Looking for a touch-up paint match (green) for my 8452/8453 Erie ALCOs

Getting a perfect match one shot color from a jar is never going to happen, unless by pure accident….even if there was a cross reference ( I’m not even aware if there is ) it could never be an exact match color, …….when I do small touch ups for customers, no matter the model, I might start with the basic railroad color, then tint or tone till I get a match that’s either perfect, or very undetectable, ……I also keep an army of basic testors flat colors, and cocktail my own touch up colors as needed,…..at 1-2 dollars per jar, I don’t have to go nuts trying to find proper railroad colors for jobs like this …….

Pat

It probably won't be perfect, but I'll bet it will be close.

I recently used their Chessie Yellow on a work caboose to match this MTH crane car.

I don't have a large stock of paints to mix the perfect color, so the last time I needed to do a touch up I went to the paint dept. and grabbed the color sample cards for everything that looked close.  Held the samples up against the item to be painted and found the color that matched.  The number of shades is almost infinite, so there's usually something that will match.  Went back to the paint dept. and had them mix a sample size of that color in the appropriate gloss level.  Cost about $4 or $5.

OR  bring the engine to Menards (ding-ding)  and have them color match with their color matching machine.

Ask for a sample size, unless you need a pint.

@AlanRail posted:

OR  bring the engine to Menards (ding-ding)  and have them color match with their color matching machine.

Ask for a sample size, unless you need a pint.

Oh, that I could... the nearest Menards to me is in Elizabethtown, KY, a 4.5hr drive north of Chattanooga - great idea, I just live in the wrong spot!

George

@AlanRail posted:

OR  bring the engine to Menards (ding-ding)  and have them color match with their color matching machine.

Ask for a sample size, unless you need a pint.

@GeoPeg posted:

Oh, that I could... the nearest Menards to me is in Elizabethtown, KY, a 4.5hr drive north of Chattanooga - great idea, I just live in the wrong spot!

George

Because lighting varies and there are details on most train items that can cast small shadows or otherwise mess with the computer, I used the paint chips in my basement to do the color matching.  The difference between shades is so tiny that you're likely to find a perfect match. 

I didn't name Menards in my post since they aren't everywhere - any paint store or department in a big box or hardware store can do this.