Re: Magma Arizona #7 STEAMS AGAIN!

Everett Lueck Wrote:
=======================================================
> Ed,
>
> It is copper powder in clear. Magma Arizona
> actually had their entire smoke box done in
> copper. This did not turn out exactly as planned,
> so I think that Earl and Steve will re-do it, and
> are looking for a better solution. Sadly, no one
> is left alive that knew how the Magma did it.

I don't like how it came out at all. But I started it and had to put something on her nose. We figured using old steam technology, that Magma simply created "copper and Oil" instead of "graphite and oil" for their smokeboxes.

We got 3 lbs of copper powder to play with.

"Copper and Oil" which is Copper, linseed oil and valve oil, became a yucky brown mess. Without the valve oil it was the same lovely salmon pink I have now with no coverage. My 3 lbs of wouldn't do the entire smoke box.

I hit upon the idea that If I could get the carrier and solvent used in high-temp aluminum paint (high temp aluminum without the aluminum), I could substitute the copper powder and make my own paint. I got some "high temp clear" You see the results. Too red, no metallic look, yucko.

Back to the drawing board.

The whole week of getting #7 "just so" is turning into building a 12"=1'0" contest quality model.

But she does run pretty well. She has a serious voice and a beautiful 3-chime whistle. For those who rode behind and saw Sierra #34 run in the 1970's, the voice is quite similar.