? for a correct paint job of a MILWAUKEE 50' Wood Express Reefer

[VAPEURCHAPELON]

Hello to everybody,

now I have a few questions concerning the correct paint job of a MILWAUKEE 50' Wood Express Reefer. I built a Main Line wood kit which is very nice but incompletely painted, of course. The sides are of a beatyful orange (maybe a kind of "MILWAUKEE ORANGE"?), and the car has nice maroon letter boards. Unfortunately the instructions are no great advice in completeing the paint. My questions are if

-the ends up to the fascia board were of the same colour than the sides

-the doors were of the same colour than the sides

-the hardware (door handles/rods, grab irons, ladders) were black or also like the sides?

 

Also, which will be the correct type of trucks for this car? Is it available from Walthers or Branchline?

 

Thank you for your help. 

[wjstix]

MILW passenger car stuff can be a little wacky, as they were fairly late to convert to Pullman green. They continued to use their orange and maroon colors on passenger equipment until the mid-1920's when they went to Pullman green. About the time they got everything painted green, the Hiawatha was introduced (1934 IIRC) and they went back to orange and maroon (with a little gray and black thrown in).

I believe for this express reefer, the ends and roof would also be maroon, and the hardware black. But I would do more research before doing any painting !!  

[VAPEURCHAPELON]

Stix,

many Thanks for your answer. Mine is one of those "Hiawatha" reefers. At least that word is on the left of the car's sides.

I simply do not know where to research OTHER than on this forum.

Thanks again. 

[jimrice4449]

Milw never totally abandoned orange and maroon for psgr cars.   Pullman even painted Pullman-owned cars assigned to the milw in Milw paint(as per a 1935 List of Cars put out by Pullman showing various features such as type of truck, AC and paint).   It's quite possible that a special interline movement would have Pullman cars painted Pullman Green, but regular Milw equipment was in one of the MANY orange color schemes throughout the first half of the 20th Century.  After the intercity equipment was repainted in UP yellow in the 50's, Chicago heavywieght commuter cars stayed orange and maroon until METRA.\

 

As for your problem, the ends and roof should be brown or boxcar red.   Pre-WWII underbody brown, post black.  Hardware(grab irons, hinges, etc) was probably originally black but would frequently get painted over in whatever the background color was when rebuilt or repaired.   I looked through my Milwuakee Railroader back issues and couldn't find a pic of a wood side xp ref.   If you can't find a pic, check the distance from the bolster to the end.   Xp refs had two different types of trucks, one w/  a short wheelbase (Athearn makes one) and one that used the standard length psgr truck (just be sure you use a set made for heavywieght cars and not one w/ outside swing bolsters as per modern ltwts.)

[VAPEURCHAPELON]

Jim,

have many Thanks. That is really great help. The only thing the instructions say concerning paint is BLACK for the roof and underbody. As per your advice even that is wrong.

Thanks again and Regards