IM CCS PRR FOM which is more correct

[Puddington]

The 1930's I believe because the T1's were associated with them if i recall... PRR Fans will know for sure....

[Lemosteam]

 

While we're on the subject doe anyone know when this paint scheme was last used.  I'm thinking into the early 50s but would like a year.

A little info here: http://www.american-rails.com/fleet-of-modernism.html

[Mark5]

The 1930's I believe because the T1's were associated with them if i recall... PRR Fans will know for sure....

Additional info here:

http://pennsyrr.com/general/faqs/116-faq-what-was-the-fleet-of-modernism

[chicken45]

I contacted CCS and IM a few months ago on just this issue! It was discussed a bit on the PRR N Scale Yahoo group.
I got this response from them in August:

I followed up on your question with our production and design team.  Based on feedback from customers, historical society, and reference material, it was determined that the new colors were more accurate.  Of course color has always been an assumptive process with many variables and personal preferences playing a role as well.   InterMountain continues to strive to create the best and most accurate model we can build.

Thank you for your support of InterMountain Railway Company products.

-Cheers

Richard Frazier

I immediately asked back, who in the historical society did you talk to? All evidence and photos we have seen, including numerous HO models point to the fact you got it right the first time.  Haven't heard anything back 

It really bothers me because the newer cars are VERY nice: they have lights and separate applied details. OH YEAH, AND THE FREAKING OBSERVATION CAR. It's obvious they didn't contact the PRRT&HS in an official capacity, if at all.

GRUMBLE GRUMBLE

Josh Surkosky

[towl1996]

Ahh, a PRR color question, an internet favorite, the only other question which gets more love, at least in N scale, is why is there no K4. I thought the PRRTHS had colour swatches for sale?

[CodyO]

You would think they would have contacted PRRT&HS aboyt the colors but I guess they didn't think that would be the right historical society to talk to

The new cars are great with the details and lighting just bums me out that they look more like a light red with sand in the middle and you can't really see  all the striping

[chicken45]

IT BOGGLES THE MIND. It seems like the PRRT&HS will bend over backwards to help manufacturers get it right.

Josh

[Sokramiketes]

I was working at Des Plaines Hobbies when Ron, owner of Centralia Car Shops also, was working on the colors for these cars.  He has an extensive collection of color chips and usually doesn't need historical society input.  In fact, NS flew out multiple times to receive assistance with heritage colors that the railroad no longer had information on. 

A pre-production sample was photographed and sent out for comment.  You'll notice the black ends on this car which was corrected for the run.  But the concensus was the colors were correct.




Later, Intermountain took over the duties of making sure these cars made it through the factory.  And somewhere along the line, China screwed up the colors but Intermountain didn't turn away the product.  And once the first run of a series is one color, how could they switch again?

It's maddening, I know.

[chicken45]

Josh

[CodyO]

Thanks for tease of how great they could have looked

[chicken45]

You can still find the old ones on ebay or in hobby shops.

[mmagliaro]

My knee-jerk reaction was to just say that the darker car with the clearer lines and lettering was correct.  But first, I went to look at:

1. My PRR Tech & Historical Society Color Drift Cards
2. PRR "Passenger Car Painting and Lettering" by Charles Blardone and Peter Tilp of the PRRT&HS and published
by the PRRT&HS.

Now that I've checked, including looking at a wonderful color photo of a car in that book taken in 1939 at the World's Fair...

The darker car, far and away, is the most correct.  Whether it's "perfect", I won't judge, because it's a matter
of how good my eyes judge color, how perfect those color cards are, how accurate the color photo is, etc. 

But even judging by the level of contrast in the black and white photos and the way the lines stand out from
the background, the darker car is more correct.

I don't who they checked with at the PRRT&HS, but looking at the color cards and the
book, no way is that lighter scheme even close.

According to the book, the FOM paint scheme began in 1938.  The scheme was even applied to some heavyweights.
They stopped applying it before the end of WWII.  I am not exactly sure when.  There are some delivery orders
in the book dated 1945.

There are some photos dated in 1948 in the book showing cars still in that scheme, so FOM-painted cars were still hanging around at least as late as 1948.