Does anyone know what color of paint was typically applied to these hoppers? Did it vary over time? Here's a couple cars with fresh paint for reference http://frisco.org/mainline/wp-conte...nessee-on-September-22-1974-William-White.jpg I have some undercoated kits by Athearn that I need to find paint for.
It varied over time. I don't recall offhand when those were new, but evidences I've seen indicates that new hopper fleet began being delivered in black paint. (With a small outline Coonskin herald on the side.) By the end of the 1950s, I've seen pictures of them painted freight car red and the large black w/white outline Coonskin. The scheme you illustrate was the last scheme I remember seeing them in. I think I recall they began to phase out that series of cars as the 1970s deepened. What era are you modeling?
Roughly speaking, 1980. I know by that point the 100 ton 3 bay hoppers had mostly taken over, but I've got some areas I can use a fleet of 2 bay hoppers for.