Colors for Rail Chief passenger set?

I have tried to find out the same thing just as you. Neither Lionel or MTH will release the paint color information. It seems like a foolish bit of information to hide. Have you thought about using the color chart released by TCA? Just a thought. I have taken train parts to a automotive paint supplier. They have a computer that matches color samples.

The TCA chart is only marginally useful - a lot of the color chips don't really match the colors on the equipment, and a lot of colors are missing or the names are confusing - for instance, there are half a dozen reds and at least two different shades of cream. The red on the Rail Chief is not a true red. I have tried color matching from an automotive paint supplier in the past, but the last time I went to one the only paints he was selling were 2-part paints using an accelerator or hardener, and they were expensive. Also, some of that 2-part stuff can be hard to clean out of an airbrush. Back when I was painting motorcycles, you could just get your paint guy to mix up some Duracryl to whatever you wanted, but no more. Maybe I'd have better luck with another paint dealer, but Tucson isn't a big market so our choices are limited. I'm hoping that one of the outfits that makes paint to match old Lionel will have something that will match. If push comes to shove I know how to mix paint, but that is a lengthy trial-and-error process and not always easy to replicate in a larger batch. 

There's a forum member in your area, I cannot recall his name? Maybe he will chime in if I provide a little info. This gentleman has a collection of GG-1's like no other. He also holds office in TCA. I think his last name is, Phiffer (spelling)? He is a paint guru. I wish I could be of more help.

Thanks, I know him. Didn't know he was a prewar paint guru. He's not a tinplater so he probably doesn't follow this part of the forum. I'll shoot him an e-mail.

Ron - Thanks for weighing in. I wonder if there may be more than one version of the TCA color chart. Mine is the one that was included with the second edition of the TCA book on prewar Lionel. It does not include a color called Red - Medium.

I've attached a photo, which I should have done in the first place. As best I can tell from published photos, the colors seem to be quite close to the originals. As you can see, the red is very much toward brownish - more like a mahogany color than true red. It doesn't look like the vermillion on my copy of the TCA color chart, which is a bright, pure red. The closest thing on my chart is the red that is described as going with the #8 locomotive, but that color is redder. I've seen some photos of original red #8's that look brownish, but it's hard to be sure when you're looking at an image of an antique rendered in printer's ink. 

As I mentioned in my original post, I'm pretty sure the roof is 380 Maroon, which is readily available. In fact, I think I have a can. 

Anyway, here's the photo. The colors render pretty close to the actual ones, at least on my screen. It's easier to see if you click on the image to enlarge it. Does anyone recognize that red? 

Southwest Hiawatha,

I'm also glad that, ron m joined in with his knowledgeable input. It is my observation that leads me to think of, ron m as,"The Tinplate Forum's two-legged Reference Library". This is another example of, "When you don't know ask ron m".

I, myself have had times when I wish I had his advise.

The repro is a different red, that appears to have more orange than the original.

The Tamiya TS39 Mica Red looks close to the repro. It's tough using the net for color matching. Edit: on second thought it doesn't. here's CC 219 and 517.

Moonman:

WOW, what a difference! I'm sitting here with a repro vestibule in my hand, looking at your pictures. Actually, it looks to me like your original is brighter and more orange and my repro is darker and more toward brown. No wonder I haven't been having any luck finding a Lionel repro paint that matches my cars - that may not be a Lionel color at all. The color on my cars looks kind of like Dark Terra Cotta with some red or orange mixed in. 

This changes my thinking on painting a matching locomotive. It looks like I am going to have to do one of two things: custom mix a color for the sides of the tender and cab, or just paint my Dreyfuss black and do the roofline in maroon. 

 Thanks for posting those photos. Your information is a big help.

Maybe I missed it, but what loco are you using? I would think a Hiawatha L&T. I'm in the middle of making a M10,000 in the Hiawatha color scheme with 752 loco. I think it's going to turn out good. I also have a Pride Lines Hiawatha loco that's missing the motor. Does anyone know what motors will fit? Maybe I should start a new thread for that one.