Online Paint Matching Tool

[Mark R.]

Here's an incredible online tool for paint color matching.  You can even upload your own picture, click on a spot of the picture and it will give you color matches including paint by brand.

Complete color swatches for paint brands are also available ....

 http://scalemodeldb.com/paint

Mark.

[NP2626]

That is neat and a valuable tool, now that we are loosing a couple of the model railroad paint manufacturers!  Placed into my Favorites, ready for use.  Thanks Mark R!

[UPinCT]

Thanks Mark for the link.

Derek

[sh00fly]

Mark,

Very Very nice tool! I used it today to help narrow down some paint choices. Still the best is to make sure it's the right color in person if you can, but that is not always a luxury with fewer hobby shops around. I really like that you can filter the brand and finish.

Bookmarked!

After using this tool...did anyone realize the shear number of different subtle shades and colors there are out there? WOW!

Chris Palomarez

[NP2626]

sh00fly

Mark,

Bookmarked!

After using this tool...did anyone realize the shear number of different subtle shades and colors there are out there? WOW!

Chris Palomarez

Like every color in the rainbow?

[sh00fly]

and beyond!

[jerryl]

Looks like Pantone has the most shades. Looked them up & it seems they are house paints.  Probably available only in large quantities. I searched their site & couldn't find any info on airbrushing, so unless I am missing something, they have limited use for modeling.

  Also noticed the absence of Floquil & Scalecoat?     jerry

[sh00fly]

PANTONE is a reference system designed for matching colors in the print industry.

I don't think you will have much luck acquiring paints (inks) from pantone but you may find colors designed to match the Pantone from other manufactures.

Chris

[cedarwoodron]

What is really needed is for someone knowledgeable about color and model paints to set up an equivalence chart that can guide modelers in both the fine scale and model railroading areas as to the best choices for particular colors. If a modeler is looking for GN Omaha Orange, which companies offer something that fits that requirement, for example. If one wants a color that may not be available as a retail item, what other color choices would mix (and in what proportion) to produce that unavailable color, etc.This might well increase paint purchases by those of us who actively build and paint, helping not only ourselves, but those vendors who seek our trade. Perhaps this might stave off future "Floquil" situations. Cedarwoodron

[sh00fly]

Working on such a thing. Trying to find more paint samples to expand the preliminary list

http://www.trainweb.org/mavmrrdigest/grafx/ColorGuide.pdf

[Guy Papillon]

Thank you for the link.

[joe323]

Buying paint is like shopping for a car color Its not a black locomotive its late night sky. This tool will help.

[joe323]

Which leads me to another question. If I took my favorite RR color down to one those paint stores with a color computer could they match it.

Although a quart if boxcar red latex (for example)paint would last though several lifetimes at the rate I use it

[mlehman]

So long as the paint chip is big enough for the sensor to read, they can match whatever you bring them. You've got your choice of latex or oil in gloss, semigloss, and eggshell. Might be kind of thick for painting rolling stock.

[J.Rob]

Nice link. It would be interesting if one of the magazines actually put together a chart or a series of links that could allow those of us not in the ready to run crowd to find paint. One thing I would suggest to modelers are paints designed to paint metal objects such as cars or tools etc as they may have much finer grade pigments than the latex house paint from the big box stores, which also sell other kinds of paint. Also if anyone comes up with other brands of paint besides that which is made by testors it would be nice to have links to their web sites and possible suppliers.

[sh00fly]

I'm putting together the list and it should be on microscale.com sometime next week

Chris