I just received two of these from an ebay purchase. They were sold as a NIB two pack. Operationally, they seem top notch. Couplers were at the correct height and they roll very smoothly. What jumped out at me was the color. It isn't even close to the Tuscan Red I've seen in Pennsy passenger equipment from other manufacturers. They are several shades lighter than everything else I have in Pennsy livery. I also have a can of Scalecoat PRR Tuscan which is darker that these. It's a common mistake to assume that what you've seen in the past is correct and anything that deviates from that is wrong so I'm asking this question. Did BLI color match these cars to original Pennsy specs or did they just come up with something they thought was close enough? If it is the latter, to my eye, it is not close enough.
PRRs passenger car colors varied over the life-span of the P70 cars. Early cars had a lighter "tuscan" color along with metallic brown roofs, dark orange sash and olive colored trucks and sometimes battery and ice boxes.
The cars with the "Futura" lettering were more of a red-shade of Tuscan.
BLI was pretty good about maintaining painting integrity on these cars. What era cars did you purchase? If they were these early ones they would be a lighter shade of Tuscan.
I've got cars from the first run with both gold-leaf or buff lettering and from the second run with the early 1931-37 metallic brown roof or the later 1939-41 appearance. When run together I have three distinct shades of tuscan.
Good Luck, Ed
These were the non-air conditioned coaches so I'm guessing they would be the earlier era. I can live with the differing shades knowing the prototype colors varied as well. I'll need to do something about the roofs. They are a dark, shiny black and if they are going to represent older cars, I need to fade that out a bit. I'll add a little weathering to the sides as well.
What color are the trucks. If they are green then it's the early/original paint scheme if it's black then they are a later scheme. --- Ken
They are black.
Are you familiar with the PRRT&HS' Keystone Modeler emag? Issue #116, Spring 2021 has a review of the second-run P70s with some paint information. I believe you can access the site simply by regestering you don't have to be a member.
FWIW I recently bought a couple of older BLI E7s in NYC, and they aren't even close to the right color -- way too much blue in their dark gray. But man, are they good pullers. I just have to be sure to put green head-end cars on the train (or a green express car ahead of the lightning stripers) so on one will notice the locos don't match the cars!
Aaron
BLI in cooperation with the PRRT&HS try to match colors as closely as humanly possible. Take in consideration that they are working from paint formulas over one hundred years ago. And also take in consideration that paint technology has improved tremendously in the past 100 years. Paints faded quickly, peeled, chalked, and especially passenger equipment was washed with harsh detergents with lye. Putting a freshly painted car next to one only a few months old is dramatic in difference to shade. While they called themselves the STANDARD railroad, paint could be dramatic in difference from one shop to the next. One car from Altoona could be several shades different than Crestline. Even though the paint is from the same place, the people mixing the pigment quantity would not be standard.
Pete.
gmpullman Are you familiar with the PRRT&HS' Keystone Modeler emag? Issue #116, Spring 2021 has a review of the second-run P70s with some paint information. I believe you can access the site simply by regestering you don't have to be a member. Good Luck, Ed
I checked out the Keystone Modeler as you suggested. The cover of the 116 issue illustrates the difference between BLI's P70 coach and the typical shade of Pennsy Tuscan.
The Keystone Modeler, No. 116, Spring 2021 - Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society
If anything, my P70 coaches are even a bit lighter than what it appears in this picture.
Interesting article and it explains a lot. I think if I had it to do over again, I would have purchased the later AC coaches with the darker paint although all the two pack offerings on ebay were more expensive than what I bought. Maybe this light color will grow on me.