I would be very interested to learn what anyone has used for painting models to try to match the red used on the SLSF lightweight equipment.
Gordon- Did you ever get an answer to your paint question? 20+ years ago I purchased a copy of the orginal spec for the streamlined cars from Pullman Company (then called Pullman Technology). The red color was Dupont 2460. If you buy a quart of that from auto parts store, you'll find it is a red color that really looks like the right color. Also, I own ex-SLSF sleeper Cimarron River, which was sold to CN and had fluting removed and heavily rebuilt. But, there are a few cracks and creveses where the original paint remained and the 2460 looks right. That is the color we use to paint it. See current issue (Summer 2008) of Classic Trains magazine for photo. Tony Marchiando
Tony Thanks for the information. With models, it is often a case that the authentic prototype color winds up not "looking right", either because of the small area being painted, the light in which it is normally seen, or whatever. For models I have found that Signal Red comes very close to matching whatever Overland used in painting the Meteor/Texas Special models that they produced a year or so ago. I'd love to see the Cimarron River again. It was never one of the regulars, but did on occasion make it down to Fort Smith where I would see it. That has been too long ago however! Gordon
Gordon- Sorry for long delay in replying, as I don't check this site often. If you read Classic Trains magazine, Dave Ingles wrote a nice article about Cimarron River in the Spring 2008 issue. The car is based in St Louis. Don't know where you live, but the car does travel around a bit. Tony Marchiando
Tony Thanks very much. Yes, I did see Dave's article in "Classic Trains" and I read it with interest. You are to be commended for trying your best to retain the original appearance of the car in spite of CN's having removed the fluted sheathing -- a favor, I suspect, before corrosion destroyed the car. Now if we could just convince the right person to do the same with the "Carritas" (and restore the original name)! The two cars seem to travel together with some regularity and they would make a very attractive pair. Gordon
