W&L Box Van Roof Colour ?

[Charles M]

I have a set of the Accucraft W&L Box Van cars with the light cream roofs. I have been trying to find out if the roofs of these cars were painted a darker colour. I can only find a single photo showing a car roof , and it seems to be a dark gray , darker than the body colour. Were the roofs painted wood or canvas / painted coverings ?

Suggestions Please , leave as is , or spray them a primer gray colour ? A darker colour would help hide the live steam oil residue they often have now on the roof !

Thanks for any info.

Charles M

 

[owlpool]

according to Glyn Williams' book (WSP Ltd 2010), "The roofs of covered vans, cattle wagons and brake vans were painted white but soon assumed a grey appearance in service"

so your experience in practice,and mine, is probably authentic

 

[owlpool]

from a picture of a dilapidated van in the same publication, the roof material was painted canvas over wood