IC 3345

About a month and a half ago I took a big step towards finishing the exterior of the IC 3345 coach. The end buffers were not installed when we painted the coach last year.  Wanting to finally  finish that part of the project I went into the storage field and found both of them.  With the help from Jeff, from the steam department and operating the large fork lift,  we moved them from the storage field to an area next to barn 10.  This happened in the early spring of this year. This September I personally hired a contractor to abrade the exterior of both buffers.  Kane DeKalb Dustless Blasting is the name of the contractor. The process  involves using water as the medium mixed with in this case with fine particles of ground up glass to remove the old paint and rust. I would highly recommend its use on other projects around the museum for it worked very well.   Anyway, they were prepped, blasted and primed on a Saturday and then top coated with two coats, of Sherwin Williams urethane paint on Sunday, September 22 of this year. 

What a difference sandblasting and painting will do for any piece. Painting makes anything look  good.  The next step is to finally install each buffer onto the coach and then finally move it into barn 3 for display. If you would like to help defray the cost of the removal please send your donation and mark it for the IC3345 fund.              Thanks, Roger!

The exterior painting for our food bar coach, IC 3345, is drawing to a close.   Thanks again to everyone who participated in this project.   We are still not completely finished with the exterior but the vast majority of work is done.  These latest efforts revolve around the painting of the vestibule and exterior doors on both ends and the prepping and painting of the trucks and other underbody parts.   We removed most of the old paint, sanded the surface and then primed and finished coated both the walls and ceiling of the vestibule and did the same to the entrance door on the opposite end.  It was very time consuming taking three to four weeks to complete.  These pictures will show you what was involved in getting  the results we are striving for. Our main project in October was the repainting of the vestibule.  It took many manhours to prep mask and paint the walls and ceiling.  We got it done!    WOW!  With a lot of planning and volunteer hours we finally completed this painting project.   Yet to be completed is the installation of both metal buffers and the purchase of canvass curtains that are attached to the buffers.  The buffers are stored in another location so they will be moved to be worked on this fall and winter.  Estimated cost for each canvass is $1000 each.   If you would like to help us with this particular facet of the project please send your donation either electronically or by mail and mark it IC 3345.                  Thanks  Roger

Here is our finished recreation of IC 3345!   We have yet to apply the lettering but that will be accomplished as soon as time permits.    I  hope you think our efforts are well worth it!     We do.    As I have previously mentioned we hope to repaint another passenger car next year.   As for now our painting volunteers are going to take a winter vacation and start the next paining project in Spring of 2018. This does not mean we are stopping our progress.     On the contrary,  we will just focus on other projects.    Please watch for the future announcements.   In the mean time please send any suggestions that you have to this blog address.I cant thank these people enough for all their efforts in making this paint job happen!Yet to be completed is the painting of the vestibules.   Yes, our next big job is the stencil lettering and numbers.  Estimated cost is $437.00.   We have placed an order for them and should be arriving in the next two weeks.  I would like to thank all of you who have sent in donations for the IC 3345.    It shows our hard working volunteers that our efforts are indeed appreciated and that, you, indeed like what we are doing in the coach department.   We will, very sincerely, try to excede your expectations by improving the appearance of our  passenger car collection.   Please consider sending  donations to your favorite piece.  It does make a difference.         Thank you                    Roger