. Trying to nail down the right shade of red and the lettering style L&NE used. Finding a suitable base model coach wasn’t too bad, found an old one lying around that looked close enough in shape. Grabbed some paints, including a red I thought matched pretty well, and ordered some L&NE decals.
Getting Started with the Prep Work
Alright, so with the coach model and supplies ready, I got down to the messy part. The old coach needed a good clean first. Just some soap and water, gentle scrub. Had to make sure all the dust and grime was off. Then I took it apart as much as I could – got the body shell separated from the chassis and trucks. Made things way easier. Sprayed on a thin coat of primer. Always helps the main color stick better, I find. Let that dry completely, took most of an afternoon.
Painting That Red
Now for the main event – that L&NE red. This part always makes me a bit nervous. You want it smooth, you know? I applied the red paint carefully. Took a couple of thin coats rather than one thick one. Learned that lesson the hard way years ago!
- Had to mask off the window areas first, which was fiddly work with the tape.
- Waiting between coats felt like forever, but patience is key here.
The red came out looking pretty good, nice and vibrant like I hoped. Matched the pictures I found quite well.
The Details – Lettering and Numbers
Once the red paint was fully cured, it was time for the decals. Ah, decals. Tiny little bits of film that love to curl up or tear if you look at them wrong. Got out my little bowl of water and tweezers. Slowly slid the ‘Lehigh and New England’ lettering into place on the side. Then the numbers. Took a while to get them positioned just right. Had to gently nudge them millimeter by millimeter. Used one of those decal setting solutions to help them snug down over any bumps.
Making it Look Right
With the decals dry, the coach was really starting to look like something. I thought about adding some weathering, make it look like it’s seen some service, but decided against it for now. Maybe later. I wanted to enjoy that clean red look first. Reassembled the coach – put the body back on the chassis, popped the trucks back in.
Final step was a quick spray of clear coat. That stuff protects the paint and decals, gives it a nice even finish. Used a matte finish, felt more realistic for this kind of equipment.
All Finished Up
And that was pretty much it. Stood back and took a look. Pretty happy with how this Lehigh and New England red coach turned out. It wasn’t perfect, maybe a tiny paint smudge here or there if you look super close, but it looks the part. Rolled it onto a siding on my layout. Definitely adds that unique bit of color I was looking for. A fun little project, overall.
