Having modeled the PRR for a number of years, I have to say that I have heard all the modeling “Truths” about modeling the PRR. Belpairs being too short or having the wrong slope, the wrong pimple board being used on walkways or I1 airtanks being undersized.

I thought my shift in primary modeling focus to the Reading Company would free me of those types of truths. I was wrong. I fell into one of those yesterday.

Reading first generation road switchers are painted Pullman Green.

It says so in every article you read about first generation locomotives. It says so in every modeling article you read about Reading road switchers.

In this image you see a printed reproduction of a photograph of a Reading AS-16 less than a year old. This is what I needed my model to look like. The Scalecoat Pullman Brown crap that I sprayed on the model did not please me.

Now it’s time to buy some different GREEN paint and start testing to find MY Pullman Green.

So much for trusting the work and word of other modelers. The Reading Modeler website even goes so far as to say:

Pullman Green Scheme: Floquil, Polly-Scale, or Scalecoat Pullman Green.  Floquil seems to yield a lighter shade than the other two – this would be useful for painting first-generation diesels that have faded due to weathering and age.  For newer models, Polly-Scale or Scalecoat would work best.

I am modeling the Summer of 1952. The Baldwin AS-16 I’m modeling would have been less than one year old, so it should be clean, shinny and in close to new condition.  Scalecoat Pullman Green sounded like the right choice.

So much for trusting the work and word of other modelers.