I am modeling Erie RR in 1950 and have an EMD F3A&B unit. I have ordered the decals from Champ but need to know the proper color. I wanted to do the 2-tone green but have found that is not appropriate for this motive power.
So I am left with loco black. Is that anything different than plain-jane flat black? I hate to pay big bucks for what I can buy at Walmart for $1! [:P]
Walmart?
Model paints have pigments that are more finely ground than other “generic” paints, making them cover better in a thinner coat, thereby not hiding the details. Are you talking about spray cans? No model of mine will ever be painted with a spray can from Walmart.
spray cans are a no-no in my book even if they are those sold for the model hobbies. Too unreliable.
Buy an air brush and at least pretend you are an expert at this model building thing. I prefer Scalecoat for most rolling stock painting.
Sheldon
Several manufacturers make “engine black” which is a weathered black, actually a very dark gray. Otherwise the LHS should carry the Tamiya line of paints, their spray can paints work much better than the large model-railroad spray cans or Testor’s. They go on very light and work very well, you could use their flat black or glossy black.
…or Tamiya semi gloss black.
Yup, I figured I would get some opinions. [B)]
Actually, I have only used rattle cans for primer and have an air brush with which I am slowly moving toward “expert”, at least in my own garage, [:-^]
So what Scalecoat would be best - loco black? Thanks for the help - as well as stix. [yeah]
The Erie F3 units were not flat black but rather gloss black, no Erie locomotive was ever flat black for that matter. To properly weather a locomotive you should paint it a gloss color or at worst case a semi gloss color. You then weather it by what ever means you use to get that dulled down look of a loco that has been in service for a long time. Oh and a note don’t use dull coat from a spray can. the way they flatten or dull down paint or clear coat when using spray cans is by adding talc to give it that dull look. It will ruin your paint job.
A long time Erie fan I know starts with flat black for his weathering base.According to him gloss fades to flat within a year due to the sun,rain,snow,sleet so,in order to capture that he uses flat black and weathers accordingly from pictures of the actual locomotive he is modeling…
Alleghany - that makes sense as it is really hard to get a feel for the true coloring from the pictures I have downloaded from railnet and railpictures.
Would you then suggest a paint to start with? I do not think that the Floquil or Scalecoat loco black is a gloss? Would you just go for gloss black? It sure looks to me like there is a gray or brownish cast to the black that I see?
Any suggestions to start would be most appreciated. Thanks for the tip about dull coat as I have it in a rattle can. Is it the same in the jar? [%-)]
Wow! [8D]
I think I just found the best solution! Floquil Weathered Black, F110017. It looks just like the cabs I have pictures of and I can add a little gloss later if I wish. It will be my first enamel air brush job so… wish me luck. [swg]