Model Train Journal

In the olden days it was not unheard of to dip an entire locomotive in the decorative nickel vat. I just asked a buddy who has a connection, and he says nickel discolors, and I would need chrome. Am I wrong in thinking that decorative nickel is reasonably tarnish-free? I was planning on plating a PA for the Warbonnet paint.

Maybe. Maybe it needs to be buffed occasionally.
I recall my days with Model "A" Fords....no chrome until 1933 or 1934....Nickle Plating prior.
Show Chrome is copper, nickle, then chrome, right?

I had an International E-unit nickel plated and buffed. After decals I clear coated it. Hasn't discolored in over 20 years so far.

I recall seeing it mentioned that various (mostly Sante Fe livery) were nickle plated. Apart from that, before the advent of the use of stainless steel, it was not uncommon to see guns with nickle plating. It would wear, but I don't recall complaints about discoloring.

Rich

Remington.. Nickel plated Marine 12 Gauge.......

You can paint it flat colors and it still wont rust!!!!

Ed J, I assume "had" means gone, as in sold or traded? Tell us more, please.
Pete

Pete. "Had" means I had it plated. Still have the locomotive. I soldered some brass simulated corrugation on the side prior to the nickel plating, and yes, I believe they started with copper plating first. It's decaled for the Burlington and on my Dad's layout. Sorry, but I don't have pictures of it handy.

bob turner wrote:In the olden days it was not unheard of to dip an entire locomotive in the decorative nickel vat. I just asked a buddy who has a connection, and he says nickel discolors, and I would need chrome. Am I wrong in thinking that decorative nickel is reasonably tarnish-free? I was planning on plating a PA for the Warbonnet paint.

You need to know about galvanic corrosion. Plating can aggravate corrosion, if you don't do it right. What is your PA shell made of? Is it soldered using lead-tin solder?

ScaleCraft mentioned copper, nickel then chrome plating. I think that is based on a steel part.

In the electrical connector industry most contacts are made of brass, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper or nickel silver. These parts are generally plated with 50-100 microinches of nickel and then 10-30 microinches of gold. The nickel forms a barrier that keeps the copper from migrating into the gold.

Roy wrote:
ScaleCraft mentioned copper, nickel then chrome plating. I think that is based on a steel part.

And pot metal, like door handles, hood ornaments, emblem bezels.