Kato E5 color/paint match?

[arbomambo]

I remember this being discussed as nauseum when the Kato Silver Streak Zephyr was first released, but I can’t find the thread…
Was there ever a consensus about the best match? Alclad?

[Vaderta]

Found this on another site as I am curious as I have a few of them.

Train17
Train17
New Member
I painted my Sky Top Models Burlington E5-B shell per Bill's suggestion on his website. Clean the resin shell first with mineral spirits before painting. Base coat first with Tru-Color Paint TCP-130 NYC Dark Gray and then TCP-077 Silver. This combo provides a pretty good match to Kato's factory painted CB&Q E units. Micro Scale Decals 60-98 "Burlington E units 7,8 & 9" has the BURLINGTON for the sides. I finished mine with light coat of Micro-Satin to seal everything. I'm satisfied with the way it looks behind the Kato factory painted stainless steel E5A. I also used the same painting method for the Sky Top Baggage-Buffet-Lounge "Silver Buffet" and Dome-Parlor-Observation "Silver View" for the CB&Q Twin Cities Zephyr.

[Sokramiketes]

And if you find Bill’s mix a touch bright, a light layer of Tamiya Smoke has just the right brownish shadow tint to make it look like stainless.

[skytop35]

I’ve changed my painting method for Kato stainless steel recently. I’m away from home and will update this thread when I get back on Sunday. The Tamiya smoke is a great final step.

[keeper]

This is one thread, where colours were discussed:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=54494.0

[arbomambo]

I’ve changed my painting method for Kato stainless steel recently. I’m away from home and will update this thread when I get back on Sunday. The Tamiya smoke is a great final step.

Bill,
I’d like to talk to you in depth about this when ya’ll get home and settled.
Bruce

[skytop35]

In order to better match Kato stainless steel paint, I'm currently first spraying the car with a base of TruColor TCP-010 black. While it is still wet, I immediately spray on a 50/50 mix of TCP-077 Silver and TCP-708 Metallic Silver. This will get you pretty close. Once dry, compare to a Kato car and see what you think. You can then mist on a light coat of the Tamiya Smoke that Mike mentioned if you so desire. Here is a car I recently painted, it has the smoke applied. I gave it two light coats and probably should have stopped at one.

[DRGW5349]

I wrote an article for N Scale Railroading about matching the Kato stainless steel color. See 047 May/Jun 2008 57 Stainless Steel Made Easy.
Initially, I was tinting Tamiya Smoke, but Mike Danneman simplified the procedure by just using multiple light coats of Tamiya Smoke. This works even better, just keep a sample car nearby to compare to as the coats are applied. The base silver in not important as long as it has minimal silver flakes. Currently, I am using silver from Vallejo and am very pleased with the results.
Marlin Cox