700K Paint

I’ve had requests to match every color under the Sun …..except primer. Personally, I doubt you’re gonna find a perfect match from any rattle can …….if you’re looking to do a restoration, and a 700K is worthy of a quality restoration, I’d use a thinned down variant of an epoxy primer, and most definitely spray it from a gun, not a rattle can!!……perhaps the Tamiya primer may come close as far as finish, but again, I’d be looking for that over the top look,……maybe hit up your local automotive collision shop and inquire about them spraying the pieces for you??……only dumb question is the one not asked,…..😉

Pat

If the primer is truly gray, that is a mixture of only black and white, then matching the color would not be too difficult. Just add drops of black and white until you get the match you want. Most primers are gray because the pigment is zinc, which prevents rust. Getting a good match may not be to hard just trying what is commercially available, since most will be using the same zinc pigment.

@David Johnston posted:

If the primer is truly gray, that is a mixture of only black and white, then matching the color would not be too difficult. Just add drops of black and white until you get the match you want. Most primers are gray because the pigment is zinc, which prevents rust. Getting a good match may not be to hard just trying what is commercially available, since most will be using the same zinc pigment.

Might be a little tough to do with rattle cans??…..no?…..I’ve never had luck putting it back in the can for mixing purposes,……😂😂😂😂😂😂

Pat

Primer, as we know it today is probably a misnomer for this.  The paint, seen on the inside walls of the tender, has hints of green to it. Somewhat like the zinc chromate primer I've seen used in my Army career. Also, it is not a flat finish. More like a semi flat. Wonder what was available to Lionel in 1938?

Zinc Chromate back in the 30’s was very expensive,….it was primarily used in the aircraft industry for protecting aluminum aircraft panels. Not sure if Lionel used that technology back then or not, I’d never say never, but unlikely would be my guess,….I don’t think toy manufacturers bothered with primers when producing toys, ….I don’t recall even seeing a primer coat on any vintage tinplate I’ve ever stripped,….now what they sprayed on the 700K in kit form, I can’t say,……but again, if you’re looking for a high end quality restoration, I’d talk to your local automotive collision/paint shop and see if they can help you with the project,…..bottom line is, you get what you pay for ….if it has a satin sort of almost semi gloss finish, automotive base coats without any clear coat can duplicate such a sheen,…..I’d ask if they could match the color seen on the inside of the tender shell if that’s the desired color/sheen…..a good shop can do that with ease, and shouldn’t be overly expensive especially if the work pieces are fairly ready to spray ….

Pat

I have original 700-series scale car kits that are still in the original primer.  To my eyes, the primer looks identical to the primer on my 700K Hudson.  I don't know what these pieces may have looked like in 1940, but Pat's description of the primer being "a satin sort of almost semi gloss finish" is accurate for what my items look like now.

Lionel may have had access to Zinc Chromate primer as they had US government contract and made items for the US Army and Navy during both world wars and Korea and Vietnam. The grey used on the 700k as well as the 700 series K freight cars is definitely a satin finish and not flat.

No, it's not flat. I took several examples of original 700K items to a high end PPG mixer/finisher and they matched up a pint and put half of it in a rattle can. Needless to say I'm pretty pleased.

Hi John,

I recall seeing your 700K post on Facebook, could you share what type of base paint you used and the PPG mixing code, there’s a PPG store in town.

Your correct about the semi gloss finish, it was a paint rather than a primer, have a 700K shell with the original primer inside and the outside brushed painted on the outside, the original water slide decal is 100% intact, needing to match the inside of the front boiler cover.

Regards,

Joe G.