How to Paint a Wooden Toy Train
Wooden toys bring back the warmth and charm of an earlier age. Even today's kids appreciate the simplicity of wooden toys. They have a way of unlocking the imagination that cannot be matched with electronics and branded characters. Trains have always had a special place in the American imagination. Their role in building our nation makes them the vehicles of adventure. Plus, the thought of any machine large enough to crush things is exactly what every little boy needs to fuel hours of play.
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Things You'll Need
- Wooden Train
- Plastic sheeting
- Spray primer
- Water based spray paint
- Latex acrylic
- Artist's brushes
Instructions
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1
Sand previously painted trains to remove loose paint and smooth out any runs or drips in the finish. For raw wood apply a coat of liquid sander to open the grain, allow to dry and follow up with a thorough sanding with 150 grit or finer paper. The small curves and surfaces of most toy trains are best hand sanded. For larger trains a random orbit sander is a good choice.
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Decide what colors you will use on your train. Purchase water based spray paint in each of the major colors your intend to paint your cars. H2O from Krylon is a good choice. It has no harmful fumes and once dry is non-toxic. Purchase small containers of acrylic latex craft paints in any colors you want to use for details such as wheels, windows, stripes and numbering. You will also need a selection of artist's brushes. All materials can be purchased at your local discount store.
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3
Use an aerosol spray primer to give the train a solid coat. This will give the remaining coats of paint a good surface to adhere to. Make sure to work the wheels loose after every coat of paint to keep them working freely. If they can be removed and reattached easily, do so be fore priming.
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Set up each car on plastic sheeting in an open area where overspray won't ruin anything. A garage, or basement is perfect. Otherwise put down plastic sheeting on the floor and keep your work surface away from any walls or furniture.
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Coat each car in the main color you have chosen for it. Use two light coats for the best coverage. Spray from 8 to 10 inches away keeping the can moving in short bursts to avoid runs or drips. Allow each coat to dry according to manufacturer's instructions before repainting.
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Use a small artist's brush to paint on details like wheels and windows. Art work like that found in the original Thomas the Tank Engine books can serve as a good inspiration. Collect images you like online by right clicking on them and selecting the "save picture", or "save image as", option and saving them into a file in your pictures folder. They can give you ideas about color schemes and the placement of details. Use your imagination, but most of all enjoy the process.
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