I know it already too late to discuss changes or anything related to that, but I was curious enough to ask about the color of grey you decided to choose for the new Dreyfuss Hudsons.

There was a lot of conversation these past 5 years on what the right shade and lightness of the gray used on the actual prototype, and Lionel even broke the mold a bit and went with a really light shade of gray for their recent run of the Dreyfuss'.

Was there a document uncovered recently that gives more details to that shade lionel used, because it seems like you guys followed suite for the most part.

could the darker shade from the models in the past be due to the accidental public perception of seeing them in their sun damaged state thinking that was the color without realizing?

would love to hear any thoughts on this.

(Getting ready to throw money at the models once they appear, and mentally preparing myself for the amount of wailing my wallet will be making)

Hi Shriker,

Thanks for the question. We did consult with the New York Central Technical & Historical Society about the correct paint colors. Since no color photographs or paint samples exist, the best information we had is that the shades of gray used on the Dreyfuss Hudson and the pre-war 20th Century Limited were not the same as used on the postwar "lightning stripe" locomotives, appearing lighter. These colors are our best approximation based on looking at black and white photos, and choosing shades that are lighter than the lightning stripe models we've done recently.

Actually, there are a few color photos of the Dreyfuss Hudsons - but not many! Several are in the book "Michigan Central Trackside with Emory Gulash", by Geoffrey H Doughty. The photo (from a Kodachrome slide) on page 10 showing a Hudson pulling NYC's "The Mercury" in 1941 appears to me to match the Bachmann engine's colors quite well.

I remember years ago the uproar when Stewart came out with models of CB&Q F-units, using the correct color of gray used on the real engines. On the rails in the sunlight, the real engines looked almost white. But under indoor lights (like a hobby shop or our layouts) they looked way too dark. Generally, it's better to err on the side of being a little too light; plus I find it's easier to weather an engine with a dark wash or powdered charcoal to make it darker, than it is to lighten it.

We knew a guy a few years ago who scored a couple of gallons of GM&O red when a prototype maintenance shop was closed.  He painted a few units with it and all the experts and rivet counters were telling him how wrong it was..... until they asked him, Where did you get the paint?  He told them and there was suddenly a deep silence in the room.

😂😂😂😂

I love it when pretension is suddenly deflated by reality.