dknelsonBy the way for most freight cars that had "black" underframes (house cars as well as tank cars and flat cars) - that was not always black "paint" but was called a "cement" which I assume means it was more durable than paint.
I agree with Dave. I often see references to "asphaltic car cement" used as a sealant/rustproofing/undercoating. It dries a shiny black but doesn't stay that way very long.
ACF CNJ001 by John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
I do try to be accurate as to colors of roofs and car ends. But for underframes, unless you are modeling a car in its earliest trips from the factory or paint shop, as NHTX says the dirt and gunk makes color more or less irrelevant with the possible exception of things like the air brake reservoire which can be seen from normal viewing angles. But after a while even those become "grimy dirt colored."
So even if I have information that a given car had a black underframe, I paint it anyway with brownish/grayish colored paints. Even a touch of very dark olive drab is not inaccurate.
By the way for most freight cars that had "black" underframes (house cars as well as tank cars and flat cars) - that was not always black "paint" but was called a "cement" which I assume means it was more durable than paint.
Dave Nelson
Guy,
Unless you are modeling fairly new cars, the parts under the floor would be taking on a dirt color, mixed with a darker grey from brake shoe dust. As the cars age, the underframe and trucks pick up more and more grime, to the point you have no idea what color they were painted. If you intend to weather your equipment, why obsess over something that won't be discernable anyway? If it is truly an issue, contact the CN/GTW historical group, they will know the answer.
PK2 kits normaly are true to as built colors .
[Moved from Genenal Discussion forum...]
I recently assembled two Proto 2000 Automobile Double Door 50' Steel Boxcar kits. I want to paint and letter them for the GTW. What was the color of the under frame and truck? I made a search on the Internet but found no clear photos of the prototype. In the same era, CNR boxcars were some Boxcar Red all over, body, under frame and trucks. What about the GTW?
I see some RTR models with Red under frame, other with Black one, all with Black trucks. But every modeler knows that even the best RTR are not always prototypical.
Guy
Modeling CNR in the 50's