Hello,
I have some old HO short wooden passenger cars and I'd like to convert them to Susquehanna and New York equipment. I looked up their passenger cars and no color photos exist (the S&NY was abandoned in 1942 and most equipment scrapped), besides they didn't have such short coaches (using these means I can reduce my minimum radius on the branch). I'm guessing that they were painted something in the neighborhood of Pullman green. Being a not-very-wealthy shortline, I'd think that they didn't use some standard shade of green.
That being said, what is the best 'Pullman green' for a generic application like this? I'm looking for something that I can obtain reasonably easily and inexpensively, good for an airbrush, and can also take decals well.
Here's some links to the best photos I found:
https://ibb.co/Tb4prWZ
https://ibb.co/Hr5RsZk
I think that some S&NYR passenger cars were a drab green color.
Not sure what colors are available in USA, but if the railroads over the pond are like they are here then something that looks right will be in a photo and not in another. Here, Company railroad stock would fade over time, thereby giving different colors.
Therefore, as a suggestion, buy a green that 'looks right' then after spraying the cars, to distress them a little. After all I do not think the S&NYR cars would be in immaculate condition.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Generally after Pullman started painting their sleepers "Pullman Green", most US railroads adopted the same dark green for their passenger cars, so all the cars in a consist would match whether the cars were the railroad's or Pullman-owned.
The Badger/Accuflex "Pullman Green" is probably the closest to the actual Pullman green color. However, under layout lighting I find it tends to look black. A slightly lighter shade works better. I use Tamiya Olive Drab (TS-5).
My favorite paint for locos and rolling stock is Scalecoat. It dries to a glossy finish and is ready for decals.
Pullman_10-1-2_Lake-Dunmore by Edmund, on Flickr
Pullman Green varied slightly over the years but was generally very dark. After a little age and road dust it took on a lighter, less-green shade.
Troop-Sleeper2 by Edmund, on Flickr
The above is the same paint after an application of Dullcoat.
There are "greener" colors, such as "Coach Green" that some railroads used. You may want to lean more toward this color IF you are looking to keep the distinct green color after a little weathering.
Supposedly this Conrail E8 is painted in Pullman Green but, to my eye it is "greener" than what was used in the heavyweight era.
CR_OCS_4022 by Edmund, on Flickr
The Canadian National had a pleasant shade of green in the heavyweight days (this example is a bit faded) that leaned toward the olive shade:
CNR_7826_Railway-Mail by Edmund, on Flickr
Your choice of paint brand is a personal preference. Each one has different characteristics which you have to get accustomed to in your airbrush.
Regards, Ed
That Conrail E8 photo looks all sorts of wrong - the imitation gold looks wrong, the red stuff (including the cone in front of the pilot) looks off, as does some of the background. Bad exposure setting? Problem in developing? I'm pretty sure I saw one of those one time, and it was MUCH darker than it appears there.
Something interesting there appears to be an additional pointed resonator or something in the one horn trumpet.
Didn't we recently have a thread on Pullman Green?
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I use a rattle can. Krylon Hunter Green #3502.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
rrinkerThat Conrail E8 photo looks all sorts of wrong - the imitation gold looks wrong, the red stuff (including the cone in front of the pilot) looks off, as does some of the background. Bad exposure setting? Problem in developing?
I took that photo at about 8 in the morning. Hills of Altoona? I still have the original negatives, this was scanned from a print (but all the other photos taken that day look fine) but If I find the negative I'll try making another scan.
Note that the pilot, trucks and fuel tank are actually closer to "Pullman" green. You can see the distinct difference at the anticlimber. Did Conrail slap a quickie paint job on the carbody and use some odd-ball paint?
Conrail E8 4022 OCS by Edmund, on Flickr
Note the difference where the full-dome car meets the engine at the far left. Click to enlarge. This shot is a little later in the morning.
The safety cone is Day-Glo orange. Looks OK on my monitor?
I used Kodak film and processing back then.
The cone was a bug screen in front of the horn.
I won't claim it's "best" as that's pretty hard to do IMO when talking about something as subjective as color. Let's just say this is a worthy option. Rust-Oleum makes "Charleston Green" in their Gloss Protective Enamel line. It's nice and dark, while still being green. Here's a couple of cars I painted with it.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Who know where Conrail got "Pullman Green" in Altoona. They decided to close Reading Shops, where there was probably plenty of Pullman Green left over....