I'm going to build a Tichy crane car kit, and thinking of painting it silver to go with my Athearn UP work car kits. I use acrylics to airbrush and have used mostly Testors Model Master and Badger Model Flex in the past.
I see that I can buy Model Master silver or Model Flex BNSF or SF silvers. Is there any way to predict which might best match the Athearn silver on my work train cars? Online color charts dont seem very helpful.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Silver paint tends to oxidize rapidly so who's to say any color silver is correct or not after a work car has sat out in the sun for several years?
Hornblower
hornblower Silver paint tends to oxidize rapidly so who's to say any color silver is correct or not after a work car has sat out in the sun for several years?
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UP 10T Crane by Paul Ahrens, on Flickr
I am a long-time UP modeler. Technically the UP used "aluminum" versus "silver". My "go to" paint has always been good old Testor Metallic Silver from a rattle can. Covers well, easy to use. Comes out "close" to many model colors. As stated the actual appearance of the color will vary with how long ago the equipment was painted. I know it looks good, but UP often didn't get roadway equipment painted all the same color at the same time. During the transition era into the sixties there would be some oxide red cars in the trains with aluminum cars. Sme derricks and spreaders remained in black for a long time. When the jade green came into use there were still a lot of aluminum cars. MoW stuf doesn't get a lot of love, so a true work train should show wear and weathering.
binder001Technically the UP used "aluminum" versus "silver"
Are you saying that at some point this was a shiny aluminum?
I can't fine my UP crain photo, but it was the same color.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley