Athearn Amtrack Ph V paint question

[elansp]

I'd like to purchase some Details West parts for my P42 but I'm concerned about matching up the paint.  Can anyone advise what would the "proper" colors be?

 

Thanks in advance,

[elansp]

Anyone?  I need to match up the gray and orange colors on the model.  Thanks.

[dstarr]

 I don't know the names/numbers of various paint colors, but it doesn't really matter.  You have to go to the paint shelf and buy a bottle of the color that looks like a good match.  Then, since color changes from wet to dry, you have to paint a piece of scrap and  check the color match after the paint is dry.  If the match isn't good enough either go back to the store and try another color, or mix your own.  For gray, you add white or black to lighten it or darken it.  For orange you add pure red or pure yellow to change the tint, and white or black to lighten or darken the shade. 

   Getting the paint right is something of an art.  I find that even paint from the same maker varies slightly in color from batch to batch.  Different makers use different paint and "identical" models from two different makers will usually have a different shade to the paint job.  

  What does help,  the eye has a tendency to see slightly different shades as the same.  So the touchup paint will blend in even if it is slightly off color.  

[ho modern modeler]

I'm re-painting 2 of my old "fading stripes" that don't match to Phase V. I have Floquil Dark Blue for the top and either SP Light Grey or Lettering Grey (or mixed) for the bottom. Accu-paint Aluminum goes on last (so the tape doesn't pull it off.) Please share what the orange is for, I've seen pictures of some of these with a special nose treatment but I believe it's a regional promotion or something. DW 271 superdetailing kits are great (I've done 4 so far) and S&S Hobby #307 replacement grilles add a nice touch (from Walthers). These engines are pretty much disc by Athearn and would be a prime candidate for a re-issued Genesis item although I heard Walthers has the rights to produce a Phase V version.

 

PS the Walthers Exclusive last issue missed the blue stripe below the red stripe is why I didn't buy them, the decals in the next post have both stripes

[Southwest Chief]

Amtrak phase V blue is next to impossible to match.  If you were starting from scratch then Floquil Light Blue is the preferred non-mixing choice by Amtrak modelers.  But it does not match the paint used on the Athearn/Walthers P42s.

I added a Details West ATS shoe to my lead P42 and used Floquil SP Lark Dark Grey to match.  It turned out to be a near perfect match.

Not sure what you mean by orange?  Maybe the "reflective" red stripe color?  If so, Microscale makes a set with this stripe, 87-1267.

[elansp]

Thanks!  Just placed the order for the Gray....