From what I've seen, Dynamic brake intakes were usually black, but could also be a light weathered brown as well.
Yes, normally those parts would come from the factory painted the same color as the surrounding body, but would soon turn dark from use. Unless you're decorating it as a brand-new engine, I'd either paint them dark or weather them.
Seems to me the whole point of a DB resistor grid is to get hot. Which kind of implies any paint put on it will be gone, shortly.
If that's the case, I would think a darkish grey might be the best option.
Ed
Hi all -- I'm building up some old Stewart U25Bs, three for Conrail and two for NYC. The instructions advise black for the metal grille inserts and silver or grime for the radiators, but make no mention of the D/B grid color. (They are body color on the model.)
It's hard to tell a color from prototype photos -- most appear grimy, and I do plan to (eventually) weather the assembled models. But what color should the DB grilles be? Body color, silver, grimy? Should I leave them brighter to stand out behind the grilles?
And what of the grilles themselves, at least on the Conrail models -- would they be body color? I see them in blue on some models, but they look dark in prototype photos, even on clean U-boats -- not sure if that's shadow, or dirt, or a result of the fine mesh, or if they really were painted black.
Any guidance would be appreciated. (Fortunately, this is easier on the NYC models!)
Thanks
Aaron