I checked the Modelflex paint list in Walthers, and I think
Doug means Light Tuscan Oxide Red. I downloaded the Modelflex Railroad Colors
pdf and the color samples don’t match my actual color chips on a color
corrected LCD monitor. I tried printing the colors of interest, but that
introduced another variable.
Pullman Green varies considerably from Poly Scale (light) to
Modelflex (dark). I think Poly Scale PRR Brunswick Green comes pretty close to
aged Copper Green (Hol’s terminology) or Bronze Green (BRHS Data Sheet
– Standard Color Schedule for Painting Structures). For freshly painted
Bronze Green, a little black added to either Modelflex Euro Dark Green or Poly
Scale Dark Green should come close to the Data Sheet color samples.
The closest match to the Data Sheet color sample for Indian Red
is Modelflex Light Tuscan Oxide Red, based upon comparing my color chips to the
printed color sample. Interestingly, the depot photos on the Data Sheet show a
wide range of color, with the Lisle depot being quite bright and nowhere close
the color sample in color tone or shade. I find the Data Sheet color sample for
Indian Red several shades too dark for model use.
I made color chips on primed styrene strips for all ten of
the recommended Q feight car and depot colors published in various books and
magazines. The range of colors is astounding. Some are stock colors, mostly
Floquil or Modelflex, but some are custom mixes. I also made color chips of
many freight car colors, some of which are recommended for Q models. None of
the stock colors come close to matching the Data Sheet except Modelflex Light
Tuscan Oxide Red.
I’m considering bring my color chips to the Spring
meeting for a popular vote, if that’s permissible and of general
interest. I realize that color is light dependent and in the eye of the
beholder, but it would be interesting to see how the voting turned out.
Incidentally, while looking for the Data Sheet, I found some
paint chips I liberated from the Batavia depot, and they match exactly the paint chips from
the Winfield depot. It’s unlikely both depots were repainted since the
1950s with the same paint, so the match is further evidence that the Winfield
paint chips are indeed a prototype color.
Nelson Moyer