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Old modeler returning to hobby - Vallejo Paint "secret" recipes

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  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,840 posts
Posted by wjstix on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 9:01 AM

Interesting! But back to the OP, this doesn't affect Tru-Color paint from Rapido, which sounds like it's what they need.

https://trucolorpaint.com/

Stix
  • Member since
    October 2005
  • 1,041 posts
Posted by betamax on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 5:04 AM

IIRC: One of George's Trains employees took a job at Rapido. He convinced Jason Shron to take over the paint line from George's.

Recently the product was "suspended", and they are reviewing the business case for it. One of the many problems they ran into was sourcing the bottles. They had to be imported from France as they couldn't find anyone in North America making a suitable bottle.

I bought a couple of bottles at a hobby shop. In fact, I bought their entire inventory. The rack now sits empty.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,840 posts
Posted by wjstix on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 4:34 PM

Rapido webpage shows all Protopaints as 'out of stock'. I found a webpage for "George's Trains" where they sell "Proto-Paint", which seems to be the same paint - primarily Canadian paint colors. Not sure if George's makes it and Rapido was distributor at one time or what?

https://www.georgestrains.com/proto-paint/

In any case, Rapido does Tru-color paint now.

Stix
  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 869 posts
Posted by NHTX on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 4:15 PM

John66,

     Welcome back.  If you're looking for non-acrylic paint, Scalecoat is still with us, thankfully.  It is available from www.minutemanscalemodels.com.  I just received an order about two months ago.

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,700 posts
Posted by snjroy on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 11:54 AM

I thought that Rapido distributed Protopaint, which is an acrylic paint. Apparently, production is on hold. 

Simon

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,840 posts
Posted by wjstix on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 11:38 AM

Since you seem primarily interested in Canadian railways, you may want to check out Tru-Color Paints. The line is made by Rapido, a (relatively new) Canadian manufacturer that primarily produces top-of-the-line models of Canadian trains. It's available thru Walthers and many hobby shops.

https://trucolorpaint.com/

 

Stix
  • Member since
    April 2022
  • 3 posts
Old modeler returning to hobby - Vallejo Paint "secret" recipes
Posted by John66 on Saturday, April 2, 2022 9:39 AM

Greetings

As per title I am a middle aged modeler returning to the hobby after some years of absence.

I searched threads - I did not find specifcally what I was looking for. I apologize in advance if this Paint topic is over discussed. In the meantime I am airbrushing and detailing a number of box cars etc to get back into the swing of things. Although not news here - I was stunned by the demise of Floquil / Scalecoat.

Read - downloaded (already) a number of PDF conversion charts on Vallejo paints. The one by Joe Fugate was a great start. Very satisfied with the paints - very nice to work with. Charts helped.

However when looking for "Box car Red" I came accross Vallejo Red Brown AND German Red Brown at the local hobby shop. Undecided i took both and mixed them 50-50. Seems one is a slight hue lighter. Satisfied with results - looks accurate albiet a "little" lighter than expectation; however should just save on weathering as the combo looks slightly faded by weather.

Interested in any "secret not in PDF color conversion" ideas/prototype charts/suggestion charts since expanded:

Box Car Red

CN Red (1980s)- Orange appears way too orange for my tastes in bottle

Gondola Greys (CN other)

Burlington Northern Cascade Green 1980s

CP Red ( again appears off to me in bottle ) 1980s

Any suggestions or links welcome. There may be a PDF or article on the internet I missed on "more specific accurate Vallejo prototype mixes"

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