question about scalecoat II paint

ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.


S

stang_crazy

Member
So i just sprayed my first coat of SC II UP yellow on a AC4400.

I dunno if its me or what but this looks nothing like any UP yellow ive seen new or old.

It looks more canary yellow as of right now. Dunno if its a bad batch of paint possably or what but wow.

Heres a pic compared to a walthers unit painted in UP colors, out of all the UP engines I have nothing even looks close to this.

Right now im not real thrilled...

Here is a pic so ya can see what im talking about.

DSC00532.jpg
 


I used to use UP Scalecaot II years ago when I painted HO stuff. I don't remember it being that bright but....remember there are about 6 different shades of yellow out there on UP equipment after time goes by. I wouldnt be too quick to start over. Finish it up with the grey, decal it, and most importantly, dull cote it. If you still don't like it, you can do some light to moderate weathering.

You also have to consider what you are comparing it to. No offense, but that UP unit in the background doesn't look all that great to begin with. :)

I never did like the Floquil UP Yellow, thats why I used Scalecoat II for certain colors. Not to mention it's glossy right out of the bottle.
 
Laidoffsick said:
I used to use UP Scalecaot II years ago when I painted HO stuff. I don't remember it being that bright but....remember there are about 6 different shades of yellow out there on UP equipment after time goes by. I wouldnt be too quick to start over. Finish it up with the grey, decal it, and most importantly, dull cote it. If you still don't like it, you can do some light to moderate weathering.

You also have to consider what you are comparing it to. No offense, but that UP unit in the background doesn't look all that great to begin with. :)

I never did like the Floquil UP Yellow, thats why I used Scalecoat II for certain colors. Not to mention it's glossy right out of the bottle.
Click to expand...

ive compared it to every UP engine i got and all the rest are more of a slight orangish/yellow if ya wanna call it that.
 
Yeah, that paint is a little bright but you've got to compare it having the gray on the engine and red stripes also, which gives the optical illusion of the yellow being less bright. The UP really does have a wide rainge of colors they call Armour Yellow. I still think Floquil's yellow comes the closest but even that can appear too yellow at times. with some dullcote and weathering, I think it'll look fine.
 
I prefer Floquil myself. However, I do have to say Scalecoat paints spray VERY well...

That yellow kinda reminds me more of Santa Fe yellow.
 
I'd have to agree with"get the gray & red stripes on it, then some Dullcote, and see what it looks like". It looks like you had a bright light on it or used a flash which can make the yellow look paler in your photo. I would compare to new Athearn Genesis, new Walthers Proto, and/or new Kato, not old athearn BB, Walthers Trainline of other low end stuff.

Can Scalecoat blow the color, yep! their Daylight Orange sucks, and I never use it, but I have not found other Scalecoat colors significantly off. UP did change their Armour Yellow shade over time, as did the C&NW with their yellow. There is also the effect of the light the model will be viewed under, and some manufacturers lighten the colors on their models to compensate for this. Take Floquil Lark light & lark dark grays. Waaay too dark! Not even close! Better yet, get some prototype photos to compare with.
 


Espeefan said:
I'd have to agree with"get the gray & red stripes on it, then some Dullcote, and see what it looks like". It looks like you had a bright light on it or used a flash which can make the yellow look paler in your photo. I would compare to new Athearn Genesis, new Walthers Proto, and/or new Kato, not old athearn BB, Walthers Trainline of other low end stuff.

Can Scalecoat blow the color, yep! their Daylight Orange sucks, and I never use it, but I have not found other Scalecoat colors significantly off. UP did change their Armour Yellow shade over time, as did the C&NW with their yellow. There is also the effect of the light the model will be viewed under, and some manufacturers lighten the colors on their models to compensate for this. Take Floquil Lark light & lark dark grays. Waaay too dark! Not even close! Better yet, get some prototype photos to compare with.
Click to expand...

I compared it to an athearn RTR ac4400 and its no where close. Im gonna do the grey tonight hopefully and see what it looks like then. Im not gonna waste the decals if it dont look rigt with the red and grey.

Ill keep everyone posted.
 
Here is a new shot of it out in actual day light, with a 2nd coat of paint next will be the grey.

It does look better then it did last night but still seems a bit more yellow then what it should be. I was hopen the color would at least come close to my other athearn RTR ac4400 but dont think it will, so like some of you have said itll prolly get a nice dirty make over.

DSC00534.jpg


sorry the pic isnt the greatest battery was dead on the good camera, this is my old trusty 2mp camera.
 
That looks a little more mustard like ;) Don't forget to blacken all those intake grills before you put the handrails on. lol I think it will look great once it's done. I see UP engines everyday up and down Cajon Pass and they all look a different shade of yellow and grime. They even have a bunch in Colton that look like they sat in a closed tunnel for a month while running. Just blacker than the old SP units used to get. OOhh yeah, have fun with those pesky red pin stripes that UP loves to use ;)
 
A lot depends on what color and kind of primer you used though when spraying light colors.

Before you committ "Locomotive Hari-Kari", take a look at these models. Both models are old Athearn Blue Box SD40-2's, UP 3578 has factory paint on its body, and 3552 is painted with Floquil. The Floquil is by far the most realistic UP yellow I have ever seen, and when you compare it to a real UP SD40-2 (I have been on more UP locomotives than I can remember), it is dead on. UP's Armor Yellow has a dark hue to it along with a kind of "metallic" look to it. That is something that factory painted units never have, thus, I much prefer custom painted UP units in my fleet, and Floquil is the paint of choice. However, in trying to take the photos for you of these two SD40-2's for comparison, no matter what camera settings I tried, no matter whether or not I used the pop up flash on the camera, an external shoe flash, or no flash, I can NOT get the correct hue of yellow to show on the computer here. It doesn't look the same on the screen no matter what. So, your GE there may be spot on. Maybe it's my computer monitor though, so take a look and see if you can see the difference.
 
cct70, now that looks like the yellow im used to seeing. I have RR tracks in my backyard well about a 1/2 block and UP runs by here every 5 minutes it seems.


But Im a get the grey on tommarow night and go from there.
 
I have to agree with Alan here and say that although Scalecoat is a topnotch paint, sometimes they get their colors more than a little wrong.

When painting UP units for anyone I use the same brand as Alan, Floquil.
 


You must log in or register to reply here.




Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top