Which Black Paint?

Rattle can Rust-O-Leum.  On sale at most local hardware stores.  John in Lansing, ILL

Old thread, but exactly what I needed to start since scalecoat is no longer available.  I've got a postwar Lionel 671 locomotive body I want to repaint.  Flat, semi-gloss, or gloss?  I imagine semi-gloss would be closest to the factory stuff.  Also, enamel or latex?  I guess enamiel.  Any thoughts for the above 2 questions would be appreciated.

Satin finish enamel, most any brand, would emulate the old Lionel paint properly. I'm not sure about a primer - I do not think that Lionel used one. Lionel's PW steam finish did vary a bit, but it have never seen the paint glossy or dead flat.

You might pick up a couple of brands and test with them both on a similar surface. Black paint always has a use eventually.

@texgeekboy posted:

Old thread, but exactly what I needed to start since scalecoat is no longer available.  I've got a postwar Lionel 671 locomotive body I want to repaint.  Flat, semi-gloss, or gloss?  I imagine semi-gloss would be closest to the factory stuff.  Also, enamel or latex?  I guess enamiel.  Any thoughts for the above 2 questions would be appreciated.

Like many other topics this one has come up many, many, many, many, times over the history of this forum.

Here's an example:

     Question - Repainting a Lionel steam engine - Krylon Black satin paint match.(2/23/21) | rrgeorge

Normally search is your friend, but maybe not in this case.  What do we search for?  "Black Paint"?  "Matching Black Paint"?

I ended up trying this, and it didn't return much (about 12 hits).  Only one or two of the hits were even close:

So I'm with you. Even though others have asked this question so many times before let's ask it again.

Here's my recommendation, from way back.  Check out this post:

     Discovered a Virtually Identical Color Match to Black Lionel Steamers (9/9/13) | PC9850

Click on it then scroll all the way up to start from the top of the thread.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Mike

I have to agree about the rustoleum paints not spraying well. Nozzles clog while you look at them.

@Mellow Hudson Mike,

Yep, search is your friend, as long as you use the right terms.  I tried many and this old thread is what I came up with.  I guess I was a bit too specific with some of the terms.

Thanks.

I agree about rustoleam rattle cans, their upside down spray nozzle can't be cleared and even removing and cleaning with paint thinner is iffy.  Rustoleum won't stand behind their cans.

Krylon on the other hand has the same problem, but if you keep the receipt (I tape mine to the can) they will send you a new can if you contact them regarding the nozzle clogging.

I contacted the company through their website and they sent me a dozen nozzles, no charge.

When I contacted Krylon I asked for just nozzles as well.  They said no, but would send me a can of paint which they did.