What do you use to make grab irons and similar details in HO scale? And where do you get it?

I have used .015" piano wire for some things, but I find it very stiff. I have used brass wire for brake lines. It was good for items that did not have sharp curves. If I used brass for grab irons it usually broke when I made a sharp curve. I am now using some .010" phosphor bronze ( I may try some that is a little thicker). Phosphor bronze is not quite as stiff as I would like.

I'd like to be able to have a logging or coal branch line on my future layout featuring a shay. 

It doesn't fit with my target era, but the C&O did have 16 4-truck shays so I would be willing to wave my hands at the anachronism because its just something I want to have on the layout.

So I'd like, at some point, no urgency, to collect a shay. Preferably 4-truck, and either in HO or HO narrow gauge (HOn3 or 30, since I don't have any track or other narrow gauge yet, the loco can determine which). 

This is a multipart call for help. So I'd like to patch this loco out for my home road and fade the paint.

So do I do the paint fade first and then the patch out or the reverse of that procedure?

How do I get a good fade on black, we've all seen the ex PC locos that Conrail had they were almost gray?

And lastly I haven't decided on wether to do a complete patch out or fade the lettering to an almost unreadable state and put my reporting marks and number over those, what is the best way to fade out lettering/logos should I decide to do that?

​Hi all, I’m working on modifying a Walthers Trainline caboose into a shoving platform (it’s a low end model without window glass so why not plate the window holes over?).  Considering adding a decoder and lights also.  

Question: what are lighting requirements or typical practice for shoving platforms?  Headlights, marker lights, etc. Have not found much definitive info on the inter webs.  Also any recommendations for how to accomplish adding lighting are appreciated.  

Thx

jeff