Hello all,
I have a handful of Rutland freight cars I'm building, F&C kits, and for boxcar red, the directions suggested a mix of Floquil Boxcar Red and Caboose Red. Well, since Floquil has been out of production for many years, I'd prefer newer paints out there. Especially acrylics. For those that model the Rutland, what do you like to use for the red?
Alvie
A quick search turned-up two Rutland boxcars, both from Accurail.
They came painted and lettered, but I removed some of the cast-on grabirons and replaced them with metal ones, and also re-did the grabs on the running board laterals, too...
As is evident, both cars got some weathering, likely done with powdered pastels.
After taking the photos a few minutes ago, I noticed that one of the plastic stirrup steps on the back-side of the 8075 had broken off. I'll slice-off the other three, and replace them with metal ones, and perhaps add a picture with the repair.
Wayne
It took a little longer than than I expected, as the weight inside the car was loose, and I had to add blocking to keep it from flipping when the car is returned, on it's side, to it's box. I was able to drill into the very thin sidesills, and then installed the metal sill steps. They got brush painted with Pollyscale Boxcar Red, which does not match the Accurail paint job.
I could easily have mixed the paint to match dead-on with the Accurail paint job, but because my freelanced roads are not part of the Rutland Railroad, I'll be sending an invoice to the Rutland (HO scale version) informing them of the cost of the repairs done on their boxcar.
This practice was very common throughout North America, and every month, railroads would mail-out invoices for work performed on rolling stock that belonged to other railroads.
I'd guess that this procedure ensured that rolling stock was kept in good condition, regardless of the ownership or of the road that did the repairs.For us modellers, it offers the opportunity to make suitable repairs to our rolling stock without having to worry about making exact paint matches.
Contact F&C and see what they suggest. The owners are modelers.
I'd suggest that you not make the mistake of thinking that boxcar red is as red as a fire engine...most boxcar reds are reddish-brown (or, if you prefer, brownish-red).
One of the few boxcars that had true red paint were New York Central's Pacemaker cars, which were grey and true red.
Boxcar red is a variable color and railroads were not particular in its use. Both the Wabash and DTI when they needed paint went to the farmer's supply or hardware store and purchased the cheapest barn red paint on the day they went in and did not care what hue it was. I am sure a small railroad like the Rutland did the same.
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
Rattle cans of red auto primer from Krylon or Rustoleum make a fine box car red. They also makes a fine brick red on structures. The prototype railroads wanted a cheap weatherproof paint. Boxcar red was a oil paint with iron oxide pigment which was sun resistant, it did not fade much on rolling stock that spend most of its life out of doors. The exact shade of boxcar red varied from time to time and place to place.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com