Paint matching

[UP_1995]

I am new to this fourm,spend most of my time on the railroadfourms, stumbled apon this site because of Matt Holman
's Woodward Iowa hopper car, my friend and I are trying to compleate three of these,found a 3 set of decals for it online, plan to purchace them soon, as well have maybe intermoutain hopper cars on the way if they can fill the order.

Anyway I was wondering what orange would work closely with the orange on the hoppers, I was thinking a Milwaukee Road orange. Matt if you see this please chime in. Would like other ideas as well. I cant wait till this project gets off the ground.
Thanks
Todd
*please move if not correct forum*

 

[Cjcrescent]

First off Welcome! I know that you can learn a lot more here. We all do.

Now about those hoppers, its not clear from the posting, are these hoppers already orange or are you having to strip and paint them?
If they are already orange, matching a factory color to a another paint brand is oftentimes, an exercise in frustration. The best bet would be to get undecs or that you won't mind stripping. Then you can match as close as possible the orange you are looking for. The best thing to do is to get a Walthers catalog, and go to the paints section, and look at the paint chips listed there. Also, don't limit yourself to just "Railroad" colors. I can often find a match in others paint brands not necessarily for use use on trains.

Once you find the match, paint the cars with as thin a coat or coats as possible so you don't cover up details. Apply a clear gloss coat over the paint to give a good surface for decals, and use a decal setting agent to really get the decals to fit around surface details. Apply another coat to seal the decal edges and to make them disappear, then dull it and weather it if desired.

 

[UP_1995]

Now about those hoppers, its not clear from the posting, are these hoppers already orange or are you having to strip and paint them?
If they are already orange, matching a factory color to a another paint brand is oftentimes, an exercise in frustration. The best bet would be to get undecs or that you won't mind stripping. Then you can match as close as possible the orange you are looking for. The best thing to do is to get a Walthers catalog, and go to the paints section, and look at the paint chips listed there. Also, don't limit yourself to just "Railroad" colors. I can often find a match in others paint brands not necessarily for use use on trains.

Opps forgot that part.
They are undecorated models from Intermoutin if we can ever get the ordered filled. We had ordered them clear back in October and they are Still waiting for a container with roofwalks and other goodies for other models they have done.

 

[nordique72]

Hi Todd,

The color of the Woodward cars was a deeper orange than Milwaukee Road orange- here is a builders photo of one of the Woodward cars
that shows how much darker the orange is.

http://trainweb.org/mopac/ptlx34198.jpg

There are some of these cars still floating around in their old paint- this here is the car that got me inspired to make one, saw it in a southbound UP/DME grain train here in Houston-

Hope that helps you out on your hoppers!

Matt Holman
Spring, TX

 

[UP_1995]

Thanks Matt,
It does. I saw one on a NB manifest train on the spine line once back in 2009 but didnt get a camera shot when I should have! Wish the tagers left that car alone but what can you do about it eh?