N Gauge Forum

General Category => N Gauge Discussion => Topic started by: dean thom on April 30, 2013, 12:16:08 PM

Title: help needed with the best colour match for west highland red ballast.
Post by: dean thom on April 30, 2013, 12:16:08 PM
hi all,

im using Kato track for my west highland layout. i am colourblind. could you guys suggest the best aerosol colour (halfords/railmatch/precision/other) to spray the moulded ballast base to acheive the closest match to the colour of the red/pink ballast found on scottish railways? i'd  prefer to use halfords paints as there is one nearby. your help would be greatly appreciated. Dean
Title: Re: help needed with the best colour match for west highland red ballast.
Post by: Oldman on April 30, 2013, 01:46:47 PM
I'm suprised our pink ballast man has not comeback with a paint equivalent.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_939585_langId_-1_categoryId_165505 (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_939585_langId_-1_categoryId_165505)
is the only pink that is not in your face fluorescent
Title: Re: help needed with the best colour match for west highland red ballast.
Post by: dean thom on May 01, 2013, 01:29:38 PM
just bumping this guys. D
Title: Re: help needed with the best colour match for west highland red ballast.
Post by: dean thom on May 02, 2013, 04:27:06 PM
hi mike, who would the 'pink ballast man'? i could PM him. regards. dean
Title: Re: help needed with the best colour match for west highland red ballast.
Post by: EtchedPixels on May 02, 2013, 05:02:57 PM
Its a sort of "iron" pink

Good view of it here against a grey edge

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5274/5895328662_5979f9259b_o.jpg (http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5274/5895328662_5979f9259b_o.jpg)

Title: Re: help needed with the best colour match for west highland red ballast.
Post by: dean thom on May 02, 2013, 06:56:02 PM
ok guys..etched pixels has posted a pic for you to look at...please suggest something, as i cant proceed with my project. regards. dean
Title: Re: help needed with the best colour match for west highland red ballast.
Post by: Phil Hendry on May 02, 2013, 11:27:34 PM
If I was trying for that look, I suspect I'd probably experiment...  I'd probably start with Woodland Scenics Fine Ballast, in Brown, and a short length of weathered track on a board.  I'd do all the usual stuff with the ballast with wet water and white glue and then wait for it to dry.  Then I'd find myself a couple of colours of paint - one a light sort of terracotta colour, and another more of a salmon colour.  I'd drybrush, fairly vigorously with the first, and lighter with the second.  If it looked okay, I'd go with that as my method.  Of course, it might not work, in which case I'd try something different, on another little test-piece.
Title: Re: help needed with the best colour match for west highland red ballast.
Post by: dean thom on May 03, 2013, 12:52:49 AM
hi phil...experimentation is impossible for colourblind people. two different colours to you can look like just one to a colourblind person... there is no other way; i require someone to say; mix paint A with a little of paint B in these  percentages and it'll be right.
Title: Re: help needed with the best colour match for west highland red ballast.
Post by: Phil Hendry on May 03, 2013, 06:41:11 AM
Sorry, I forgot the colourblind bit!!