Scale, or at least muted, colour?

Jim Martin · May 23, 2020, 06:05:23 PM

Hi,

With my latest project having got to a point where I'm thinking about how to paint it, I wanted to ask people's opinions about colour and colour perception.

The model is going to be finished in the Rail Express Systems red and grey livery, like this: https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-GvkFpqn/0/L/i-GvkFpqn-L.jpg . Railmatch lists both the red (#241) and the grey (#251), but I'm wondering whether these are going to look too dark on an n-gauge model. I know that "scale colour" can be a divisive issue, but what do people think about how liveries done with the "right" colours appear in N?

Jim

crewearpley40 · May 23, 2020, 06:18:31 PM

Have a look at here and also

crewearpley40 · May 23, 2020, 06:22:51 PM

https://www.phoenix-paints.co.uk/products/precisionrailway

Neil of Teesside · May 23, 2020, 07:30:49 PM

Railway Modeller of April and May 1967 had a pair of articles covering this.

crewearpley40 · May 23, 2020, 07:32:39 PM

Have you a copy please that you could post a shot

Neil of Teesside · May 24, 2020, 07:07:09 AM

Here's the relationship between colour/line density and distance.

Bealman · May 24, 2020, 07:35:26 AM

Quote from: Neil of Teesside on May 23, 2020, 07:30:49 PM
Railway Modeller of April and May 1967 had a pair of articles covering this.

Gawd! We're going back now! I have both those issues on the shelf beside me as I type this!

Skyline2uk · May 24, 2020, 07:51:36 AM

My only thoughts on this is the most important factor is:

Does it look right to the person who has to look at it the most? I.e You.

Pick a photo of the real loco, look at it on a screen. Then print it. Then look at it on another screen. Then look at the print in full sunlight.

My guess it all those "viewings" will give you a different perception of the colour. And whose to say what the state of the camera was on the day the photo was taken?

All of the above is why my model of 47145 is completed in Humbrol No.15 "Midnight Blue" rather than any "official" railway colour.

Skyline2uk

Bealman · May 24, 2020, 07:55:25 AM

Yep, the old adage: what looks right is right.

exmouthcraig · May 24, 2020, 08:29:46 AM

What period in RES life are you modelling Jim???

In the first few months presumably everything looked magnificent and shop fresh but the thousands of miles they travelled took their toll.

If your modelling towards the end there will be paint patches and repairs that are noticeably different and newer. A lot of pictures of Super GUVs are what survives today and spent the best part of 20 years getting sun bleached and unkempt.

Cut a piece of plasticard the same size as a GUV and paint it those 2 colours tape it to a chassis and on the layout, if it looks too dark or wrong then you know to sample different bits to try and get one your happy with.

One point worth considering is that although your rake could technically of left BR paint shop on the same day they will of all had different workings so some wont be as new looking as others, gives you a nice variation in the rake.

crewearpley40 · May 24, 2020, 09:04:50 AM

Quote from: Jim Martin on May 23, 2020, 06:05:23 PM
Hi,

With my latest project having got to a point where I'm thinking about how to paint it, I wanted to ask people's opinions about colour and colour perception.

The model is going to be finished in the Rail Express Systems red and grey livery, like this: https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-GvkFpqn/0/L/i-GvkFpqn-L.jpg . Railmatch lists both the red (#241) and the grey (#251), but I'm wondering whether these are going to look too dark on an n-gauge model. I know that "scale colour" can be a divisive issue, but what do people think about how liveries done with the "right" colours appear in N?

Jim

jim. Sound advice. Don't forget go with what is comfortable to you. Those parcel vans travelled many a mile and collected dust, that scheme carried on after Oct. 90 sector . Go with the flow