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1938 20th Century Colors

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  • Member since
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  • From: Gettysburg, PA
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1938 20th Century Colors
Posted by Major on Monday, October 20, 2014 6:20 PM

I am repainting some American Models scale length smooth side passenger cars to go behind my NYC Dryfus Hudson locomotive.  I am doing the 1938 edition of the 20th Century.  Any recommendations for the colors of the light and dark greys and the blue stripes would be appreciated! 

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Posted by Plate Rail on Monday, October 20, 2014 10:27 PM

I happened upon these details earlier this evening while skimming through an old Model Railroad Cyclopedia.  About the only real mystery will be what color blue is Opex Blue?.

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Bruce

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  • From: Austin, TX
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Posted by lionelsoni on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 10:23 AM

Bob Nelson

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Posted by Penny Trains on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 6:37 PM

I have a big, thick book all about the Century and all it says is "The exterior of the train is finished in two tones of gray, trimmed with longitudinal striping of aluminum and blue."  Descriptive, aint it?  Big Smile

Best bet is to try to match the locomotive if it's already decorated.

Becky

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

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  • From: Gettysburg, PA
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Posted by Major on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 7:26 PM

Thanks for the information! I did not know that the small stripes on the top and bottom of the cars was aluminum. Matching to locomotive is also a good idea, Thanks Becky!

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Posted by Plate Rail on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 8:39 PM

Even some of the manufacturers in the past have mistakenly substituted white for aluminum and plain old grey for gunmetal.

Bruce

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  • From: Gettysburg, PA
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Posted by Major on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 4:35 PM

I have have many different Gun Metal paints over the years from different manufactures. No two were quite alike some very dark and others almost a bluish grey. I can understand why manufacturers would use grey.  Gun metal is had to find these days anyhow!

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