I'm looking for advice on a plastic compatible red spray paint that is close to the caboose red that the D&H used on it's cabooses in the 1970's.
I was going to try and help, but when I looked up some D&H caboose pictures there seems to be a lot of variety in these reds.
This calls for a real D&H guy. It would be beneficial if you edited the title of this thread to include the term "D&H".
-Kevin
Living the dream.
A generic answer would help me also
fisker4jcA generic answer would help me also
If you are looking for a readily available spray can, Rustoleum Painter's Touch "Sunset Red" is a very good generic caboose color.
I assume from your question that you are not airbrushing the model.
That is correct. Thanks I'll look for that color
Is it plastic compatible?
fisker4jcIs it plastic compatible?
I can't say for sure that Sunrise Red is. It does not say on the can that I can see. On their web site it says "metal, wood, ceramic, and more", but does not say what the "and more" is.
However, according to the Rust-O-Leum website, ther 2X Painter's Touch color "Apple Red" is plastic compatible.
I have used Sunset Red on primed plastic models and was OK. As others say "Your Mileage May Vary." It might be best to go with Apple Red just to be sure.
Don't forget that paint fades when exposed to the weather and how we perceive color varies under different lighting conditions, plus the lighting in our layout rooms is not the same as sunlight (this is one reason why using a paint sample from the prototype gives uncertain results) You may want to experiment on some scrap plastic with different paints to see if a particular paint looks "right" under the lighting of your layout.
I use Tamiya TS-49 Bright Red for cabooses. Tamiya spray can paints are acrylics made for models, and the nozzle creates a finer spray than hardware store paints made for spraying large objects like outdoor patio furniture etc.
On a plastic caboose, I like to spray the body inside and out with Tamiya gray fine surface primer, then when dry stuff the inside with a soft paper towel then spray the exterior red. That leaves the interior gray without needing to do masking, looks a little nicer especially if you choose to do an interior.
Thank you all for the info
Model Railroaderr just had a recent article on repainting a caboose using Tamiya spray paints. They used flat red for the main body and rubber black for the roof and under body. Any thoughts on the choice of flat red vs. say bright red? Where do you get Tamiya apints these days?
fisker4jcWhere do you get Tamiya paints these days?
Tamiya paints are carried in almost all hobby stores, not necessarily a train store.
The best thing is try to find Floquil DH10 Caboose Red paint. It was made a long time ago for a contest run by either MR or MRC for a D&H caboose model.
I still have half a bottle as it was the color used on the Raritan River IPD boxcars.
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
Any thoughts on the suitablity of Testors red or dark red as a caboose red color? How about any of the model color reds?
A quick search two minutes ago came-up with a reference to your query last August, so you've likely seen the coloured photos of the real ones, in a variety of different "reds".
I'm no fan of spray cans (an airbrush will do a better job with no waste), but have included photos of four reds that would likely be suitable for a red D&H caboose.
On the left is Scalecoat I, CB&Q Chinese Red, followed by Scalecoat I, Santa Fe Red.
The third one is Pollyscale Caboose Red, followed by Floquil's Caboose Red.
Based on the photos of real cabooses and of the four jars of paint, I would consider any of the four colours suitable for a D&H caboose.
Here's one of my earlier bay window cabooses. painted with the Pollyscale colour...
...and caboose 372 under somewhat different lighting...
Wayne
Just a note to mention that I've updated my last post, as I had omitted the photo of the red paints.
I have enclosed a picture of my Raritan River Boxcar painted with Floquil's DH10 Caboose Red. This is the hue you would want to match.