Athearn Streamliner Superdetailing - Model Railroader Magazine

Hi Metro,

I hope I can be of some help as I traded my entire Athearn shorty fleet years ago.  The Athearn shorty streamliners are generic and do not represent a specific prototype, although the corrugated roof lines move them a "slight notch closer" towards SF Budds. 

A.  For interiors:

1. If you're on a budget, the IHC one-piece interiors are o.k.   They must be shortened. Easy method: cut off both vestibule ends. Trim the shortened floor ends and sides to fit. 

2. Nicer and more "$", Palace Cars makes interior kits for the Athearns.  

B. Paint Metalizing: I've been using Alclad II Chrome #ALC-107.

1. After stripping off the original paint finish and cleaning the shell, paint it with a high gloss black.  I prefer to apply Scale Coat II, #2010, with an airbrush (also available in rattle cans).  The smoother the results, the better.   Allow at least a day for it to cure.

2. The Alclad II Chrome is ready to spray, just pour into your airbrush jar.  A safe air pressure range for application is 15 to 20 psi.  The fan should be narrow, not wide.   Spray as if you were using a paint brush in long strokes.  I prefer to allow the 1st coat to set up 15 minutes before applying the 2nd coat.  By your second coat you should see some nice results.  Apply a 3rd coat 15 minutes later, only if you can still see areas of black.   

3. Clear:  Apply one thin coat of gloss clear (water or solvent based) to the shell.  Allow to cure and apply your Microscale or Walthers decals as normal.   Seal with another thin coat of clear.  If the surface is too shiny for you, apply another coat.  Each successive coat of clear tones down the Alclad's sheen. 

C. Underbody.  Not too much I can offer other than I've seen passenger car underbody detailing pieces/kits in the Walthers Catalog.  Hopefully someone will chime in with some more info.    

High Greens