Paint discussion - Apart from the poll

[Sokramiketes]

Why do we assume any limitations that the manufacturers may or may not have?

Why do you assume we're assuming and haven't worked for manufacturers?   
 

Guess I just don't understand the consternation here, like somehow convenience is a black mark on a modeler.  It's OK so scour the world for the best drill bits, cutters, files, printers, decoders, etc. but not paint, Hooo Boy, that's just off limits for anyone that would dare to call themselves a modeler.

Hey, we're all on the same team.  I'm not trying to say anyone's view of the hobby is incorrect.  That bit about stopping on the hill at any location you want is exactly how I frame presentations about the topic.  RPM folks have fun.  Trainset folks have fun.  And everyone in between. 

That last sentence may sound personal to me, I assure you it's not, as anyone who knows me personally can attest.  Maybe its just my instant gratification side, but man, would I just LOVE to buy a bottle of FCC (PRR Freight Car Color) for my as yet unpainted fleet of X32's, X29's, K7's, or the soon to be X23's to match all of the rest of my RTR cars. Just sayin'.

I really think you're looking for TruColor paint, which already exists.  TCP-209 is PRR Freight Car Color, 1945-1960, and will match, within reason, all good PRR models released in the last 10 years that have also gotten the color right.  There's a convergence of the manufacturers around the right shades, and TruColor gets it.

And I'm lazy as can be.  When I don't fire up the airbrush for TruColor, then I use Tamiya spray bombs.  Hot mixing a can of brown with an overspray of red gets me real close!  Don't tell my RPM friends.  Wheeeee!

[mu26aeh]

In regards to Scalecoat, there is a thread over on MRH that rumors it has been sold again and new owner will resurrect it 

[Lemosteam]

I think you guys missed the point. It’s (the poll) NOT about having prototypical colors per some railroad spec. That’s already been investigated by the manufacturer, so being able to purchsase the same colors just makes sense to me.

It’s about matching what is being produced, and what folks already own.

[nickelplate759]

It's a hard balance to strike.   I, like @Sokramiketes , have a preferred paint line (happens to be the same as his - Tru Color), and I'll use that whenever I can.  I'll custom mix colors if I really have to, although that's laborious and wasteful.

At the same time, I know from long experience that you cannot really match paint colors across paint bases and chemistry.  Even two paints with the same Pantone number will not match perfectly if the paint chemistry is different.

This also means that the only way a manufacturer could supply a paint that was guaranteed to match their pre-decorated model would be to supply the same paint - but even then getting a perfect match would also require using the same paint application process as was used in decorating the original model.

Would I like the perfect touch-up paint, or be able to match the color of a manufacturer-decorated car that I like (NOT Intermountain's weird red on their Golden State cars) ? Heck yes!   Would I actually use it much if it did exist?  Sadly, no.

[peteski]

It would be great if modelers could purchase paint colors which would match colors on manufacturers models (regardless of whether the paint is accurate to the prototype).  Besides, to me "matching the prototype" is exercise in futility to begin with.  After all, there are so many variables which can change the paint's appearance after it leaves the paint shop. 

A letdown for me in was the announcement from Scale Trains, when they produced the N scale Big Blow UP turbine, that the paint used on it will be matched to Tru-Color paints.  Well, I wanted to touch up some areas on the model and the shades of yellow and gray used on the model are quite different than Tru-Color equivalents.  I think that was the only model where they touted about the Tru-Color match.  I guess it didn't work out.

[Lemosteam]

As I stated earlier varying degrees of a color are fine (thinking lots), but trying to get close on your own is near impossible, unless you have the same paint.

[mmagliaro]

For the record, with regard to going into a paint store and having them custom-mix paint for you like you do for painting a room in your house...
 I HAVE gone into a paint store (Miller Paint, here in Oregon), and had them custom-mix me some "Loewy" dark green to repaint a Rapido passenger car.  The paint was beautiful and worked in an airbrush just fine.  It was an enamel.  Unfortunately, I had to buy a whole quart, because they can't mix quantities smaller than that.

[bbussey]

I’ve been lobbying MTL to market their lacquer paint for the last few years. I think it would be a good profit center for them, and it’s outstanding paint.

[orion]

It's just a matter of offering, selling, pilfering existing paint, bottling a color internally on the fly per order, and shipping (not hazardous if water based, I think) which can be charged to the buyer if they want it.

I doubt if any of the vendors such as Atlas, Bachmann, Bluford, ESM, Intermountain, JTC, Kato, etc  stock any paint here in the USA. 

In most cases it would probably be illegal for them to bring it into the country (its not water based).

[peteski]

I doubt if any of the vendors such as Atlas, Bachmann, Bluford, ESM, Intermountain, JTC, Kato, etc  stock any paint here in the USA. 

In most cases it would probably be illegal for them to bring it into the country (its not water based).

Not sure if that would be the reason.  Organic-solvent based paints are legal in USA.  Several such lines of paints are sold in hobby shops, and in online shops.

But you are correct that the companies you mentioned have models manufactured in China, and use (orgainic-solvent based) paints also made in China. I suspect that importing them to USA would likely be problematic for various reasons.

I also think that most model RR companies would rather not deal with the extra hassle, for the same reason they don't make spare parts availabel for general sales.  It takes resources to handle them and keep inventory. Then there are regulations they would have to follow (and probably some permits for selling flammable materials).

[MK]

And, I'm guessing, most of the factories making our toy trains don't have the facilities to bottle and label the paints they use.

[peteski]

And, I'm guessing, most of the factories making our toy trains don't have the facilities to bottle and label the paints they use.

Exactly.  The model manufacturers get their paint from a subcontractor, probably by the gallon, or larger quantities, and they are in model production business, not bottling small quantities of paint.

To be honest, in today's world there are not enough modelers who would be buying such paints to make this a viable business venture.  Great majority of N-scalers are into RTR models. Yes, the poll showed that majority of the polled forum members want such paints, but not only this is *THE* Railwire (where many of the old-school modelers are members), overall this is a minuscule number of the total number of N scale modelers out there.  The poll numbers thus are greatly skewed.

Don't get me wrong, I (as one of those old-school modelers) would love if manufacturers sold paints matching their production models, but I just don't see this as a realistic option.

[pdx1955]

I would love to see something akin to automotive touch-up paint. Something in a small quantity that could be used to paint details like plows, sunshades, etc, so the paint will match closely. Course now it's more of approximating which is ok too. I think the overall idea is good ,but it may not be viable other than for road names with large bases such as for PRR, UP, ATSF, etc.

[Sokramiketes]

I’ve been lobbying MTL to market their lacquer paint for the last few years. I think it would be a good profit center for them, and it’s outstanding paint.

I remember Ron having a couple pints of custom mixed paint from the guys that did the paint for MTL. 

[bbussey]

Yeah, a pint is the minimum if I remember correctly for standard colors, mixes might have a higher minimum. The cost will give you sticker shock, until you calculate the one-ounce cost and realize how high the cost savings is over store-bought paint.  If 8 to 10 people share in the cost and split the paint, it would be worth it.