Blue ROCK models

[swissboy]

Has the recent Atlas HO model of a blue and white high hood GP7 been the only blue model so far from a major manufacturer? And how accurate is it? Including the choice of the tricky blue tone.

I remember a very off-color Micro-Trains Rock box car.

[Martyn Read]

Proto have run 4 numbers of GP38-2 recently also - don't feel qualified to comment on the paint question, sorry. :(

[AFN]

I model the Rock Island but not the blue era. Athearn also produced their GP-38-2 in blue several years ago.
I seem to remember discussion amongst RI modellers that the P2K blue was "too" blue.

[BoxcabE50]

Looking at prototype photos, my eye seems to say there were some variants in shade of blue. Hard to say with different films, photographers, etc. Also, some seemed to "wash out", or fade from weathering faster than others.

smile.gif

Boxcab E50

[swissboy]

Originally posted by BoxcabE50:
Looking at prototype photos, my eye seems to say there were some variants in shade of blue. Hard to say with different films, photographers, etc. Also, some seemed to "wash out", or fade from weathering faster than others.

smile.gif

Boxcab E50 What I am hoping for is someone who has either experienced these originals himself and has that perfect color memory. Or else, someone who has access to original blue pieces, if they exist at all.

As for pictures, I have also come to the same conclusions as you have.

[friscobob]

MDC had some 40-footers in "bankrupt" blue, IIRC (in HO scale).

[BoxcabE50]

MDC also did a twelve pack in N scale. All different numbers. But... Six were white. Six were blue. Seems like the white ones were C&NW restencils? It's been nearly 25 years now, so I don't remember exactly.

:D

Boxcab E50

[dingoix]

I'd love to have some "bankrupcy blue" stuff on my layout but that came out in '75 and I model '68. But I do have 2 Athearn THE ROCK hoppers http://www.discounttrainsonline.com/dto/item140-71698.html

[wig-wag-trains.com]

Actually I would discount any argument based on photos, web postings or a persons memories. Seriously all are flawed in some way or another.

The Blue began fading almost before the paint dried.

It turned out to be one of the poorest choices any railroad has ever made except for KCS white.

If it didn't fade it got horribly dirty on the first trip a loco or car made.

The Rock Historical society might have records of the correct color mix from the prototype but I would also guess that the Rock personnel were not as picky as some roads since if a car manufacturer could offer a better price on a slightly different shade they likely would take it. The quantity of paint used on a car or locomotive is shocking. I painted on the C&TS and it took barrels not gallons.

[Thieu]

I'd like to have this one (Atlas):

http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/NFreightCars/n2bay/39242.jpg

I already have a 40 ft boxcar. Are there any (digital) N scale locos with the white/blue scheme?

[BNSF7173]

I paint a ton of Rock blue N scale for a customer in Bloomington IL. My OEM paint mix guide says to use 4 parts GN Big Sky Blue to one part Reefer White. This is for a new unit out of the paint shop like these.
http://www.railimages.com/albums/album524/aae.sized.jpg
There was some debate that the Badger Model Flex was off because of its lack of "Green". That said, the Model Flex Rock Blue is accurate as they worked closely with the Rock Island Tech Society. Keep in mind I'm the Floquil category manager, so with intrest going up on this period of the Rock, Floquil and Polly Scale may also introduce the color. Curently I use the mixture above and have excellent results.

If you ever want to start a "flame war" in a room of old hand rivit counters, this is a good start. The Rock blue bleeched worst than the B&M blue that is so dangerous a topic on the North East. Truth be told, the Rock used whatever they had on hand. The color standards on a road like this in this time period are not the same as they are today. It was not uncommon to see two Rock Island units parked next to each other and see variotions not only between the two units, but even the battery boxes vs. the cab. You should have seen those ex Rock GE U25B's the Maine Central got in 1980:omg:
If your in the area in June, I will be doing a seminar at Galesburg RR Days at the Carl Sandburg College on Railroad Color. It's a hot topic, but one I have spent most of my modeling time and College time on:teeth:

[friscobob]

It was not uncommon to see two Rock Island units parked next to each other and see variotions not only between the two units, but even the battery boxes vs. the cab. You should have seen those ex Rock GE U25B's the Maine Central got in 1980:omg:


Sounds like when KCS switched to painting their diesels gray- the ex-B&M GP38-2s were a darker shade then, say, the GP38s KCS already had, or even the repainted SD40-2s.

But as broke as the Rock was, the old saw "beggars can't be choosers" musta come into play.

[Thieu]

So it is not strange that I have two boxcars with different blue colors:-)

[BNSF7173]

So it is not strange that I have two boxcars with different blue colors:-)

Not really. If they are sold as OEM from the factory, then I would question the documentation of where the manufacturers got their draw downs. That is why I always state that Floquil colors are exact matches to the OEM (original equipment) IE the day the lcomotive left the shop.

I remember the first hobby show I did for Testors, when a guy remarked that the caboose ad I did was wrong. I doubt many people remember the ad, "Wheather to weather" It shows two B&M Cabeese, same road number but one new looking and the other weathered, even had a shattered window:omg: . Any way this guy said my "blue" was wrong. Being the rabid B&M fan that I am I asked him, which shade of B&M blue he was comparing it to, and which shop was he familiar with. I then went into a rather long disatation on how B&M blue weathered so nice from a Federal Blue to a white chalk blue and that generally what ever blue was on hand was used to freshen up the ocassional battery box on a Geep now and then. He was surprised to learn of all the blues. Most modelers don't realize that even a class 1 like the former BN had four shops that painted equipment in Cascade Green. For some reason the Cascade Green from the WA shops was more of an apple green, then the IL darker Cascade Green. Answer? manufactuerer of paint is the short and dirty answer, but there are more answers. Sure most if not all railroads use Du-Pont Industrial paint and that paint has a numbering system, but time does it's thing and who knows what the maintenance department uses for touch up.

Lest we forget who we are talking about too, the Rock:omg: Remember GP40 #4710? It has been called the accidental Bicentennial because the unit was in a wreck. The long hood was red and yellow, while the cab and nose were in blue and white. A railroad at this point in its life was just trying to keep things moving, color was just an expense.

Long story short, color can be subjective. As long as your Rock Island stuff is not Conrail blue you have nothing to fear:shade: I have way too much time on my hands!