Rio Grande PA's in silver and orange in HO

[Anonymous]

Ok Rio Grande fans (and I'm expecting a good response from twhite! [;)])

I'm wanting to model an ABA set of PA's in the silver and orange scheme of the Rio Grande. My problem is that I haven't been able to find any color photos of these units, so what paints would be a good match and also what decal set from which manufacturer is appropriate?

I'm thinking that these units would be a good place to start airbrushing again. I'm wanting to use the LL P2K PA & PB, so anyone know of a place to find these models at a good price?

Thanks guys

[twhite]

Wes--Floquil offers Rio Grande Gold in their paints, it's a VERY close match. Microscale has Rio Grande diesel striping decals for every era. The PA's used mostly the 5-stripe scheme, though #600 and 601 were, as I remember, the only PA's to recieve the single stripe. The PA's came out in three color schemes, the original was black with gold striping, then all silver except for the orange nose, and then the 'Rio Grande Gold' scheme as their last incarnation. Neat bit of useless information: The 'Grande Gold' scheme was the result of the Rio Grande falling in love with the color scheme that was used by a Hollywood production company on one of their Silverton cars during the filming of "A Ticket to Tomahawk" in 1950, the first Hollywood film produced on the Silverton line. The Silverton cars were then painted in that color, which crept into the "Royal Gorge" train, after Rio Grande bought some ex-Chesapeake and Ohio streamlined cars for that train. The color scheme remained on both "Royal Gorge" and overnight "Prospector" trains for as long as they lasted, and was later adapted for the PA's and F units. Quite the colorful paint-scheme, I think. Next to SP's "Daylight" colors, I think the Rio Grande was the most striking.
Tom

[Anonymous]

Sorry Tom, I just realized I confused everyone. The scheme I'm wanting to paint is the all silver with orange nose scheme...Sorry my Bad

[twhite]

Ahah! THAT scheme! Well, I happen to have an old movie called "Denver and Rio Grande", and there is a shot of a PA pulling a train (think it's the Prospector) off of the Big Ten curves, and it's the silver and orange. Looks to me, since the film is in Technicolor, that either SP "daylight" orange, or WP orange would do the trick, Wes. It's a pretty 'bright' orange, brighter than the Rio Grande Gold cars behind it. As I understand, this was a short-lived color used to pull the California Zephyr, so probably the Rio Grande wanted an orange closer to WP diesels. At least it looks like that to me in the footage I've got.
Tom [:D]

[Anonymous]

Thanks Tom. I knew you'd know what I was talking about! I haven't found any color photos of those units ( I have plenty of B&W's). I'm thinking that this would be a good beginner airbrush project, with few decals and stripes.

I have noticed that the 4 stripe scheme has a black line between the silver roof and the gold sides. I can't really tell of the silver orange scheme has the black trim at the paint break. Any Ideas?

What about decals? Can I use the 4 stripe schemes decals for the "Rio Grande" hearlds?

Thanks Tom!

[twhite]

Wes--had to re-run the footage again to answer this one. I don't see a black stripe along the top of the loco, it looks like solid silver to me. If you need some other info, KATO is offering the silver/orange PA in N scale to go with their new California Zephyr train, there are some photos in several back issues of MR on the inside last page. It looks as if the Microscale Rio Grande diesel decals will work fine for the flying logo. But oboy, those orange CONTOURS on the nose! Wowser, that'll be some fancy masking, LOL! Best of luck--would like to see a photo of the results. Check Caboose Hobbies for those PA's, they usually have pretty good prices. I'd get the lightest paint scheme I could find (UP, maybe?) so you don't have to load on too much primer.
Tom [^][^]
PS--you once said you'd like to see photos of my layout. If you're still interested, check the website down below.
T.

[Anonymous]

I'll be sure to post some pics if I ever get around to do this!

I'm very impressed with your webpage! Very nice work on the layout. Do you run on DCC? Do you ever do open houses? My mom and dad live in Morgan Hill and have been wanting us to bring thier granddaughter out so they can take the train to Sacramento to the railroad museum...maybe we could schedule around any open houses!

Thanks for the help on this. I had completely forgot about Caboose Hobbies!

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by twhite

Quite the colorful paint-scheme, I think. Next to SP's "Daylight" colors, I think the Rio Grande was the most striking.
Tom

That is for sure. If DRGW and SP would have continued to exist, that would have been a very good combination.

[twhite]

Amen to that, Eric. PLUS we'd probably still have trains over Tennessee Pass. One thing about SP and Rio Grande, they knew how to run trains over mountains!
Tom
[^][^]

[twhite]

Wes--in answer to the 'open house', I've never really had one, unless you count some fellow teachers that gathered in the garage for my birthday and kept asking me "won't it go any faster?". But if you're in the Sacramento area anytime, I'm listed in the phone book, the only Thomas White in Carmichael. Or if you want to e-mail me at [e-mail] , I'll give you my phone number. Right now I just got the foam and lumber to start my 'other-side-of-the-garage' extension, so the place will be a mess for a while, LOL!
Tom [:P][:P]