Hell no. I'm writing NS and asking them if we can get a formula, dry sample, or Munsell number for that blue. There may be just enough time to actually fix Conrail blue accurately so that posterity will have it.
And yes, I do trust Altoona's research better than yours... unless you're really really good and can show your work.

I'm not. Have you met many railfans? Sadly, our hobby seems to attract a vast number of rather poorly socialized individuals...

The problem is that when modelers complain about color, they don't understand the mechanics of color shift, lighting, etc.

Actually, there was a good article a year or two ago in Model Railroader by Bob Chapman who models passenger cars. He noted that colors produced for model railroads, in model railroad lighting condictions are not often a 1:1 match with the real thing. It was an interesting read, especially the few times I've encountered a modeler at a museum telling me somthing isn't painted "right."

"I can't complain, either, and am just a little surprised that there are any squawks at all."--J3a-614

"I'm not. Have you met many railfans? Sadly, our hobby seems to attract a vast number of rather poorly socialized individuals..."--Ed Kapuscinski

Well, I did say I was only a "little" surprised. . .

And if the NS people are reading this, I still hope they get more positive than negative feedback.

Now, to look forward to that Virginian Railway unit. . .and to hope for native N&W steam. . .and is it too much to hope for some Chinese 2-8-2s to become replica Virginian MBs? Actually, that is a bit much, but I wonder if any NS employees are aware of that possibility, and have dreams, too. . .

You know, one of the advantages of steam locomotives, at least for modern (20th century) machines, is that most are painted black. You can't have too many people squawk about not matching that! :-)

actually, whats interesting, is that there seems to be a LOT more complaining about people complaining about the blue, than actual complaints about the blue..

For example, this particular thread contains zero actual complaints about the blue, and ten posts complaining about people complaining about the blue..who are the real complainers then?

Scot

Does that make you the one complaining about people complaining about people complaining about the blue?

Anyone want to wager a guess as to what the next heritage unit will be? Maybe Penn Central, as NS already has the "colors" easily available.

<snark>

LOL. I know you are joking because NS black is entirely different than PC black. If they paint the PC engine in NS black, that will be a sure sign NS doesn't care about history and is just doing this for PR.

</snark>

The comments of that nature I did see were on other forums, websites, and the like, mixed in with complaints about the yellow step stripes, which scheme it should have been, etc. Not here.

Would these complaints make "The Conrail Heritage Blues"?

NS black.

How about PRR DGE (Dark Green Enamel)? One drop of green in a bucket of black (or says the old joke).

Doug vV

SR 8099 is now done. Link via "Trains" to NS's Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fb ... =1&theater

Note what is behind her....

Looks like they took the official news release photos today, as well ...

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=392712

That is NOT the right green and they know it! What kind of heritage program is this?! And those steps shouldn't be yellow, even though I'm pretty sure there is a regulation requiring it.

Jeez, do us foamers have to correct everything around this joint?






tehe