Smokebox Grey

[Don Gilham]

I can never match colour properly, so please does anyone have any ideas on a grey to match the smokebox/chimbley on US outline models ? (I know some were black but I do like the grey contrast)

Matt - preferably enamel ?

 

[New Haven Neil 2]

They were mostly graphited, not painted, although some roads painted them heat reistant silver.
Graphiting's a hard look to get right - I haven't ever managed it really. Not all roads did it.

 

[Don Gilham]

Same problem as me then Neil Nice to know I'm not alone

 

[stevedenver]

i dont know if you in the UK get Floquil paint -they have a great smokebox (graphite) ready

humbrol silver and matte black mixed about 2:1 or 3:1 has worked very well for me-add black the the silver-not the other way around
another color which isnbad and rather dark, is Testors model master gunmetal grey-i no longer use it as its thick and i dont like how it applies, and thinnning is properly is something i have yet to master after years of trying-but in the right application and well applied-its great -deep rich neutral grey-slight mini flake sparkle -very very dark

i have also seen as noted above-dark grey-no silver at all - on some UP bigboys, and bright silver also on UP as well as many other roads-all typically mainline-plain dark grey looks more modern to my eye , very sterile

simply as a matter of taste as opposed to authenticity-i prefer a very dark silver -almost looks weathered -

the thing to do is experiment using the humbrols ive mentioned-buy 2 pots of each, try mixes and then mix a batch -

 

[MAYBACH]

As Steve Denver said, use a mix or go for a gun metal colour, be care full with some as they have big flakes in the metalic and so looks naff on a model, Tamiya paint can be like that. Perhaps it might be best to start with a gun metal colour and then you only have to adjust it very slightly to get that grey silver, perhaps also adding a very tiny amount of another colour to get that tint, you would be suprised what colours are used to make other colours. Perhaps adding a "drop" of yellow or orange would give it that tint. I have an MTH G1 Challenger and it has that nice grey/silver smokebox BUT it has a tint to it and I would reckon a drop of yellow would make the difference, not enough to see it whilst mixing but after it has dried you would see it.
Do some mixes and make a note of what you did, it's worth that tiny bit of effort to get it right.
Cheers
Rob

 

[peterbunce]

Hi,
Martyn Welch uses a combination of Humbrol Metalcote 'Gunmental' (which look like Balcklead), and 'natural wood' or 'leather' (both Humbrol) colour to modify it, to produce a dirty/slightly oily sheen, and/or general muck - think of fine coal dust to give you an idea. It looks very effective on the roof of railway vehicles.

The modification to that using a mid to light grey to significantly lighten the Humbrol gunmetal will produce a light grey with a half sheen, which is quite near. A final coat of Johnson's Klear will slight darken it so take that into account when mixing the paint to start with. The 'Klear' has a semi matt effect and will also reduce the metallic sheen at the same time.

All colour perception is different so what you like/think is correct is your choice. The lighter colours anyway soon dirtied up, Have a look at the following Durango & Silverton loco 481 at this link

http://michaeldmccaffery.com/RGS COUNTRY PHOTOS FOLDER/Number481.jpg < Link To http://michaeldmccaffery....20FOLDER/Number481.jpg

That is a large image by the way so lots of weathering can be seen
Though they use what is virtually a silver colour. but the effect will be close to a hard worked engine.

Finally if you can find the book 'The Art of Weathering' by Martyn Welch it is a very good read, Waterstones list it, and it is published by Wild Swan. No connection with hime or them by the way.

 

[New Haven Neil 2]

A superb book, I have to add! Nice bloke too, chatted to him at York show years ago - his Ruston shunter blew my mind, as good in the flesh as in the photos - he is a master.

 

[Woderwick]

Tamiya gunmetal X-10 produces a finish very close the the colour on Bachmann locos. Needs spraying though, wont work brushing it on. HEre are some examples.

And with dirt and a matt varnish

 

[Don Gilham]

Terrific stuff, Rod - as always, I sit in awe !

 

[corgi]

For a realistic smokebox colour I use 'Pot Belly Black' I think in the UK it is referred to as 'Woodstove Black'.
Really good for live steam as it is heat resistant.

 

[C&S]

Having painted the smokebox of one of my locomotives silver, I have been told this was only done on oil-fired engines. Anyone else able to confirm that? Must get round to painting it a greyer shade, as we're a coal-fired line.

 

[Doug]

The smokebox on the Bachmann 2-4-2 baldwin is a dark grey metallic colour, probably called 'gunmetal' in the Humbrol range. A much better colour than the silver ends to the cylinders!