Copyright 2021 Nicholas Kalis
Dupli Color, BTY1617 Classic Silver Mica
Helpful Hint
Two Rules of Model Railroading
First rule of model railroading is - have friends in our hobby; real friends, not just someone you exchange an occasional email with. In my search for paint to model the corrugated roof of my 1:20.3 scale engine house, a friend lent me two rattle cans to just make a quick spray on my sample panel. Results from one of his two cans were fine; problem was when I went to purchase that paint, the brand, Model Masters by Testors, had been discontinued. So, the second rule of model railroading came into play.
Second rule of model railroading - improvise; and by "improvise" I mean be willing to shop at places other than hobby shops. After much experimenting, I have selected this paint BTY1617 Classic Silver Mica (see photograph) to color the interior and exterior surfaces of the corrugated steel roof for my Waipahu Engine House for the Oahu Sugar Company.
First Step
My first step was to visit my local auto supply store - in my case, Advanced Auto in Virginia. Auto supply stores have a great selection of spray paint cans.
Second Step
Next step was to buy not one but two of the colors I thought came closest to the effect I was trying to achieve. Going back and forth to the retailer seems to me a waste of time and risks not finding the second paint color on the return trip.
Important hint - disregard names the manufacturer gives to colors at hand.
Another hint - take with a grain of salt the plastic cap color, the cap is plastic after all.
Third Step
I hot glued several panels to a small sheet of cardboard.
Fourth Step
I then wrote down on the sheet of cardboard the paint I would use.
Fifth Step
Next step was to paint some corrugated metal panels, Boy, after a full night of drying of this and one other sample they still were giving off noxious vapors. Be careful - I needed to roll down the windows of my auto while riding with them in my front seat. What were they doing in the front seat of my auto? I was taking them to lunch with a model railroader friend.
Sixth Step
If you are not sure about a color choice, do as I did, ask your spouse and perhaps a modeling friend. In this case, all three of us agreed that this color (Classic Silver Mica) was the flattest and the best representation of a 20 year-old galvanized corrugated steel roof. Interestingly, this rattle can says it is for touching up Toyotas.
Seventh Step
My next step was to use a variety of MIG weathering fluids (washes and rain marks) I recently purchased in 75ml bottles to determine which looks best on my test panels.
Eighth Step
I chose MIG Productions Neutral Wash MIG-P222 (75 ml) and applied it with a brush. Be forewarned, these enamel type washes take quite a long time to dry; do not touch for at least a day or more.
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