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I am refurbishing an old Lionel layout that was given to me. I want to paint all the benchwork with the light green color you see on most of the old Lionel Dealer Display layouts.

 I need a paint color/mix formula for this light green color. Preferably in Sherwin Williams, HD, or Lowes brands of paint.

Thanks,

Jeff

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Why not just get some color swatches and eyeball what looks good to you, under your own layout lighting conditions. "Authentic Lionel" colors fade over time and may not always be accurately depicted in photos due to lighting etc. Lionel wasn't necessarily using precise color formulas on their display layouts over the years.

2dca_12

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johnstrains posted:

I think I still have my paint sample card from Home Depot for the paint I used on my Lionel PW-style layout. I’ll check this evening and post the name.

That would be great, if you have it handy.

I will also have a look at that Rustoleum product, as another possibility.

I am not sure where I would ever find an actual sample to have computer matched. That is why I am looking for a color that someone has already used, and is happy with.

Jeff

mowingman posted:
johnstrains posted:

I think I still have my paint sample card from Home Depot for the paint I used on my Lionel PW-style layout. I’ll check this evening and post the name.

That would be great, if you have it handy.

I will also have a look at that Rustoleum product, as another possibility.

I am not sure where I would ever find an actual sample to have computer matched. That is why I am looking for a color that someone has already used, and is happy with.

Jeff

Jeff, The green (Behr paint at Home Depot)  I used was "Park Picnic." The code on the paint sample is P-390-7. As you might expect there are loads of green shades that might suit a Lionel PW style layout so check around.

Another tip:  I frequently have the paint guys make up 2-3 sample sizes of different shades and then I paint them on pieces of scrap wood to see how they turn out. An easy and inexpensive way to "test drive" different shades 'til you find what you like.

here's the monster thread with various photos of some originals. The D-1601 on the third page is the shade shade of green for the fascia board and the transformer board that looks original to my eye.

remember the camera photos and your computer screen will alter the shade.

You can use it to find some others also to help your point of reference for the shade that your eye likes. Be sure to use a white primer( the same mfg. recommended for that class of paint) with the shade that you purchase for the dry color to be what you expected.

Did some (or many?) of these factory display layouts have sawdust "grass" sprinkled over freshly applied paint? Because that's another factor that would affect the overall appearance. "Grass" gives some mottled scenic variation to the appearance which looks better than a uniform paint finish.

i-2_B_L

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Ace posted:

Did some (or many?) of these factory display layouts have sawdust "grass" sprinkled over freshly applied paint? Because that's another factor that would affect the overall appearance. "Grass" gives some mottled scenic variation to the appearance which looks better than a uniform paint finish.

i-2_B_L

Yes, exactly. Was thinking the same thing the other day when I replied above.

I have managed to pick up several full bags of Lionel 919 “grass” and am getting ready to try that while re-doing my PW-style layout. Will test it out on some scrap wood first using the-sprinkle-it-on to wet paint approach.

Last edited by johnstrains

Lionel used basically two different shades of "green" for the fascia boards for these display layouts.  Layouts from 1952 - 1954 used a bright green (similar to the Behr Park Picnic above.  From 1954 until the end in 1966, they used a more muted "grey-green" like that seen on the D-190 in Jagrick's photos above. Both of these were a semi-gloss finish (the paint on the layout boards themselves was a flat finish).  All were originally oil based paints.   So when restoring original layouts (or making a recreation), you should know the year of the display so the correct color can be used.  It is true that the original colors of the displays fade over time, so it is best to match an area that has not been exposed if possible.  One tip is to look at the bottom of the fascia boards, which usually have some slop-over (remember these things were painted by college students in the summer working very quickly) to obtain the "true" color.

Frank G. posted:

Lionel used basically two different shades of "green" for the fascia boards for these display layouts.  Layouts from 1952 - 1954 used a bright green (similar to the Behr Park Picnic above.  From 1954 until the end in 1966, they used a more muted "grey-green" like that seen on the D-190 in Jagrick's photos above. Both of these were a semi-gloss finish (the paint on the layout boards themselves was a flat finish).  All were originally oil based paints.   So when restoring original layouts (or making a recreation), you should know the year of the display so the correct color can be used. 

Thanks, Frank. Always helpful information.

My layout (the D-105) was one of the earlier ones. 1953 I believe. So looks like I chose well with the Park Picnic green. Of course that was pure chance on my part.

CharlieS posted:

 From 1954 until the end in 1966, they used a more muted "grey-green" like that seen on the D-190 in Jagrick's photos above.

Anybody have a recommendation to match this (Grey-green) color?

Sticking with Behr paints, their Indian Ocean (#480D-4) looks pretty close to the grey-green above. Really need to try a couple of samples in the same color group to find the best match.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/BE...e-480D-4PP/202179753

As I mentioned previously, when choosing my “Lionel green” had them make up 4-5 samples that I painted on pieces of scrap wood. Once dry you could compare to get a good idea of the desired look.

Last edited by johnstrains
johnstrains posted:

Seeing this thread has been ressurected here are some shots of my Dealer Display Layout (D-105) showing the green paint I used. It is indeed Behr Park Picnic as mentioned above.

IMG_20170401_175030948

IMG_20170401_182331506

IMG_20170402_211126101IMG_20170410_222026074

I am going to try to resurrect this thread! I am starting my build of the Famous layout in the 1957 catalog and need some advice on paint and such.

 

How did you all go about painting the tabletop? Did you paint the base color first then layout where all of your track and accessories  will be and then tape them off to paint the green for the grass sections?

Is their a good substitute for the old Lionel sawdust grass?

If you have the paint color names and numbers please list them below.

Thanks in advance to all that take time to respond!!

 

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The below photos are more for a reference point than a recommendation for a paint color shade. Top photo is one shared by Christopher2035 on the other big postwar dealer display thread. I like it because it shows both the grey-green-blue side color and the deeper green layout base color. 

The second photo is of our layout. The control panel is Harrisburg green, which is recommended above. The layout is kelp forest, similar to the park picnic shared by John above. 

In my opinion, Harrisburg green, while very close, needs a touch of blue to look more like the original. Kelp forest seems pretty close, and the Lionel 919 grass should also be applied to get the color and texture variation.

The other color you will need is the roadbed and road color. I haven’t seen a specific color posted for that, but it seems to be a shade of almond white.  

i made the mistake of painting everything green first.  You should paint everything the almond white base color, then lay track, tape it off, paint green in open spaces, and add lionel 919 grass to the wet green paint. 

Your best bet for Lionel 919 grass is buy some on eBay.


FA9D4CB6-68C4-4156-BD77-561421DB7F93

 

4F39B7E8-D87A-4232-82F9-1A596D39D42F
B77BEAD6-3413-4EC8-80AE-E560A8B32FD6

 

26F87600-66B2-4EDC-9FF1-D3DD996D743A

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JD2035RR posted:

The other color you will need is the roadbed and road color. I haven’t seen a specific color posted for that, but it seems to be a shade of almond white.  

i made the mistake of painting everything green first.  You should paint everything the almond white base color, then lay track, tape it off, paint green in open spaces, and add lionel 919 grass to the wet green paint. 

Your best bet for Lionel 919 grass is buy some on eBay. 

 

Exactly. This is how I did mine. See above. Painted the underlying color first, masked off the track and road bed areas, and then did the green. Sprinkle on the "grass" while still wet.

For my off white or cream color I used one of the Behr paints. I can find the color name/number and post it.

Edit:  The off-white or cream color I used for the track road bed was Behr's Lunaria.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/BE...le-UL20016/205297566

 

 

 

 

 

Last edited by johnstrains

Recently completed my referb of a Lionel Postwar D-400 layout. 

Grass areas are painted with Behr Park Picnic (p-390-7). All roads and rail beds painted with Benjamin Moore Cocoa Sand. Original Lionel #919 artificial grass was applied to all grass areas. 

This shot was taken before applying the 919 grass.

After 919 grass application.

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BrianD-400 posted:

Recently completed my referb of a Lionel Postwar D-400 layout. 

Grass areas are painted with Behr Park Picnic (p-390-7). All roads and rail beds painted with Benjamin Moore Cocoa Sand. Original Lionel #919 artificial grass was applied to all grass areas. 

This shot was taken before applying the 919 grass.

After 919 grass application.

Looks great. Interestingly, the D-400 was a combo O27 and HO display layout. It also included some shelving that mounted to the table where trains were displayed. Are you going that route?

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/member/johnstrains

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/member/mike.espy

You are correct about the HO. As seen here.

As for the display...it is original...so there wasn't a template. I refurbed. 

I built the base, with the display shelves, without any written plans. Sorry.

AND you are correct...there is a super-structure that mounts on the table. I'm looking for an original, and have had some input on building a replica. 

from the 1962 catalog

Brian

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So my bench work is done now to the next step of Painting . I will lay my base color down tomorrow but that brings me to my next question. Do you use templates to mask off all of the areas you want gray (Roadbed and accessories) or do you just freehand tape it all off? If anyone has some tips or shortcuts to make it all look uniform please let me know. I am not looking forward to this step of the build!

 As a one off layouts a template would be and I needed thing. What you do is place your track where it’s going to be and screw it in place also lay out your accessory‘s then using those as a guide outline with a pencil . They remove all the tracker accessories and carefully tape off the areas with a good masking tape that I give a sharp edge and then paint the green and apply the grass. If that Peter is dried for a short time go back and remove the tape and you have nice sharp edges similar to what liability it with their screen

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