Thanks for all the thoughtful replies, everyone. I truly appreciate the help and the efforts. Maine Trains in Chelmsford, MA sells Accupaint engine maroon. I could buy it there. I am also interested in mixing my own with the formula listed above.
Again, thaks to all.
Jim
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
On a somewhat related subject.. I am trying to find craft paint matches to the B&M station colors for wood kits. Looking at pictures on the net.. the shades vary wildly.
What I have come up with so far is Delta Ceramcoat "Old Parchement" for the "Cream" color and Maroon for, well, the Maroon. In case it looks too purply I also got a Barn Red which is a little redder.
I am still putting on coats to see how it comes out on the primer, but under my 6500k lights it seems "close enough"
Just wondering if anyone else has used readily available paints to do B&M stations and structures? Unfortunately the specialy railroad paints must be ordered which drives their price way up. I prefer things I can find in the local stores which is either craft paints like Delta, or "regular" model paints by Tamiya and Testors.
Chris
I recalled seeing an article or two in RMC magazine within the last couple of years on painting B&M diesels, so I just now went to check. The first one that I grabbed was the December 2007 issue, with an article on painting a B&M S2. The author, based on info from the January 1980 issue of Mainline modeler, tried Polly Scale Roof Red, but found the colour to be too dark. Searching the internet, he found an "exact" match for B&M maroon, using Floquil paints:
10 parts Floquil R-156 - EL Maroon3 parts R-136 - SP Scarlet1 part R-134 - SP Daylight Orange
Since he wanted a somewhat worn and weathered look, he altered the formula to a ratio of 15:8:2. Not being a B&M modeller and having only coloured magazine photos of both model and prototype to judge by, I'd say that he has a very good "eye" for colour. Of course, as Dallas notes, colour perception is very subjective.
Wayne
doctorwayne wrote: Your best bet might be to ignore the paint manufacturer's name for the paint and just look at the actual colours. Everybody has their own idea of the "correct" colour for almost any prototype, and if you're trying to match decals, take them with you when you go to the LHS. If you've got a good "eye" for colour, you could buy the one that's closest to what you need, and a couple of colours to alter the factory maroon to match your decals (and tastes). Wayne
Your best bet might be to ignore the paint manufacturer's name for the paint and just look at the actual colours. Everybody has their own idea of the "correct" colour for almost any prototype, and if you're trying to match decals, take them with you when you go to the LHS. If you've got a good "eye" for colour, you could buy the one that's closest to what you need, and a couple of colours to alter the factory maroon to match your decals (and tastes).
To build on this, colour perception is very, very subjective.
Any real world colour will appear much too dark on a scale model.
Ever get a colour chip at a paint store and then paint a wall with that colour? Even though they are the same, they appear different. The big wall looks lighter than the small chip.
Colour perception also changes with distance. The farther away something is, the lighter it appears.
And there's wet paint compared to dry paint!
I suggest you find something close in colour and then experiment on some scrap to get the shade you need.
Craig
DMW
Accupaint made/makes "Passenger Maroon" AP-35, and another B&M maroon for locomotives. The Passenger Maroon is the color mixed to match an unopened can of paint obtained from the Billerica shops, according to net legend. I found it awfully brown, and now use hardware store spray can red for my B&M coaches. With a top coat of dullcote it matches some color photos of B&M equipment. The Northern New England Color Guide has pictures of B&M rolling stock that run from red as a fire engine to brown as a boxcar. I like red better than brown, so my stuff is red. Consensus of opinion at the club (well populated with experienced B&M folk) was "It's a little red, but not beyond the pale".
The locomotives always had more purple in the maroon than coaches. I'd want to make a test strip and let it dry before doing the entire locomotive. The final color can be effected by the color of the primer or under coat, and by the lighting. Fluorescent lights make red and maroon colors look odd, so view your test strip under the train room lighting.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
Alex
Badger Model Flex has both B&M colors. B&M Blue is #16-60 and the B&M Maroon is #16-189.
Thanks, Wayne.
I have the Micro scale decals and want to match up the color as closely as possible. Surprising that Floquil or Polly Scale don't make B&M maroon, but they do make paint for some more obscure railroads...
If I'm not mistaken, SMP Industries made a very good version of both the paint and the decals for lettering. I understand that they're still in business, too, although the link that I have no longer works.
Thanks, Tom. I appreciate your help.
Jim,
I did a quick Google search and Badger makes their Model-Flex Railroad Paint in B&M Maroon. I don't know how accurate it is to the prototype though.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I want to paint a pair of F units in the Boston & Maine maroon and gold Minuteman scheme. What Floquil or Polly Scale color is recommended for the maroon?