Matching Kato SD70MAC Alaska RR blue

[MK]

Anyone got a clue on how to do this?  I'm pretty sure no MRR paint manufacturer has an ARR color (I might be wrong) to even start with as a close base color.

I've never done matching before and don't really know the characteristics of the paints out there; Polly Scale, Scale Coat, etc.

I might be getting a shell that has some damaged blue paint areas.  Luckily not in tricky spots or decaled areas.  Brushing might even work as it's at the bottom near the deck.

[AKNscale]

Scalecoat is supposed to be releasing it eventually. True Color has ARR colors, but the blue is way off, and I don't know about how accurate the yellow is.

[MK]

Any ideas when they will release it?  Or is it one of those "any day now" estimates?  I only need the blue and not the yellow.

What about mixing the (not so)Tru-Color blue with something else to make it more accurate?

I'm matching the Kato and not the prototype.

[AKNscale]

No, the owner told me he was planning on it within a year. I haven't really messed with True Color, but I know that Scalecoat has a close match with C&O or B&O Royal Blue(I always forget exactly which). The TC Blue was too dark, although it may match Kato's version of ARR blue on the MACs. I'd check if I had one of those locos on hand, but I don't at the moment.

[Lemosteam]

Did you try this yet?  https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=37774.0

I would take a photo in the best light possible first and then use the process above.  In MS Paint, when the color swatch you choose nearly disappears over the color you want, you basically have a match.

There are many paint manufacturers out there with lots of colors that might be very close.  You can spray it on a plastic spoon first and then add white or black, whichever direction you need to go.

[MK]

Whoa!!!!  I have not!  I glanced over it quickly but will read it more carefully tomorrow.  And since photography is one of my other (many!) hobbies, I understand color, color temperature and have some pretty good camera gear.

[peteski]

Did you try this yet?  https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=37774.0

I would take a photo in the best light possible first and then use the process above.  In MS Paint, when the color swatch you choose nearly disappears over the color you want, you basically have a match.

There are many paint manufacturers out there with lots of colors that might be very close.  You can spray it on a plastic spoon first and then add white or black, whichever direction you need to go.

John,
As I see it, your method is reasonable when all you have is someone else's photo, and you are trying to get a color roughly close to the color in the photo.

But IMO, taking a photo of a model in-hand and then trying to make as exact as possible match to a online scan of a paint chip seems like very inexact science.   There are just too many variables in this process.  Like what color temperature light was the photo of the model taken, and what type of white balance was selected in the camera?  The same exact question applies to the online paint chips.  But what the heck - it is worth a try.

When I have to match paint on a model I usually do it by eye. I find a paint that is close, then mix it with whatever color I think will yield the correct results. Sometimes I mix more than one color to the base color to get the needed result. The sheen of the paint also makes a big difference. Often it takes me dozen tries to get it close enough.  It is best to overcoat the touched-up model with a clear coat to blend the colors better.  But I own large selection of paint colors and brands (in hundreds), so that makes my manual color matching process easier.

[Lemosteam]

It's just a starting point @peteski

It gets you within the general spectrum first.  Then you can add other colors if necessary.

Trying to guess at a complete mixture to match a specific tone takes an artist, and that ain't me.