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Post by twihlet on Mar 1, 2015 15:54:16 GMT
I am hoping that one of the longer lived (100 yrs+) members can help me, I am starting to build a model of one of the 1905/6 Met MU cars. The question is "What colour were they?". All the references I can find say that they were varnished teak, or simulated varnished teak.. Some of the contemporary photos clearly show this. Others, all B&W, obviously, appear to show a darker, plain, high gloss finish without grain. I know later decades saw versions of this design painted cream and red or all red, but what would the average passenger have seen in , say, 1908 when on his way from Baker St to Uxbridge? Any ideas very welcome.
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Post by tjw on Mar 1, 2015 16:53:36 GMT
Did you know that the varnish used up until 'recently' would gradually darken with age, as each coat was added the colour would become darker to eventually give a dark brown, with no sign of the grain. A heat gun or a few! coats of nitromors removes the 20 plus coats of gunk to give unblemished wood with resplendent grain (a coat of oxalic acid also helps AKA Colour back)
N.B. I am a sometime carriage joiner having restored more than a few Railway Carriages, I helped with the restoration of the Metropolitan Ashbury (Chesham) set!
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metman
Global Moderator
5056 05/12/1961-23/04/2012 RIP
Posts: 7,421
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Post by metman on Mar 1, 2015 22:44:13 GMT
Great question! I am hoping to create a run of clerestory saloon stock in the next year so it is a question I was thinking of. My layout can date from the late 30s so the end of this stock and therefore I was looking for a run down appearance. Snowdens met railway book gives a few clues and advises that the layer of grime on the older cars is noticeable.
As stated the teak grained finish does go darker with further coats so this is a good place to start. Remember the saloon stock was varnished teak above waste height but sheet metal stippled to look like teak below so this should be considered. The 59 cars of 1921 stock were pure metal sheet and therefore fake teak. These were all repainted red and cream from 1934 when refurbished for the circle line service.
I'll post some pictures of my 1913/21 stock some time- you might find them in the modelling section. Good luck.
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