Author Topic: Steam engine "Black"  (Read 3230 times)

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Ed Kapuscinski

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Steam engine "Black"
« on: February 18, 2019, 10:25:04 AM »
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Starting to think about paint for MPA 27 and I realized I don't have a good "steam engine black" paint.

I know Polyscale made a "steam power black" that I think was slightly off black, but RIP...

I'd prefer not to custom mix something (yeah, I know I can drop a drop of white into a jar of black) but I'm wondering what's out there that people have had good luck with recently.

I'm looking for something that's just slightly off black that'll allow me to easily add some REAL black for soot effects, etc...

So, what do you like that you can get in a hobby shop?

jpec

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Re: Steam engine "Black"
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2019, 10:52:32 AM »
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I'm sure Vallejo or AK has something in their extensive lines. Klein's has some interesting stuff on the rack in the store and MicroMark commissioned Vallejo to make basic railroad colors for them...
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C855B

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Re: Steam engine "Black"
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2019, 11:24:23 AM »
+1
I'm using Tru-Color "Grimy Black" on stuff that would look funny (bridges, signals, trucks) if painted a fresh-out-of-the-factory black. It seems to be effective, with the contrast fairly apparent when next to something that is a normal off-the-shelf black.
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wvgca

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Re: Steam engine "Black"
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2019, 11:47:29 AM »
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differing types of black, depending on what it's mixed with ...
grimy black, oily black, weathered black, boiler black, truck frame black,  etc ..

central.vermont

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Re: Steam engine "Black"
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2019, 12:38:55 PM »
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Don't use white to change it Ed. I use olive drab or depot olive it willgive you a much better looking weathered black.
Jon

Ed Kapuscinski

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Re: Steam engine "Black"
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2019, 02:09:21 PM »
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I'm sure Vallejo or AK has something in their extensive lines. Klein's has some interesting stuff on the rack in the store and MicroMark commissioned Vallejo to make basic railroad colors for them...

I just did this at your suggestion. Picked up some NATO Black. It looked slightly off black. Fingers crossed.

Don't use white to change it Ed. I use olive drab or depot olive it willgive you a much better looking weathered black.
Jon


OOh! Good point. I think that's what's going on with the Grimy Black that we all know and love.

I'm using Tru-Color "Grimy Black" on stuff that would look funny (bridges, signals, trucks) if painted a fresh-out-of-the-factory black. It seems to be effective, with the contrast fairly apparent when next to something that is a normal off-the-shelf black.

Oh yeah. Polyscale Grimy Black is one of my favorite colors, although I think it might be a shade TOO light for what I'm trying to capture here.

basementcalling

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Re: Steam engine "Black"
« Reply #6 on: February 18, 2019, 03:47:18 PM »
+1
Ed, I remember reading somewhere a discussion about being careful using straight black to paint steam engines in particular on model railroads. Don't remember the author, but he recommended a charcoal or off black that had been lightened slightly because our indoor lighting is just not as intense as sunlight. Sounds like you are already considering something of the sort.

What about the Krylon color midnight that they make for Lowes? It looks almost exactly like Grimy Black.
« Last Edit: February 18, 2019, 08:03:47 PM by basementcalling »
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Ed Kapuscinski

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Re: Steam engine "Black"
« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2019, 05:07:26 PM »
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Ed, I remember reading somewhere a dsicussion about being careful using straight black to paint steam engines in particular on model railroads. Don't remember the author, but he recommened a charcoal or off black that had been lightened slightly because our indoor lighting is just not as intense as sunlight. Sounds like you are already considering something of the sort.

What about the Krylon color midnight that they make for Lowes? It looks almost exactly like Grimy Black.

Oh yeah, that's exactly what I mean by "black". I don't want a real black, I want it slightly lighter.

I'll have to check that out. I'm looking for something brushable or airbrushable though.

DKS

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Re: Steam engine "Black"
« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2019, 05:13:32 PM »
+1
My particular favorite is Krylon Dark Gray Automotive Primer. It's a very dark grey color--in case a rattle-can solution is to your liking.

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Re: Steam engine "Black"
« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2019, 08:40:27 PM »
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Ed, do you have a color photo of what you’re trying for?

Ed Kapuscinski

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Re: Steam engine "Black"
« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2019, 09:36:51 PM »
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Ed, do you have a color photo of what you’re trying for?

Not really. And to be honest, I'm not sure I'd trust one I saw (because of all of the fun of digital imaging).

The thing is, I don't actually want to replicate the color accurately. What I'm trying to find is a color that's slightly lighter than the real thing so it looks better on a model.

Chris333

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Re: Steam engine "Black"
« Reply #11 on: February 18, 2019, 09:54:48 PM »
+3
http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=31112&whichpage=68

I would just use the cheapest flat black you can find. Weathering will lighten it up.

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Re: Steam engine "Black"
« Reply #12 on: February 19, 2019, 08:24:03 AM »
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http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=31112&whichpage=68

I would just use the cheapest flat black you can find. Weathering will lighten it up.

This is why i use Tamiya TS-6 Matte Black.  It's not necessarily inexpensive, but the Tamiya rattle can nozzle is sheer perfection compared to every other spray can I have ever used.

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Re: Steam engine "Black"
« Reply #13 on: February 19, 2019, 10:00:02 AM »
+2
Just thought I would share this list of Vallejo equivalents I've been using for many different colours:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=46475.0
Because why not...

wazzou

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Re: Steam engine "Black"
« Reply #14 on: February 19, 2019, 01:34:18 PM »
+1
...but the Tamiya rattle can nozzle is sheer perfection compared to every other spray can I have ever used.

QFT

I would put Tamiya at the top of the scale and Rustoleum at the opposite end. 
In my experience with Rustoleum, you'd better paint as much with that one can as you are able because no matter the effort to clear the nozzle, it'll likely never spray again.
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