Thanks for the info, Ed. I'm going with the dark gray roof on a blue and light gray car. I probably ought to repaint it dark blue and then reletter it but I'm too lazy for that.
In case anyone asks (which is very doubtful), this car is a model of a little known piece of WW II history:
B&O 3241 was shopped in 1938 for major roof repairs but, before the repairs were made, it was accidentally switched into the paint shop with others that were being repainted for the Royal Blue or Capitol Limited. The new paint was drying before anyone noticed the error. This car certainly couldn't go into service on the Royal Blue or Capitol Limited with holes in the roof or with a roof repaired with asphalt.
The repairs were made but the car sat (hidden from management) behind the shop until WW II came along. When the government requisitioned equipment for troop train service, B&O 3241 was provided. Management was pleased to see a rolling advertisement for the Royal Blue and Capitol Limited so it was a win-win.
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
I've made good progress on this car the past two days. I changed out the wheels (plastic and metal on the same axle!) for weathered, all-metal wheels; replaced truck mounted couplers with body mounted passenger-style tight lock couplers, and added weight to bring it up to my standard of 7 oz for a 70' car (NMRA + 1 oz). Except for the roof, it has been totally encased in 3M Blue Tape and is now waiting for a rain-free day when I can spray it on the patio. Then I'll add diaphragms and weather it.
I already have one Blue Box baggage car in my MAIN train. It's lettered for SP/T&NO and has all of the enhancements listed above for the B&O car. They ought to look neat together. "Just the same but different." --- John Armstrong
Thanks again for the info.
ChuckAllen, TX
cefinkjr1. Would this paint scheme or anything remotely like it have existed in 1943?
Yes — but
The blue/gray/gold style began to be adopted in 1938. The Royal Blue and the Capitol Limited were the first trains so painted. Eventually more equipment began to carry this scheme but the War years did put a damper on "fancy" paint jobs.
Head-end equipment was some of the last to be painted and many baggage and express cars carried a solid blue.
cefinkjr2. That gray roof really bothers me. Shouldn't it be black or at least a very dark gray?
Early on (1938 - 1941) the gray was carried part way up the roof line, 15" according to drawings I have, and black roof cement above that. After a while the only portion of gray that would show was the portion scrubbed by the car washers, about five inches.
Yes, soot and grime made the roof look like very dark gray. I use a dark gray, heavy bodied auto primer for some of my passenger car roofs with good results.
Leave the blue and gray and lightly dust dark gray down the center portion (mask the sides just to be safe) of the roof and you'll be good to go.
Good Luck, Ed
STILL working on my generic WW II troop train. Picked up an Athearn "Blue Box" 70' baggage car decorated for the B&O with blue and gray sides, gray ends, and a gray roof. Questions about this car's prototype:
1. Would this paint scheme or anything remotely like it have existed in 1943?
2. That gray roof really bothers me. Shouldn't it be black or at least a very dark gray?
I could repaint the car but I do like the B&O blue and gray scheme. Besides, repainting would most likely cost me more than I paid for the car ($1.00) before changing the plastic and metal wheels to all metal.