Prototype modeling - how far can you take it?

[nkp_174]

But they weren't red...they were brown! Yep yep! A very reddish brown!

I've heard a story of Harry Brunk giving a nice anecdote about exact colors. At a clinic, he put a slide up with a string of SG Tiffany Reefers. Despite the contractual requirement that they all be painted the same color, ever single car was noticeably different due to the lack of computer mixed paints (they were mixed by hand/feel) and they effects of weathering. Personally, I strive for my models to vary in color just like the prototype. Recently, I've decided that the price disparity between Floquil ($4 per ounce) and craft acrylics ($0.25) dictates a move in that direction. I'm still scared of using them with my airbrush (I ruined an old airbrush in a similar manner) with them, but I plan on using red, yellow, blue, black, and white to experiment until I've found an appropriate base of freight or passenger cars.