I have a few newer coal cars with a mix of road names. I would like to re-paint into CSX colors What would be a close match for the black use. I use Model Flex paint.
I spray paint coal hoppers with Rustoleum or Krylon dark gray auto primer.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
You can always use the different road names, unless many are from UP, BNSF. Just look at a consist to see how many are really CSX.
Hi Gator,
You can be "flexible" in this case since black starts to fade noticeably on the prototypes, even when fairly new.
http://orig13.deviantart.net/aad1/f/2015/043/1/d/csx_coal_hopper_by_uglygosling-d8hqmc0.jpg
Rather than going with Modelflex 16-20 Super Gloss Black and "weathering it down", for a "fairly new" (1 to 3 years) appearance go with Modelflex 16-01 Engine Black. Seal with a semi-gloss clear and apply your decals. Depending on how new or weathered you want your car to appear, apply a final smooth coat of gloss, semi-gloss, or flat clear (dull coat).
Unfortunately, just as on prototype automobiles, black is notorious for showing paint irregularities. Test your black and clear finishes on sample scraps before applying. I've seen many a dark colored model in which the paint appeared a bit textured, regardless if it was airbrushed or "rattlecanned". I've made a few "doozies" myself in the past, so I've found that taking the extra minute or two for testing pays off
High Greens
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
kasskaboose You can always use the different road names, unless many are from UP, BNSF. Just look at a consist to see how many are really CSX.
For the last four years, I've worked in an office that can see some very busy CSX tracks deep in CSX country. I also lived in a place that had the same tracks right outside the window (eight miles down the road) for two. In that time, I never saw anything other than CSX (gray or black), the occasional Conrail with NYC marks, Santee-Cooper (SCWX?), and...some other X mark with gray hoppers whose name escapes me (they have yellow ends instead of Santee-Cooper's red ends (or vice versa)). Not even an NS hopper, let alone any westerners.
The black ones are all faded to that same sort of color that a barbecue grill gets. Almost any black would be a good pick. If I was doing it, I'd just grab Model Master Flat Black. You can get it virtually everywhere that sells paint and its one of those colors that everyone stocks all the time because, well, its the standard flat black.