There has been some considerable discussion regarding the correct color to represent the oil-and-graphite treatment given to steam locomotive fire- and smokeboxes, in the days before heat-resistant paint was readily and cheaply available to railroads. Since I am primarily a steam modeler, the question has puzzeled me for a solution, as well. I think I’ve finally come up with the correct one:
After some consideration, I realized that I had the real deal, right on my workbench. I had purchased, some weeks ago, a jar of Neolube ™ to try out on the siderods of an MDC 4-6-0 I was building. Neolube ™ is simply a finely powdered graphite, suspended in alcohol. When the alcohol evaporates it leaves a “steel-grey” coating on the surface onto which it is brushed. My reasoning went, “If the real railroads used graphite, why not the model?” True, the Neolube can be rubbed off, sort of, but how often do you pick up a steamer by the smokebox?
The result is above. Make your own judgement…