What do you use for Soo Line White, Soo Line Red and Soo Line Candy Apple Red? I've been using Model Flex paint lately and am really pleased with it. In my testing, I have found that Reefer White sprayed over their Primer Gray has that 'very light gray' look to it. Then Signal Red over that light gray looks pretty good for the Soo Line Red & White schemes - that's my plan for my model of SD40-2 6613. Model Flex has a Soo Line Red that, from the color charts I have seen, looks more like the Candy Apple Red than the Red used on the red & white units. edit for clarification [ 13 March 2001: Message edited by: yankinoz ]
Hi Rob, I've followed Dee's suggestion in adding ModelFlex Engine Black to a full bottle of ModelFlex Rreefer White to just go 'off' the white. I find about 6 drops does it and I spray it over a light grey base, usually Tamiya JA Grey. Another option is Polly Scale Reefer White with about 8 drops of Engine Black (slightly greater volume bottle). The Soo Line Red I have in Floquil but I've been using ModelFlex's Signal Red as well. For the Candy Apple, Dee suggested Scalecoat II Caboose Red over silver but the Cab Red is impossible to get now, particularly here. I have a GP9m (chop-nose 4302) in silver currently that will get the ModelFlex or Polly Scale Cab Red treatment one day. Hope this is of help. Gary. Appendum - I forgot about Floquil's Soo Line Red - 100450 I think. It's a gloss finish, BTW. G. [ 14 March 2001: Message edited by: Gats ]
Rob, When we paint a locomotive, we have to consider lighting. A paint might look correct in bright sunlight but be way off under the flourescents of the club layout. The best combination that I have been able to come up with is the ScalecoatII Caboose Red over silver. The silver adds just the right touch of brightness to the red. It looks reasonable under sunlight and artificial light. Unfortunately, when I called Scalecoat about the unavailability of the Bright Caboose Red, they said it has been discontinued ...Sob.! So I will have to start casting about for a better color, one that will match my existing locos (so my fleet doesn't look off balance). The Model Flex paint Caboose Red seemed to light when I tried it. Maybe a testors color or a mix of some thinned automobile paint will work. One of the members of our trainclub has a body shop with a color matching computer. Will have to try that. -Dee,
Maybe the TC&W has a spare access door off a GP15C or GP30C you could borrow to try the computerised paint matching? Gary.
OK - I only had a half a bottle of Reefer White (appears to be out of stock in Australia) so rather than go with the engine black I used SP letter gray (I also used that as a primer) until it 'just turned' figuring this would give me a bit more control than black and it's also suggested in an old MR article. I sprayed my 'Soo Line White' on the whole shell. I have to tell ya, it looked way too gray I thought about stripping it and waiting til I could find a new bottle of white - I was a little heavy handed with the airbrush in a few spots anyway (I should get an 'L' plate for my workbench) but I figured if I'm gonna strip it, I might as well get the red on there and see how Signal Red looks first. It took about 30 min to mask the hockey stick… Wow! Once the red is in place the 'very light gray' looses it's grayness almost all together. Darn thing sort of looks like a Soo Line SD40-2 now! I have the decals and am gonna put em on tonight. I still think it's a touch too dark - Gary I'm looking forward to showing it too you for some feedback. It's my first detailed loco and it's almost done. Woo Hoo!
Rob, I have heard of some people using Grey till the white "just turns". I figured black would make it "turn" faster. Gary, let us know how it turned out. Haven't been on much. Sold the old 'puter. Won't have my new one till middle of next month. Sob! -Dee
I thought I should site the article that gave me the idea to use gray - MR Paint Shop by Charles Derus, August 1989. It didn't turn real fast (which was what I wanted as I was low on white paint) The ratio I ended up with was about 15:1.
OK - I took some photos of it this morning and got them back from the lab at lunch (you guys remember film and prints don't you?) You can't get a really good idea what the colour looks like (film/light/prints etc) but I will scan a couple tonight and post them in the HO forum so you can see what I have been up to
Rob, I'm looking forward to seeing the -2. I have night shift Fri and Sun night, busy Sat night, but am available Sat and Sun day for a couple of hours, if interested. Dee, using black worked well but the colour change is more drastic than Rob's method. I still feel you need to have another another untouched bottle beside you to judge the 'turning'. But noting the shade change once the red is applied is an interesting fact. High contrast colours! I'll keep an eye out for you, Dee, when you are back up and running. Gary.
