paint

How do you intend to paint it?…from a gun?…I’m kinda confused on what you wrote,….what’s a collector color?…

Pat

I also need the darker Navy blue color for the bottom of my 263E baby blue comet lower frame- Anyone know what is the exact matching dark navy blue color & does it come in a paint pen? Also what do i use a brush or tooth pick for a touch up? i only have a little nick & do not need a sprayer...Any help on this subject is greatly appreciated...Thanks!

@Roy O posted:

Do not want collector colors.  

For my own education, what is wrong with the "Collector Color" paint series sold through Hennings?

To Sal V  I have used Krylon Gloss Navy for overall complete chassis paint. Comes as close as I have found. I am not a spray bomb person but times it comes in and works. As to Pat, Collector Colors are a paint available to match toy train colors as stated sold through Hennings.  I have used it to some success and wish to leave it at that.  I am looking for options that possibly others have used with  success.  Thank you all for your response. Some time ago I had the lighter blue paint matched at a automotive store and it was great. This chain paint supply no longer will paint match as the person had retired. It is also Very expensive now. The last time I bought a just the activator for single stage auto paint 1/2 pint cost 56.00. Not to mention what the paint cost. If you go base coat clear coat you can only guess what it will cost now. Special colors like on my Miata it was 75.00 5 years ago for 1/2 pint of base coat!   Thank You for all your response.  Roy O

Ahh,…ok gotcha,….now I see what you’re cooking,…I’ve never used rattle cans when doing tinplate anyways, I’ve always used DuPont base/clear,…however, as you’ve mentioned, it’s expensive!!….but I’ve only been ever asked to do high end tinplate such as standard gauge 385’s 400’s etc…..where the workpiece demanded a better than factory finish naturally modern day urethanes are way beyond the luster & finish of the old lacquers and enamels used by toy mfrs. way back when,…..I’d suggest you find another auto body paint supply store that still packages arosol paints ,….they still do exist…….thing is I buy clear by the drums so, for me even buying a taste of a base coat color isn’t that big of a deal,….I have the reducers, hardeners and what not on hand,……one of the perks of running a body shop….😉…you’re kinda stuck between a rock & hard place doing a 263 for O scale ……

Pat

Thank you Roy O! much appreciated!!!

Harmonyards finally somebody understands.  You are right high end finish is base clear. I would rather do nothing than mess up a old tinplate with what I refer to as spray bombs. I have most materials (not like a body shop) just lacking a good color base coat. Dont even think about cost factor, availability is my issue now. Even at that, blue comet blue comes in many different shades depending on year.  I plan on a 263 if I can find the right color. Would consider even a single stage of quality. Thanks for the responce.  Having a body shop is Big as you probably know, even at that, cost for materials has gone up, you can pass that on in repair bill.  Roy O

Collector Color paints are available in pint cans, affordable too. So you can mix and spray without rattle can issues. I find that the Preval sprayer is pretty good too, and at $4 for a replacement unit, low risk. I recently bought both Blue Comet colors from Henning's Trains, who produces it.

Jim

@Roy O posted:

Harmonyards finally somebody understands.  You are right high end finish is base clear. I would rather do nothing than mess up a old tinplate with what I refer to as spray bombs. I have most materials (not like a body shop) just lacking a good color base coat. Dont even think about cost factor, availability is my issue now. Even at that, blue comet blue comes in many different shades depending on year.  I plan on a 263 if I can find the right color. Would consider even a single stage of quality. Thanks for the responce.  Having a body shop is Big as you probably know, even at that, cost for materials has gone up, you can pass that on in repair bill.  Roy O

Well, if you have some materials, like clear & hardener, you’d be surprised how little of an amount of certain colors you can buy,….complex colors with flakes and pearls, sometimes half pint is minimum, but a pastel like Blue Comet blue you can buy in very small quantities ready to spray, in other words, the paint store will mix the color, and add the reducer for a product ready to dump in a gun and spray,….( strain it first) ….I did a 400E like that in black,  just barely mixed enough to do the job,….like less than 1/4 pint of color,…that’s only like 20-25 bucks worth of material before clear…….I’d check with your auto paint supply store and see what kind of materials are available, ….some sell clear coats as well, in quantities less than qt. size,…..I’m not a fan of single stage on anything …….base/clear to me is so much more vibrant,….and durable,….

Pat

I am with you Pat on base clear.  Who can make up the blue?  Black is a no brainer done that many times.  The surface of a blue comet their is not enough to use the machine to make a mix. That is the problem. Do you have the formula for the comet blue for a 263?     appreciated  Roy O

Dont want to get in a issue over Mr Hennings paint. I personally have used with some success. Not in this case I do not want to use it. leave it at that.  thanks again Roy O

Why do you use a clear coat????

@gene maag posted:

Why do you use a clear coat????

On a high end restoration, such as an original 385E, 400E, etc., …a base/clear finish will bring a level of quality unmatched by any rattle can on earth….the level of gloss far exceeds that of the original,……

Pat

On the Collector Color paints, some have semi-gloss finish (I think because they were trying to match 'original' look - you need to ask specifically for shiny,, or else it's clear coat.

Jim

Pat is right on.  No collector colors. Mentioned that in prior post.

Our paints were originally matched to 'VIRGIN' pieces that Carl & Lou Shaw were kind enough to help me with. We opened sealed boxes of Lionel cars, engines etc. stored in the upper floors of Madison Hardware. These units were color matched as to original color gloss, The colors were then sprayed onto a heavy gloss paper and stored in manila envelopes for future reference. Until recently, we always canned  ( 1/2 pint  ) cans, a gallon at a time. We have just reduced this to 1 qt. at a time, since not as much restoration is being done.  We "REMATCH" once a year our paint batches to the original , just for color accuracy. Paint over 3 years old has a tendency to produce a 'sand' finish due to the pigments used in yellows & reds.  That is why we only make a qt. at a time. If anybody has a problem, we always try to correct. We have had trains painted 30 years ago that the "EXPERTS" claimed were 'virgin original' Lionel items.  We do our best.   Harry 

Harry,

Thank you for that information. It helps and makes sense.

Not to co op this thread, but I have a question on how you go about matching not only the color, but the original gloss. Did different railroads vary the sheen on their paint mixtures? For example, was a black steam engine purchased by Pennsylvania RR the same, as say the Virginian? Was a high gloss finish the norm for new equipment?

Thank you again.

Jerry

What an interesting discussion.  I mix my own, but have an awful time with chrome yellows.  There is an outfit in town that can do those - $75 minimum.

I am just guessing, but I would think that Henning's colors are far more cost-efficient - but $ will get you what you need from an auto paint store with the proper analyzer.

@jpc posted:

Harry,

Thank you for that information. It helps and makes sense.

Not to co op this thread, but I have a question on how you go about matching not only the color, but the original gloss. Did different railroads vary the sheen on their paint mixtures? For example, was a black steam engine purchased by Pennsylvania RR the same, as say the Virginian? Was a high gloss finish the norm for new equipment?

Thank you again.

Jerry

Jerry, …I can answer this for you,…when the railroads submitted a plan for a build, often the factory had paint samples for the purchasing agent to preview before application. Level of gloss depended on what the builder had available for the railroad to purchase,…..usually came down to a choice between a lacquer or an enamel finish,….back then, a lacquer finish held a deeper gloss than an enamel, and in a short time period, an enamel would begin to “ chalk” or dull out fairly quickly…….but if we’re discussing steam locomotives, many chose a lacquer finish….subsequently as well, newly machined rods and valve gear would be treated to triple coats of clear lacquer when new, and the lacquer applied over the bare steel….this not only was an appearance enhancement, it also served to let mechanics and inspectors check more easily for cracks or defects, that would otherwise be possibly hidden from a colored paint,….

Pat