Early TTX yellow

[ridinshotgun]

Has anyone had any success with using any commercially available spray paint to match the early TTX yellow?

I was looking at possibly one of these:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Krylon-Fusion-All-in-one-General-Purpose-Sunbeam-Spray-Paint-Actual-Net-Contents-12-oz/1000460255

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Krylon-Colormaxx-General-Purpose-Sun-Yellow-Spray-Paint-Actual-Net-Contents-12-oz/1000460397

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Krylon-Colormaxx-General-Purpose-Bright-Idea-Spray-Paint-Actual-Net-Contents-12-oz/1000460317

[engineshop]

I never thought TTX yellow color match was a problem since yellow fades so quickly. As long as you don’t model a car right out of the paint shop ever shade of yellow will do.

[ridinshotgun]

I never thought TTX yellow color match was a problem since yellow fades so quickly. As long as you don’t model a car right out of the paint shop ever shade of yellow will do.

Yeah well my weathering shop list grows every day so it may not get there for a while and would like to get as close as possible.

At one point n scale kits had a commercial spray paint color that they suggested but it was an automotive color and I couldn't find it here in the states.

[peteski]

So the model RR paint manufacturers (like Scalecoat or Tru-Color) do not make the appropriate color?

[ridinshotgun]

Neither Tru-color ( who doesn't make paint in spray cans, which is one of my requirements) nor Scalecoat (they used to have one and were the first place I looked but since the ownership change it has not come back) don't,  and I specifically want something that is easily available hence the requirement I stated "commercially available spray paint".

[learmoia]

How is early TTX (Trailer Train) Yellow different than regularge TTX Yellow?  I recall some models seemed to use a darker mustard yellow.  Is current TTX and Rail box yellow the same color?)

[peteski]

Neither Tru-color ( who doesn't make paint in spray cans, which is one of my requirements) nor Scalecoat (they used to have one and were the first place I looked but since the ownership change it has not come back) don't,  and I specifically want something that is easily available hence the requirement I stated "commercially available spray paint".

Scalecoat had problems with yellow paints in spray cans (they were exploding or something like that, right before the ownership change. IIRC, that problem is now resolved.  It might be worth to contact the current owner and ask if he can reintroduce the color you are looking for in a spray can.

[ridinshotgun]

How is early TTX (Trailer Train) Yellow different than regularge TTX Yellow?  I recall some models seemed to use a darker mustard yellow.  Is current TTX and Rail box yellow the same color?)

Supposedly the color became a darker mustard starting in the 90's.  I was looking at a few different current offerings for brush or airbrush paints in TTX yellow and their is wide variation, some don't look like a match at all, but who knows when viewed on a computer monitor. 

I was just hoping someone would have an idea on easy available spray paints.

[engineshop]

Did you check the spray can manufactures for graffiti artists?

[jagged ben]

Supposedly the color became a darker mustard starting in the 90's.  I was looking at a few different current offerings for brush or airbrush paints in TTX yellow and their is wide variation, some don't look like a match at all, but who knows when viewed on a computer monitor. 

I was just hoping someone would have an idea on easy available spray paints.

I think the change was a bit earlier.  It may have been gradual.  Although judging from photos is a fool's errand given all the variations in film and exposure, I can't discern any average difference between cars in the late 80s and the early 90s. Most pics I have of cars from the mid 80s they are so dirty it's impossible to tell what the original color was.    I do agree that by the time the new TTX logo came about ('91 I think), the color was more mustard than primary yellow.  But cars that were painted earlier in the 'TT' scheme seem to be the same color.  Looking mostly at double stack cars and spines around that time because they were the new ones.

Just judging by the links you posted, I'd probably go with the middle one, although the last one would be good for a faded car that you were going to weather.   But I don't have any experience to help you out with. 

[ridinshotgun]

Ok after some digging and corresponding with both Scalecoat paints and Nscalkits I procured some paint and did some testing of colors.

It seems scalecoat is still doing the TTX yellow (officially called trailer train yellow) that is based on the earlier yellow.  Why I couldn't find it on the site before I don't know but it is there now under scalecoat I color #1171.  I also spoke with Pete who put me onto a commercially available yellow made by Rustoleum available at Walmart under the american accents line called marigold.

So I procured both paints then went to Lowes and picked a few other close colors to paint some test swatches.  This is the result:

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

From left to right we have Krylon Fusion Sunbeam, Scalecoat1 TTX Yellow, Krylon Colormaxx Sun Yellow and Rustoleum Marigold.

First observation is that the marigold that Pete recommended is too mustardy and is a better match for current TTX yellow.  The scale coat paint looks to me to be apretty good match to older TTX yellows and in talking to Shawn at Scalecoat that is what it was based upon.  Both of the Krylons are a close, but not exact match, to the scalecoat paint but the edge in real life, since monitors all show different colors, goes to the Krylon Fusion Sunbeam.  Now it isn't exact but a tad bit lighter which I could live with since yellow paint will weather in real life to a lighter color.  So that is the verdict.  While I like the scalecoat stuff it is a 6 ounce can for 3 times the amount of a can of Krylon.  So once I use up the scalecoat stuff I will be using the Krylon stuff.

[peteski]

Thanks for the follow up - that is good reference info!
Hopefully the Krylon stuff is compatible with styrene and ABS plastic (no crazing).  In the past that paint was a bit too hot (it crazed styrene), but I think that nowadays it is compatible with styrene).

As you mentioned, it is hard to get a good color match to photos (both prints and on displayed on the computer screen). Then there is fading too, so some  color variations would be acceptable.
 
Sounds like you are planning on needing quite a bit of spray paint. What scale are your models? 

[ridinshotgun]

Thanks for the follow up - that is good reference info!
Hopefully the Krylon stuff is compatible with styrene and ABS plastic (no crazing).  In the past that paint was a bit too hot (it crazed styrene), but I think that nowadays it is compatible with styrene).

As you mentioned, it is hard to get a good color match to photos (both prints and on displayed on the computer screen). Then there is fading too, so some  color variations would be acceptable.
 
Sounds like you are planning on needing quite a bit of spray paint. What scale are your models?

The plastics could be an issue, but for me I plan on using it on metal stuff from N Scale Kits but Scalecoat has the II line which is plastics safe.

I am planning on increasing my flats and intermodal fleet with some of Pete's stuff so is isn't a great amount but enough!  Truthfully after getting the scalecoat paint and seeing the results I thought of scrapping the testing but sometimes I am like a dog with a bone once I get going on things. Besides not sure how far the 6 ounces of spray paint from Scalecoat will actually last.  I am sure not as long as if bottled and sprayed on with an airbrush.