What model paint to use for old-fashioned shop lamp shades?

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Hey, everybody, work is progressing on my O scale 2-stall engine house w/shop wing. I recently found and ordered a lot of castings of the 17" pressed steel lamp shades, which were practically standard for lighting factories and shops of all kinds in the early 20th century. These were fired enamel coated, green on the outside and white on the insides. Does anyone have a good sense of color (I’ve never had one!) and can tell me what model paint might match that shade of green? I keep thinking they were a sort of dark olive green, but photos on the internet don’t match my memories! I’m thinking the outsides of them should be flat-painted, the insides glossy white. Any artists in the Group? Thanks.

Deano

2

Gidday Deano, not an artist but I’ll start the ball rolling by suggesting Tamiya XF-05, Flat Green.

, on Flickr

As a teen I briefly worked at a gasworks so I rather suspect that in an engine shed, you could get away with a sooty colour, unless your railroad has an enthusiastic cleaning crew.[;)]
Cheers, the Bear. [:)]

3

I use Craftsmart Acrylic Holiday Green for my 50s style lamp shades.

My lamp shades are made from 2mm brass washers glued to a 2mm 12 volt GOW. And Yes! I still use incandescent bulbs for my lighting. To me they are just so much more realistic looking. I run all of my 12 bulbs at 8½ volts or about 70% voltage. Super long bulb life and very realistic looking.

I put a taper in the washers by placing them on a ¼-20 nut and whacking it with a Allen screw ball drive tool.

Mel

4

I’ve bought and installed these, but it’s been so long I can’t remember the company name. Here’s a photo of a real one:

Online, I see there are a lot of knockoffs. One characteristic of a real one is that hexagonal hole in the top.

Anyway, the outside comes glossy, not flat. But it can’t take long to pick up enough dust to change that.

I’d say the color is a fairly rich dark green. British Racing Green comes to mind. Not olive, though.

Ed

5

That’s exactly the term I’d use, as the older ones I’ve seen are a fairly dark green, with a gloss finish for both the green and the white interior surface.

Wayne

6

Thanks, guys, now that you mention it, the color does remind me of British Racing Green! As I’ve said before, I’m an absolute mutt when it comes to matching colors, but there should’ve been bells ringing in the back of my mind every time I looked at a color photo of one of those old industrial lamp shades. Particularly so, since I was involved with the sports car racing scene for a good many years–even concocted (with help of an auto paint store emplyee) a team color for our racing team based on BRG. Now, all I have to do is find a model paint in that color…

Deano