Floquil Paint Colors for Depot

[ncng]

I am currently building a model of the Winlock WA NP depot. I need to paint it in the brown and tan scheme. Does anyone have recommended Floquil colors that will match the NP colors?

Thank you.

David

[BoxcabE50]

I have seen quite a few discussions about what colors are correct. A lot of variance in photos. Cannot think what colors seem to be most often agreed upon.

Would you post a photo or two of the finished product?

:D

Boxcab E50

[ncng]

I don't have a rail image account so it might be difficult. If I remember, I will post a link or email a JPG of the finished model.

This is a project for the Lewis County (WA) Historical Museum. It will also lead to a detailed plan/drawing package the Lewis County Model Railroad Club will be selling as a fund raiser. The package will include at least seventeen 8 1/2" x 11" pages of detailed HO Scale drawings plus step-by-step instructions, pictures of the model under construction, and pictures of the prototype. I haven't decided yet whether to offer the package on CD. I have arranged for laser cut windows, doors, and roof support brackets with a model kit manufacturer that the purchasers of the plan can order. The cost for these laser cut items will be less than if they bought Grandt Line or Tichy windows and doors and will be accurate for the building.

This is going to be a great project if I can ever get and answer on the paint colors. I have posted the question in several places, including the Yahoo NP group and yours is the first response.

Thanks,
David

[Caddy58]

Hello David,

I have used "Depot Buff" as main color for my NP depots and "Roof Brown" for the trim.

My reference books are "NP in Color" by Dough Nighswonger and "The Northern Pacific" by Dale Sanders.

I think the two colors matches the pictures quite nicely, though some weathering clearlyx helps to match a specific photo.

Hope that helps
Dirk

[Caddy58]

David, two more things:

It is easy to set up a railimage account: If I can do it everybody can do it :D :D
Please share all the good work that you are doing!

And the idea to make special windows & doors available to everybody who purchases the plans is excellent!

Cheers
Dirk

[ncng]

I finally think I found my answer. I searched and searched through the NP reference site and found a link to a NP modeling group on Yahoo. I was only aware of the NP group not the modeling group. After searching through there archive of messages, I found several posts on paint mixtures. I plan to mix up some of them and then decide on the best combination.

Thanks for your help and when I get a chance I will look into signing up for a rail images account.

David

[BoxcabE50]

David-

A RailImages account is free. And easy to set up. Just go to the site, and follow the steps to request an account. It may be a little while before you get a reply, as Admin people are at work, etc.

:D

Boxcab E50

[SDP45]

About 2 miles from my in-laws is the old station of Gloyd on the old Connell Northern. This building is painted in the colors in question, though they are well aged. There is a matching building nearby, with the approx. dimentions of an outhouse, also the same colors as the station.
I've never been able to find out if this is indeed the old station of Gloyd. It has been moved about 1/4 mile from where the tracks used to be, but because of the colors, I think it is authentic.

[cwwrman]

NCNG,
I recently painted an NP section house and I was at the same point you were about what colors to use. I called my dads cousin in Yakima who belongs to the NP historical society and is also a well know modeler of the NP. I explained to him I was going to use depot buff and he explained to me that it was too yellow. He told me to use Polly Scale sand and for the trim use roof brown. I hope this message hasnt got to you too late as I would hate to see such a beautiful depot get painted in the wrong colors.

[BoxcabE50]

There are several potential problems, which confuses the issue. One is looking at an actual structure. Weathering and age have taken a toll. Another is film color shifts. Yet another is not the same brands of paint were used, from area to area. Nor was preparation or application done uniformly. Also, remember that older paints used iron pigments. So inside they'd literally be rusting. (Oxidizing.) Which caused a color to have different shades of brown. Even at times appearing almost purplish.

The lighting under which you view that finished model has a definite effect. Are you modeling a freshly painted structure? Or weathered by time and....

I have numerous NP color slides in my collection. And the colors vary a lot. Some are indeed a yellow hue. Some are almost a barn red.

The sand/depot buff is often used by NP modelers.

:D

Boxcab E50

[ncng]

Thanks for the input but it is a little late. I have finished building the depot and have posted pictures in the RailImages section. I got lots of input on the colors. I am about ready to sell plans for the depot and here is an excerpt from the instructions:

I personally like to use the original formula Floquil paints. For the dark brown I used:

3 parts Roof Brown
1 part Box Car Red
1 part Reefer White

The reefer white was used to lighten the dark brown slightly because the final model is displayed in a poorly lit area.

For the sand color, there was a wide difference of opinion on what the formula should be. The two most often formulas provided:

1. Foundation (straight from the bottle)

2. 3 parts Reefer White
3 parts Depot Buff
1 part Roof Brown

As a compromise, I mixed one half Foundation with one half of the 3-3-1 formula. This mixture provided a good color, but again, because of the low light levels where the final model is displayed, I added additional Reefer White.


http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/558/Depot-NW_Corner.jpg


Check out the other pictures of the depot in my NCNG folder in RailImages.

David Bond

[pray59]

That is a nice depot, and one I would not mind doing in Z Scale!

-Robert