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Silver Acrylic Paint Suggestions for UP Work Train Cars

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  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Friday, March 19, 2021 5:59 PM

binder001
Technically 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

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: eastern Nebraska
  • 219 posts
Posted by binder001 on Friday, March 19, 2021 1:23 PM

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.

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • 2,616 posts
Posted by peahrens on Friday, March 19, 2021 1:13 PM

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?

 

Like...

 UP 10T Crane by Paul Ahrens, on Flickr

 

Paul

Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Fullerton, California
  • 1,364 posts
Posted by hornblower on Friday, March 19, 2021 12:40 PM

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

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • 2,616 posts
Silver Acrylic Paint Suggestions for UP Work Train Cars
Posted by peahrens on Friday, March 19, 2021 11:49 AM

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

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