The Masked Streetcar

Frank writes...

I didn't do a very good job of getting photos on Sunday. The wood train was out, but I didn't get any photos of it. I spent a good portion of the afternoon disassembling the grid box we took off the 319 a few weeks ago (this is the one originally off the 321). It was in pretty bad shape, with a few broken or spalling grid elements. But the usable grid elements went into storage with our other grid components, while the box frame I kept on hand - I'd like to clean it up and have it available for the next time we want to build a grid box in a hurry. Then, both before and after dinner, my attention turned to the Shaker Heights PCC.

The next step is adding the maroon striping. The car gets two maroon stripes on the belt rail, bordering the ivory stripe; one along the edge of the roof; and one below the standee windows, which is formed by the drip rail. I figured I'd start with the belt rail stripes. Above, masking; below, primer.

I also started priming the drip rail but ran out of time. I really think that adding these stripes will make a huge difference in how this color scheme looks. Also, I noticed that someone had replaced the window in the second door leaf with one of the new Lexan windows that John and Joel sourced. Thanks to whoever has started working on this! The very top of the door still needs to be worked into the gasket, but the old (and fogged to the point of opacity) Lexan window had fallen out of this door, so this is a big improvement. We custom-ordered enough of these tall Lexan panes to replace the windows in all eight doors, leaving the standee windows and front roll sign window as the only remaining "fogged" Lexan windows on the car.