Be Prepared!

We're getting ready to paint the 319. Surface preparation is the most important part of this job, and today there were three people working on it: Jim Followell, the contractor, his helper Cody, and Cody's girlfriend.

Jim had started sanding down a door panel, and feathered it nicely to show all of the various layers of paint. This displays the history of the 319 just like rings on a tree. From top to bottom:

• Bare metal (and perhaps some primer?)
• 1940: Washington Blue #1
  
• 1950: Brown primer
• 1950: Washington Blue #2
• 1953: More primer
• 1953: Brilliant Red
• c. 1963: Brookins Blue
• c. 1995: More primer
• c. 1995: Cliff Perry's orange/tan

The Brilliant Red is what we will be matching.



Here they are at work.


(L) Cody (R) OK, I should've written down her name....

The surface prep is nearly complete; one end still needed some work when I left, but the grey paint will be applied first.

We also looked at the grey color some more, along with Jamie, and made a final decision on matching. This was later ratified by Rod. Jim went and got two gallons, which he believes will be enough to put two coats on both sides of the car. He plans to paint the grey tomorrow or Sunday, and the red some time next week. Rod looked at what has been done on the 319 and discussed what needs to be done on the steel cars. So we're moving ahead rapidly!

In other news: it would be nice if we could all just get along, but no.... everybody seems to be preparing for war. It should be exciting to watch, though!!!

The blue cars will be operating all three days, you know!

So my uncle says: "Hey. Youse guys better be there, ya see? Doan' make us come after ya. Remember, we know where youse live!"