New York Central Diesels: Need help with paint and decals

[mtrpls]

Hello everyone,

I'm so glad I found this place. I plan to be an active participant in the future...

I have a question to pose which actually brought me here...

I am planning to paint a diesel locomotive in the New York Central's famous "lightning stripe" paint scheme. I have already purchased decals, Microscale #87-49.

After close inspection of prototype pictures, it appears the NYC had two variatios of the lightning stripe: black locomotives for freight service, and gray locomotives for passenger service.

My questions are:

1. What paint (brand and color) is the most widely used to represent the NYC's gray paint on its passenger locomotives?

2. Will Microscale's 87-49 lightning stripe decals work for both passenger and freight? The lightning stripe is a dark gray, and there would seem to be very little contrast against the gray paint of the passenger locomotives. Was the lightning stripe the same color on both the freight and passenger? Did the passenger locomotives use a lighter-colored lightning stripe to achieve greater contrast against the gray body of the engine?

Or does Microscale make a separate lighting stripe decal sheet for the gray-painted passenger locomotives?

Thank you all so much for your help!!!

[c5032005]

Is 87-49 the Passenger gp and rs sheet?years ago I did a NYC GP9 in lightning stripe for my brother,but i can't remember the decal number.Usually the decal set specifies a suggested paint colour,Badger Accu Flex would probably have something in their range.
For black nyc locos I always use Badger Grimy Black with a clear flat to finish off.

Regards
James

[mtrpls]

The decal sheet says for E and F unit cab diesels. But the lightning stripe seems to be almost the same color gray as the (passenger) locomotive itself...very little contrast.

No paint is specified or recommended.

Any ideas?

[c5032005]

NYC had two main pass LS liveries.E7s that were delivered for 20th century use were sort of a ghost grey with a LS almost the same color grey.Their later E7s and E8s had a dark grey main color.I will have a look and see if I can find a color,I've never done a passenger E.

[c5032005]

Just looking on Wlthers eb site under Accu-Paints they do NYC light gray and NYC dark gray I mould asume these would be what you are after.It would be worth a look.

[c5032005]

And Modelflex also do NYC light and Dark gray.I hope I've been of some help to you.

[CBCNSfan]

Hi mtrpls, Welcome to the Model Railroadforums. Sorry I can't help you on these questions but it seems c5032005 has it well in hand. Perhaps more members will have som ideas on the topic.
Cheers Willis