Dorfan 51 engine paint colors - where to find or match to?

Jeff

I do not have any orange Dorfan pieces, but looking at pictures in the book, I'd say the prewar Lionel orange would be a decent match.

I will check the red tomorrow and see how it matches the Rust-Oleum red I use.

I have heard the green is similar to John Deere Green. There are two different shades and I have a can of each ordered to test. I'll let you know how they look.

Steve

Original Dorfan green was not at all like John Deere Green.  The confusion arises because MTH used an exact match of classic John Deere Green when making its reproductions of Dorfan - an inexcusable travesty IMO.

True Dorfan green is not as light and not as yellow as JD.  If you are doing equipment colors, a closer match would be Oliver green, but still not exact.

There was a previous thread on this, but it got pretty confused because people were pulling pictures of MTH pieces off the net as proof that Dorfan was JD green.  hmmmm..

Jeff, I have original green, orange, and red Dorfan pieces, but I don't know how to get a "color palette" to you given the inpredictability of lighting, photography, and reproduction.  Any ideas? 

david

I would suggest taking pictures with a color reference that is a know color, like paint chips. That way any photographic changes can be adjusted to the paint chips and then that will show the correct color.

Do any of these match? Collector Color from Henning's Trains, a forum sponsor

Nice color swatches.  But the color balance of my computer monitor probably doesn't match that of yours, and if I print them out to hold next to the train, you have printer ink variation on top of that.  Never mind that the Hennings chart says at the bottom, "Color shown does vary slightly from actual..."  Color reproduction is a tricky business.  

Pantone chips are the publishing indistry's way around this, to have a single standard everyone can refer to, but if you aren't in the publishing besiness you aren't likely to have a set, they run several hundred dollars.

All I can think of, is to photograph the Dorfans next to some common shared reference point - like a Lionel orange piece that you also may or may not have, and yours may have color faded more than mine!  

Jeff, I do have the Pantone Color Specifier album, so if you are serious about this I can match the Dorfan orange to a Pantone color and then either just tell you the Pantone code for you to take from there, or physically send you one of the perforated tear-out chips.

david

WTF, hojack. If he calls them, they'll send him the color chart. If one looks close on any screen, it's worth calling for an actual chart.

Have you looked at the color chart which was included with the TCA Lionel Standard gauge book? 

The inks that print a color chart are not the same as the paints.  If "close enough" is good enough for you, then go ahead.  On the other hand if you are trying to accurately match an historic color for which no color charts exist, it can be done, but not that way.

Besides, Hennings or TCA, those are all Lionel colors.  They won't match.  Jeff's Dorfan Orange is not on any chart.  There are no Dorfan color chips. 

I'm just trying to be helpful to Jeff.  I will Pantone match it for him if he wishes, since I have that capability.  If you are uncomfortable with that, get whatever help you need to resolve your issues, but please refrain from cursing me. This is not an appropriate forum for that.

thank you.

I would like help from hojack since I think it is important to me to get as close to the original color as I can. Thanks.

Jeff, email sent.

d

The paint job is only original once. After that, it's what ever you want.

I understand the uniqueness of the color, but it doesn't have to be that hard.

papa's trains look nice.

The issue is resolved. Hopefully, he can find an automotive store to match the pantone in an enamel with the proper primer. Thanks for the history on the color "myth". I am sure the color match will be better than close.

I really appreciate the help. I also frankly do not understand why there are some here that are upset. I asked for help and I had a feeling that there are color differences. I want to get as close as possible since I have worked hard at restoring this shell. No, it is not original and I am not trying to fool anyone. I simply would like to get as close to the original colors as I can.

Why the fuss from the rest? Critics are easy to come by. Doers not so much. I choose to do, thank you.

jeff, here is one to check out. Krylon Master Craft with primer. You know that the finish color will appear different with a gray or white primer. This is a rattle can product, acrylic enamel gloss. it is in the yellows range. Taking into account all of the screen, photo and color chart distortion, the Gloss Bauhaus Gold, #51801 looks really close compared to the TCA Museum sample. Compare it to the color that hojack comes up with. it is the color right next to the engine

I never had any luck with an automotive store matching paint. There is a guy in burlington NC who matched paint for a post war NP Gp 9 dead on. He runs a web site called MCW Automotive Finishes for the model car industry. Great prices and sent my cab back with matching paint very fast. You can reach him by email. He furnishes laquer paint.

Rob

Jeff,

I like your attitude . We're not talking "rocket science".

Hojack,

How about if you brought it to a paint store that does the computer matching thing and have them scan it. Instead of getting paint, get the color recipe. That should be easily emailed to Jeff and he can then have a store mix up a batch based on those numbers.

Just a thought, a positive, creative one.... I might be in the wrong place though!

ARNO

Hadn't thought of that, that's a good idea, provided the recipe is universal and not brand-specific to a store Jeff doesn't have access to. Could also just have them mix a can of paint which would be easy enough to send. Jeff and I are working on it by email, let's see how this pans out. 

Thanks all, Sorry for the wait but I had a long 15 hour work day and then got a flat on the way home. Of course my Camaro does not have a spare but sealant and a pump. At least I got a warning and got home on the sealant. Tomorrow will be a challenge.

I've had success matching several tinplate colors by taking a car/loco to an auto paint store and having the piece scanned with a hand held device. The only problem is coming up with a section of flat area for the scanner to read and this may be the case with a small O scale loco. :/

Good luck.