I am nearing completion of one project and my next project will be the Walthers Ice House and Icing Platform. In doing some research for the colors I couldn't find much. I was hoping that someone may have some information on the colors that the buildings and platforms were painted or could give me some ideas. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Not an easy answer for this one. A lot of the icehouses were owned by the refrigerated transit companies who were in turn railroad owned. So the structure could have been painted in the standard structure colors of the railroad, or of the particular refrigerated transit company. Lighter colors for the main structure though would have been prevalent simply due to the heat reflective value. The early years the ice was not machine made but cut from frozen lakes in large blocks and then transported to the icehouses for storage. Thus the need for effective insulation and control of summer heat. White would probably have been the most prevalent color for that reason with a pale yellow or light grey next. With the advent of mechanical ice making plants that could make ice in large volumes on demand the other factors in storage sort of went away.
I agree with John. My memories of such things are rather faded after all these years. But I recall white, gray and weather beaten with much paint worn away.
Most Iv'e seen around here in Southern California are white, an eggshell off white or concrete color. I really like a color from Krylon for concrete color. it's called pebble. u can get it at most stores.
For what it's worth, the following Walthers Ice House model was painted with PollyScale Acrylic DRGW Building Cream with either Polly Scale Roof Brown or Railroad Tie Brown for the roof (I can't remember which I used): That's clearly not a specific Santa Fe prototype building or model, but the colors seem to look OK and reasonable on a model railroad for a building like this. Hope that helps.
I needed a icehouse for the local producers and the kit was just too big for something that most likely only loaded 4-6 cars a day. So I cut the kit in half part becoming the smaller icehouse the other the barrel house for the distillery. The loading dock was also reduced with parts from it being used in the barrelhouse elevator construction. Thus I ended up with a two for one with my kit.
Thanks everyone for the responses. Sorry it took so long to reply but the girlfriend took me on a steam excursion she's the best. John, I like the pics great work I was thinking of a cream color or reefer white heavily faded and weathered. Thanks again for the help
