Glossy Passenger Car & Locos

Bruce,

The real Cincinnatian had a gloss finish until the P-7d was coupled and spewed cinders and dust over the train. That was the end of the gloss finish. Get out your spray gun and some satin finish for your Weaver P-7d.

Bob

I must admit, that I would lean more towards "glossy" as that looks more impressive. Also, it wouldn't be too difficult to knock the gloss down a bit with very light weathering. With the "satin" finish, it might be more difficult to make it "glossy" for those modelers that desire that "right out of the paint shop" appearance.

Now I will grant it was not the Cincinnatian, but in the mid-50's, saw B&O Chicago Terminal 0-8-0's shoving B&O passenger trains through the Robey Street car wash. So, shiny, clean is within prototypical day to day operations.

It depends what you are trying to model.  If your are modeling the Cincinnatian when it was the premier B&O passenger train between Baltimore and Cincinnati  (1947/1950), the engine and train set would likely be clean and glossy, its original state.  It was religiously cleaned and maintained.  If you are modeling the locomotive's  service between Cincinnati and Detroit, anything goes.  At that point, the Cincinnatian pacifics were treated as just another engine.  No powder blue on "Cincinnatian".   

I prefer glossy.  All my K-Lines and locally painted passenger cars are high gloss.  My SP Daylight and UP Diesels are weathered.  

It would seem easier to supply them glossy, but I am not their major customer.

Glossy finish on the real thing is fine. On a small model it looks like a kid's toy

My preference is for semi-gloss on streamline passenger cars.  Definitely not flat.

Ed Rappe 

If we are referring to modeling in the 1950's era recall that cars may have been frequently washed but not polished.  If you wanted your auto to have a glossy shine you needed to Simonize it at least every few months. The clear coats of today were non existent then.

Mark S made the comment regarding seeing the B&O car washer in Chicago. I recall seeing the B&O car washer below Camden Station in Baltimore as trains were pushed through it. They were kept clean but never saw the B&O polish their equipment. Big difference between clean and polished.

Like Ed Rappe, I believe semi gloss is a good starting point for model passenger equipment.

I remember riding the Cal Zephyr through the car wash in Denver so I envision semi-gloss on the sides but dirt on the roof, ends and floor.

ChipR

Keystoned Ed posted:

My preference is for semi-gloss on streamline passenger cars.  Definitely not flat.

Ed Rappe 

Agreed. And, I'll bet if 3rd Rail had issued the Cincinnatian in semi-gloss the caterwauling would have reached to the heavens.

After the big snow, my cars came today. I  - 1st appreciate all the comments, but here is how I will review these cars ..... Very nice overall, I am happy to have them.  That being said, I feel the paint is just wrong. I feel that the real cars were glossy so the models should be also. I saw a comment from Scott that reported the model loco's would be glossy.  They were not.  Yes I have a Weaver and it is glossy and will stay that way with only -- maybe -- some very light weathering. With the cars close to flat, I will not be able to bring the gloss up as I could bring the gloss down. Nature also never ever applies a nice even coat of dullness to anything regardless of what engine was applying that dull coat. For me, this is a real part of the problem of today's O scale hobby.....  Things having to be ordered before they are built!  Sunset used a glossy Weaver model for the pre-order model but at best, painted theirs "satin"   I get part of the need for pre-orders but still ...... Again  your thoughts?  

Bruce, are you adverse to applying a gloss cost yourself? I realize coating a brand new model may be a difficult choice, but if you want gloss, make it gloss.

Get some Future acrylic floor polish, warm it up a bit, and once any bubbles from your container have disappeared apply with a clean foam brush. Of course mask off the windows. Future is self leveling so you'll want the car lying on its side until dry.

I would think a satin or semi-gloss finish would be what you'd normally see out on the road.

Here's a shot of a SAL E7 pulling a few cars:

Keep in mind the original paint was Mint Green, faded out to almost white quickly.

Here's a night shot of E7 3030, you can see light reflecting off it so it must have a bit of glossiness left on it:

Here's 3045 and 3038 in Citrus colors:

Looks satiny to me.

I had a photo of a SAL E7 that appeared to be brush painted (due to wreck?) that was ugly and flat, looked like somebody used house paint.