I have a few qustions about painting. 1st timer!

I have a few questions about paint.

1. Is the badger "frisco orange" correct color?
2. What color would I use to paint an E8?
3. What color would I use to paint Texas special cars?
4. Where could I get decals for the e unit, TX special cars, gold lettering for pullman green heavy weights, and frisco 1522?

Note: this is for N scale.

 

Does no body have any info?

 

I was waiting on those more knowledgeable . . . since they are out here goes

Frisco Orange - My understanding is that is it Chevrolet Engine Red, a kind of orangey red color that faded some under sunlight. I think the best factory painted Frisco/Mandarin Orange are the HO Atlas GP38s and the B30-7s. In addition, I have noted that Brian at Overland painted the last run of O&W Frisco cabooses in the same color so that is my new standard. I have bottle of the Badger paint but will have to see how close it is to the Atlas color. I think it is very close just from my recollection, but I have not painted anything with it yet.

Red for Passenger Cars - This one is a little tougher. I don't think red holds up well in the environment so a car in service for some time might be a little lighter that a lot of red paint right out of the bottle. For a fairly new car, I suggest that you try caboose red, Santa Fe red and maybe SP red. On the few cars I have painted, I used Scalecoat caboose red and thought that looked pretty good for a car in service only a few years. I think the red on the recent Walthers Pennsy sleeper is real nice. I will compare that to my Overland Texas Special and let you know what I think.

Decals - I am an HO dude so I would have to get some N scale Microscale catalogs or do some fishing on the internet.

Hope this helps and encourages others to add their comments.

Ship IT on the Frisco!

Rick

 

I'll skip #1, as I have no idea.
#2&3, take a look at this thread: http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?t=1575 Jerome, slsfrr, discusses painting E units and red and silver cars. I'd send him an email and see what he says.
#4, I'd recommend Oddballs Decals. You could also look at Microscale, Herald King, and Champ. They all have an on-line presence.

 

Thanks for all the input every one! I have contacted slsfrr as recommended by gna, and awaiting a reply (slsfrr if your reading this I'm not rushing you, take your time) but from what I've heard so far I'm guessing that I should use atsf red or caboose red for the locomotive and cars then I guess use micro scale decals for the e8. http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2...de=60-455&Category_Code=SLSF&Product_Count=10
As for painting the cars correctly I'm still not sure as to how big to make the silver part and the red part.
Then for the hws and 1522 I'll figure something out.

 

Chris, good to hear from you again! IANTHA BRANCH - Yes, Floquil Socony red was a great match for the Frisco orange. Sad to say it is no longer available in Floquil enamel or acrylic. Scalecoat has several colors that might work in Scalecoat 1 & 2 including NH orange (Socony red). I don't have a Scalecoat paint chip chart to see the actual color. Frisco red/orange varied from loco to loco anyway due to fading and being just plain dirty. Many shades would work and be accurate. Try this, pick a loco to model - find a pic of the prototype on this site (or George Ellwood's site) find a color chart and match the best you can OR try your hand at mixing colors(not recommended for beginners, you will waste a LOT of paint) ~OR~ model the black scheme era. I know for a fact that Floquil and Scalecoat have a close match to this scheme(HA-HA) Answers to all of the questions you have asked can be found on this site. You just have to dig for them. I use the search function a lot. DON"T be discouraged! Someone will eventually help you!

REMEMBER, SAFETY FIRST!

frisco.org the greatest site on the web!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tim

 

Amen!

 

The 1965 styling and painting diagram for the GP35 list the color as red acrylic, reference #890-960, EMD #8358191 I have often wondered if I could order this color from a GM dealer or cross reference to an existing color.
I guess I'll find out when I win the lottery and begin painting the real thing

 

That sounds like a GM name for a common color. If you could get a FSN
(Federal Stock Number (?) you would have a better chance of cross referencing to another brand name. River Hills Traveler.

 

Can I put in my 2 cents? My vote goes to the Testors Brand. They make the Chevy Red in three different bases, however, to me it seems a little dark on an indoor layout.
I vote for the Fluorescent Red "American FS Enamel"
Looks more natural when put by a photo.

 

I'll try that again and let U bee the Judge.

 

Someone was looking for paint a few days ago. I cannot find the post, however, local shop here has Testors Model Master - Chevy Engine Block Red.
They have dozen or so Acrylic 1/2 oz size. I bought the two enamels they had in the rack. Price is $3.56 tax included. Shipping $2 for 1, $3 for 2.

If anyone wants some - let me know (or other colors)

 

All this discussion about Flourescent Red vs. Chevy Red is a bunch of nonsense. Every model is differnt and there is no "one size fits all " solution to the color dilema. Just do what I did. I took an Athearn "Blue Box" GP38-2 and mixed up a batch of my own paint from my own formula until the color matched the shell color of the model. Here is the formula I started with: FLAT RED (2 parts), FLAT ORANGE (3 parts) and GLOSS YELLOW (1 part) I tweaked this formula until I was pleased with how it looked. I then used it to paint the handrails on my Athearn blue box models. Here are some pictures of the models after the handrails were painted. To those who want some of the "magic mixture" I am out right now, having used it up on my last project, so I will have to mix up a new batch. I used Testor paints, but Floquil should work too. But remember, I matched it to an Athearn, so it may not match Atlas or other brands color code.
FriscoGeorge|-|

 

Kudos on the match, that's the way to do it! I'll have to try those colors myself to see if it matches my Athearns.
George

 

George:

First of all, your comment about the "vs." comparison is priceless! Every time this subject has come up over the years it brings out as many comments and suggestions as about any other with the possible exception of which DCC System to buy. Having said that, you are to be complemented in my opinion as you did something that is somewhat hard to do and that is "color match". We practiced this technique in color class in design school years ago and it isn't easy.

Now having said that since you matched an old Athearn Blue Box locomotive which in most modern day modeler's opinions is a bit on the red side, I would suggest getting out an Atlas locomotive (except the MP15) and try the same color match to it. You could also use one of the new Athearn SD40-2's, SD45's, or the Bowser U25b as these are all considered to be close to the excepted color.

Be sure and write down those mix formulas and report back as you may find a welcome market for buyers wanting to purchase paint from you. Seriously, you did a great job and remember as in everything else in life, it's all in the eye of the beholder.

 

Back when I was painting Frisco passenger diesels I used a Floquil shade called (I think) Signal Red. However, I just checked the Testor/Floquil web side and note that they no longer offer that particular color, so now I don't know what to suggest. As far as the orange, when it was applied to road units, it always looked more red to me than orange. Certainly it is not a "true" orange, like, say DT&I or reefer orange. As I recall, I used Floquil Daylight red. The thing is, a model that is viewed indoors under artificial light does not show up the same as the real thing in actual sunlight.

GS

 

I called the plant in China that makes the Atlas models we are all so fond of to ask them what paint they used. The answer; ancient Chinese secret!