Lionel orange color

I'm not a paint expert by any measure, but I've learned that trying to match a color using off-the-shelf products is challenging at best.

On a recent project (see below) I used "Rust-Oleum 334043 Painter's Touch 2X Ultra Cover Spray Paint, Gloss Real Orange" - readily available at Menards, Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.  It's very orange, but I don't have a "Lionel orange" piece to compare it against.  Any color looks different in person vs. a photo, and comparisons to an existing piece are affected by the age of the finish.

A can costs under $8, so it's possible to experiment on a test piece.  If an exact match is a requirement, I'd suggest contacting a vendor of toy train paint such as Henning's.  However, I don't think they sell rattle cans, so using their paint is likely to require using an airbrush.

I had mine paint matched by an auto paint manufacturer here in Roanoke. They can provider spray cans paints but they cost about $30.00. If you need the color information I can get you a copy of the can.

Yes can you post the info here. 30 is a good price. I hate the cleaning involved with my sprayer and really don’t see myself investing in new equipment. I live in VA also so shipping should be minimal.

I have flirted with the idea of powder coating. Does anyone have any good advice on starter equipment and paint matching.

thanks

Lowe's or Home Depot can provide a paint match by computerized color meter, and supply a sample jar of the color for a few dollars (used to be free !).  It will be latex paint and you may have to work around the sheen with a clear over spray.

Charlie

Lionel Orange is not an exact color. I would simply take a modern box that hasn’t faded to a hardware or home store and put it against the paint chips they have next to the spray paint. No need for computers here.

Pete

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

Lowe's or Home Depot can provide a paint match by computerized color meter, and supply a sample jar of the color for a few dollars (used to be free !).  It will be latex paint and you may have to work around the sheen with a clear over spray.

Charlie

My experience with computerized color matching is that it has problems if the item being matched isn't flat and smooth - ridges, rivets, etc. on a car will throw it off.  Also, the paint will either need to be brushed on or thinned for an airbrush. 

@Norton posted:

Lionel Orange is not an exact color. I would simply take a modern box that hasn’t faded to a hardware or home store and put it against the paint chips they have next to the spray paint. No need for computers here.

Pete

This is how I've gotten my closest matches.  I've found that using the paint chips is also good because you know exactly what you're getting - using a custom mix can be dicey. 

A few years ago I painted the fascia trim of my layout "Lionel Orange." At Home Depot, I discovered a series of paint colors based on NFL team colors.  The orange of the NFL Denver Broncos was a VERY CLOSE match in enamel. However, HD may not have it any more.  Even if they do still have it, it may not be suitable for use in a rattle can or an airbrush for your project..

A photo is attached of my paint job ...

Just saying,

Mike Mottler       LCCA 12394

I always thought Chevrolet engine orange was a pretty close match,…..

Pat

Ok so I went to Home Depot and Tractor Supply and came come with the following

1. Rust-Oleum Kubota Orange

2. Rust-Oleum Allis Chambers Orange

3. Rust-Oleum Orange GPE

4. Magic AC Orange

I am trying to match as close as possible to the two new cars I purchased from Side Track Hobbies for $35 each. (Beyond Excellent Price).

My goal is to match my 260E and 263w to the colors of those cars.
Rust-Oleum Navy Blue is a perfect Match

so I chose paint 1&4 and this is my test

close up of the Blue

What was your conclusion after comparing  #1 and #4 ?

I’m going to give it a day to fully dry and than I’ll post the results.

however just on first appearance #4 looks to be really close.

@Michael Roth posted:

.…I have flirted with the idea of powder coating. Does anyone have any good advice on starter equipment and paint matching.

I don’t think you can powder coat plastic. The temperature required to seal the powder coat would melt the plastic.

Sorry this has taken so long I just now was able to get to the club to look at the paint. I had James T. Davis Paints (Roanoke and Lynchburg ,VA ) color match the Lionel Orange, Blue and Ivory colors from my rolling stock. This paint is actually PPG auto paint and will be an exact match. I bought 4 ounce cans so I could do multiple projects and touch-up's.

Here is the Lionel Orange formula:

Lionel Blue;

Here is the Lionel Ivory used with the Lionel Club series cars

If you buy their custom mixed spray paint cans expect to pay about $30.00 per can. If you are buying 4 ounce cans like I did you will have to mix hardner and a drying agent which isn't difficult at all.

Expect to pay a little more than $120.00 for all 3 cans and the harder and drying agents. Please take the time to use a tack cloth to remove dust before painting you will get much better results.

Scott Smith

Excellent thanks for sharing if I don’t like my results from rattle can I purchased I am definitely going with your option.

I hope others can profit from your knowledge

as a side note I only paint tinplate I’m not a plastics train guy yet.

thanks again

preliminary results

1. Rust-Oleum Kubota Orange

4. Magic AC Orange

so I think #4 is a close match and may in fact do better on white primed body.

I will repeat the test on primed metal old car before I attempt painting the 260E

If using Allis Chalmers orange remember Persian Orange was used on early Allis tractors. It should be a pretty close match.

Early Mock-up of my train, I like the color it is close match with age it might darken a little so I’m happy with with.
train with tender have a lot to do need to sand and polish the tender and final coat than add all the nickel and trucks. The leading and rear wheel frames came out great along with all the other parts.

The train as I assemble all the cars.  I am going to repaint the roof of the cattle car to blue

Almost done

I went to the local Big Box Hardware and asked them to match the colors on a Lionel Box. This is the result. This was paint with a brush - I don't think they offered a spray paint option.

Excellent did you make that or just paint it ?
It looks fantastic I want one.

@Michael Roth posted:

Excellent did you make that or just paint it ?
It looks fantastic I want one.

Hi Michael - that was an old kit from around 2001 that I found. They do come up on auction sites if you want to search for one. Very easy kit to assemble.

To the original posters question - this color match is not easy, but you can get good results with a little playing around.

Paul

@Railrunnin posted:

Hi Michael - that was an old kit from around 2001 that I found. They do come up on auction sites if you want to search for one. Very easy kit to assemble.

To the original posters question - this color match is not easy, but you can get good results with a little playing around.

Paul

A very similar kit is still available from forum sponsor TW Trainworx. It, too, is very easy to assemble.  

https://www.twtrainworxstore.c...circle-l-bridge-kit/

@Rich Melvin posted:

I don’t think you can powder coat plastic. The temperature required to seal the powder coat would melt the plastic.

A more saliant issue is that the item being coated must be able to accept an electrical current.

@Mill City posted:

A more saliant issue is that the item being coated must be able to accept an electrical current.

Well, duh. Dummy me. I totally forgot about that part of the process.

That definitively answers that question!  👍

I painted some prewar O gauge in the Lionel orange and blue colors. This is one of the junk pieces I brought back to life. Did the engine and a bunch of freight cars and caboose with the Lionel colors. Just a note all of the items I paint were to far gone with the original paint). Anyway, the orange I used is a rattle can of Rustoleum. The color is called Real Orange. They also have another orange but is not that close to the oringinal Lionel orange. I would only do this if you are painting everything, so this is not intended for touch ups😊

You did an excellent job ! It looks like a new train. I love the brass

Running

still have some fine tuning to do but she will be ready by Christmas

still working out the Christmas layout

I used Krylon on my Lionel 259... It looks great and the color is close to other Lionel things I have.

That is a really nice job I LIKE IT ! Wish it were mine. The tender is really nice I like that style of tender I wish they made for the 260e. I think it’s classic and if just a sizer bigger it would have looked better than the 260T or 263E behind the 260/63/55

thanks for sharing

I for got to post the final photos of the finished Lionel color 260e restomod

I think the colors are spot on very happy with the turn out