CB&Q grey for a greyback engine- what color?

By looking at your handle, I assume you are a Q fan and modeler, you should belong to the BRHS and also sign up for the CBQ Yahoo Group. There is always a ton of information on the Q for both sites. 

As for paint, the Yahoo Group web site has a listing of all the recommended paints and decals for all scales. 

Don't know what you are painting, but most of the correct paint for the gray is Scale Coat #68 CP Gray. If you are painting an Alco S2, the recommended color is Floquil RR12, Reefer Gray. For SW1000 and SW1200, use Floquil RR150 D&H Gray.

Microscale web site has a cross reference chart for the no longer available Floquil.

Can you tell me what you are working on? I too am a big Q fan and modeler. I was in HO for over 55+ years, with lots of custom painted and kitbashed models, some of my models appear on the Yahoo and BRHS web sites. Moved up to O gauge a year ago, still modeling the Q.

Ray of Sunshine

The color for the greybacks is officially "aluminum."  That's why in days of old, Athearn and Mantua/Tyco incorrectly painted their HO models silver.

However, the aluminum is quite a chameleon color.  Under certain light, it appears white, light grey or even tan-beige-ish.  I've seen an EMD color chip under flouresent lights at it appeared more beige than anything else.

S-Helper Service used the EMD paint chip as a basis for their Q F3's.  Lighting almost has everything to do with how the color is perceived.  Even the surrounding seem to affect the color.

Under cool white CFL's:

Under daylight CFL's, same lighting, different camera angles:

When I opened up the coupler doors, I used Accu-Flex CSX tan for touch up.  Matched perfectly under my lighting conditions.  Go Figure...

Again, under daylight CFL's, different location:

Again in the olden HO days, one local well known Burlington modeler just used Floquil reefer white.  So, it's a judgement call.

Rusty

Ray of Sunshine is definitely correct, you should become a member of the Burlington Route Historical Society, and then purchase "Burlington Bulletin" No. 4, as it is all about the "Graybacks" "F" units, plus the 6100 series steel coaches. 

I should have better read the original post. The grey backs, of course, F units. Model Flex makes a paint for the F units, MF #165-16193 CB&Q Imitation Aluminum.

But like anything, as noted by Rusty, lighting plays a big part on how they look. I personally have not used the CB&Q Imitation Aluminum, but mixed my Floquil reefer white with a few drops of black, and then tinted it with reefer or SP grey to tone it down. I would then spray a piece of sheet plastic and then compared it under my layout lighting. If I liked it, I then painted my F units. If not, I just kept tweaking the color with white or grey.

You wouldn't believe me if I told you, but since you asked and since the flag is still flying on my railroad...the color is for a "GG1 electric".....we long ago had overhead catenary here in and somewhat around Aurora, and though it wasn't for the Q, it will be for my version.

I like to be different I guess....I hope it doesn't offend fellow Q followers.

Rusty, I pulled out all my model armour paint and have a few very light greys as well as 2 bottles of RI silver/white{...eh...}. Your right about the lighting...it does flip flop.

Good grief, man! A PRR GG1 in CB&Q styling????

I have said engine done up in either the redbird or the blackbird color scheme in my paintshop program, but I wanted different than that in the end, and the silver E version wasn't the one for that engine...in my mind. So, that left the greyback version...my least favroite color scheme of the Q.

If all else fails, I can be a good example of a bad example of color choices for imaginary equipment...

Hey, back in the HO days (1970's) I did an A-B set of AHM C-Liners up in greyback.  'Course I was young and stupid and used Floquil Old Silver...

My Q modeling friends said they forgave me, but I'm not really sure they ever did.  Also once did up an Athearn Hustler in blackbird...

Rusty

Welcome my friends, to Fantasy Mainline...

Rusty

Tease!..Now quit that, I was actually thinking along the lines of an F40 since they're easier to find, but I like C trucks better.

Oh, "on my lines" there never was{will be!} a merger.....only a few test paint jobs where cascade green- no white stripes- were tried....in "Burlington" of course.

That blackbird there does call out to me, but a silver E unit paint scheme would be nice too{stay outta the paintshop program, as it's already in my head and started on a G scale F40 Great trains body that I never finished due to lack of decals}

Hey, had the merger never happend, who knows what the rosters would've wound up being...that's my fun take on it.

I like it!, but I do have to add that the standard issue "way of the Zephyrs" was supposed to be tilted...this coming from the guy whos' about to paint a GG1 in Q colors, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt! 

Here's another one....

Rusty

As a heads up, the GG1 has been primered- again. I had to rework the end door railings so the herald would fit nicely...the usual grind and smooth thing.

I found a very light grey paint to use, model master 4765 "light grey" acrylic...tonight the primer should be fine, but I need to find my tamiya painting jig 1st... 

edit...found it,,,dang CRS...

Hmmm, looks good..now I need paint for a CB&Q waycar/caboose...orange maybe...I'm in a mood...

Hopefully this is it...

http://www.trainliquidators.co...php?products_id=1713

Gilly