Considering all the Manufacturers of Modern rolling stock(Boxcars,Hoppers,tankcars,etc)Do all manufacturers use the same color pallete to paint their rolling stock with?
Being more specific,Is Boxcar red,Boxcar brown,Boxcar blue the same colors used by various manufacturers of rolling stock(i.e Gunderson,P&CF Company)And do Manufacturers of Model railroad models all use the same color pallette?
The reason i ask,is because i have many boxcar models that i am planning on adding details to(Uncoupler levers,air hoses,and underbody details to,and need to know what name of the colors that are used for each individual model so that i can match the paint.
Example,I have 3 Exactrail TTX/Railbox 50’ Gunderson boxcars(yellow).Is their a TTX yellow paint produced to match this color,or is the yellow paint called something else?(Boxcar yellow?)Does Athearn,Walthers,Atlas all use the same protypical colors,or do they mix their own paint to match the prototype?
From what I’ve seen, most manufacturers have their own version of the “proper” colour for rolling stock. They may strive for more accuracy where diesels are concerned, but that’s still no guarantee.
Unless you’re painting cars with a very distinct colour scheme, I wouldn’t worry too much about getting accurate colour matches. Air hoses don’t generally match the car colour, underbody details are usually the same colour as the underbody (black or boxcar red) and covered in dirt (we call it weathering). [;)]
As for details such as cut levers, grab irons, etc., any colour that’s close to the car’s colour will look acceptable once the car has been lightly weathered. When viewed under normal layout lighting, any difference will be negligible. Sometimes, I even deliberately use colours that don’t match, in order to show some of the minor day-to-day repairs that these cars undergo.
I had to hunt through my photos to find cars modified and so touched-up, as I usually repaint and re-letter most of my rolling stock, but here are a few examples. Unless otherwise noted, cars have received metal steps and grab irons, including on the roofwalks, additional underbody detail, and minor modifications to the lettering:
Accurail reefers:
Bowser boxcars:
Branchline boxcar:
This Trueline caboose came with unpainted Celcon end platforms, ladders, etc. - even u
If you really wanted a realistic looking car, make sure it has some parts in a different color, I.E. trainline hose, pin lifter, one shiny “new” wheel next to a dirty one etc. This will simulate repairs quite well
