BNSF Orange: Prototype Variation Thread

[tehachapifan]

Perhaps a thread where prototype photos or links to photos showing variations between shades and tones of BNSF orange would be nice to show that it doesn't just happen in the scale modeling world. Please add any photos or links you come across, but please only include those where the two (or more) contrasting locos appear in the same photo since the photo itself can change the color. Also, while there are many factors that effect hue, tone, shades, etc., I would like to stay away from the obvious serious fading factor being used as an example (like a peach pumpkin). Rather, staying with examples where it is not quite so clear if it is fading or if it is the paint shade itself would be better for this purpose.

Here's one to start things off. To me, this one looks just like Kato orange in the foreground and FVM orange or perhaps recent Atlas orange in the background...

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1487801

[Philip H]

That background looks almost red . . . .

[Denver Road Doug]

Hmm, well you mention excluding no obvious and unusual fading, but really both of the paint jobs in your photo are around 10 years old.  I think in 10 years you could maybe, in some cases, even expect a level of fading approaching that of the peach units. (even though they actually happened in only a matter of months or couple of years tops.)   Certainly, you wouldn't expect even locomotives coming off the assembly line one after another to weather/fade similarly over ten years.  Heck, the following photo is taken of your Dash 9 about a year after painting, and two sister units--off the assembly line 2 months apart--have already started to differentiate. http://archive.trainpix.com/BNSF/GEORIG/C44-9W/4998.HTM

Now, don't misunderstand...I pretty much agree with what you're saying.  Regarding the orange, they may have all gotten it "right"...you can probably find a photo somewhere that looks like every single one.   Now, if you want to talk yellow, or the lettering, (specifically Heritage II scheme) then THAT is where I believe there is some really poor execution of someone's plan. (or that someone just wasn't paying attention)   And yes, I get it that we probably aren't gonna get Scotchlight lettering, but the yellow-orange (emphasis on the orange) or yellow-green or yellowgreenorange  or whatever that Kato and FVM has used is hard to describe in a nice manner.   Atlas gets much closer and is workable IMHO, but I just can't understand how "whomever" at Kato and FVM looked at those models and said, "yeah, that looks just like the real thing!".   It does look like FVM is doing better on the lettering/yellow on the GP60M's but I haven't seen one in person yet.

Anyway, I think I have a good plan in place to "fix" the issue on my Kato units so I'm not whining at all, just throwing out some discussion.   Being a BNSF modeler, it is a topic near-and-dear.   

[tehachapifan]

I agree that fading is always going to be a factor. I just wanted to stay away from photos of units that basically turned almost white as examples. Even with typical fading, I wouldn't expect the units in my link to fade THAT differently. Seems the shade must have been somewhat different to start with. Either way, it shows that significant variation does occur. As far as yellow striping and logos, that's another can of worms! we can expand this discussion to include photo variations with that too.

[GaryHinshaw]

A subject dear to my heart. 

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1487801

I really don't know what to make of that photo...  Here is a collection of BNSF 4998 photos, none of which look this red to me:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=21261

For example:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1150213

So I spent a fair amount of time trying to find "typical" examples of variations, and I was finding it surprisingly difficult.  I went through several pages of this collection of Dash-9 photos in Rail Pics, and was having a very hard time finding much variation.  Here is a "typical" shot of the three heritage schemes in one consist:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=456569&nseq=8

To my eyes, these are virtually identical hues of pumpkin.  So, while different levels of saturation certainly exist due to fading, I don't tend to find very different hues.  I would be curious to see other examples though.

Cheers,
-gfh

[GaryHinshaw]

Ok, here's an example of a Dash-9 that is a bit redder than a trailing GEVO:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=450455&nseq=119

[GaryHinshaw]

Here is a shot that captures no fewer than 13 pumpkins at one instant of time by one lens:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=440951&nseq=307

The 70MAC 8802 is badly faded, as these units tended to be; the HI unit 1929 looks a bit yellower then the rest; and I could be persuaded that the HI unit #1004 is a bit darker than average.  But given that most units here are more than 10 years old, they are looking pretty good.

[GaryHinshaw]

An over-the-road shot showing a new GEVO that is arguably yellower than the Dash-9s in the lash up:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=440123&nseq=333

[tehachapifan]

Nice example, Gary! Admittedly, grime on the bracing units combined with the low sun angle reflecting off the new unit in the middle are probably a big part of the contrast, but it sure seems like the paint color itself is also different here too.

[trainforfun]

Here is a shot that captures no fewer than 13 pumpkins at one instant of time by one lens:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=440951&nseq=307

The 70MAC 8802 is badly faded, as these units tended to be; the HI unit 1929 looks a bit yellower then the rest; and I could be persuaded that the HI unit #1004 is a bit darker than average.  But given that most units here are more than 10 years old, they are looking pretty good.

8802 was the road number KATO picked up !!! Mine is more orange than the real pink one !!!