Which Color?

[SWAT2]

Hi,
I am starting a new project and I would like to paint my model car with the Maryland State Police colors (http://members.fortunecity.com/coxfan/mdsp165.jpg)

Looking at the website above, what color would you say I should use besides the black? It looks like Tamiya Dark Yellow bears a strong resemblence, but I would like some input regardless.

Thank you!

[MPWR]

Olive drab. Try XF62, but you'll have to put a clear gloss over it. Strangely enough, no one makes a gloss olive drab. MSP actually paints their cruisers the same colors the army would use to camoflage a battlefield tank-for the same reasons. They can be surprisingly hard to pick out when stopped beside the road. But they're all well maintained and are almost always clean, so both the black and olive drab are gloss.

Why an MSP cruiser?

[SWAT2]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Olive drab. Try XF62, but you'll have to put a clear gloss over it. Strangely enough, no one makes a gloss olive drab. MSP actually paints their cruisers the same colors the army would use to camoflage a battlefield tank-for the same reasons. They can be surprisingly hard to pick out when stopped beside the road. But they're all well maintained and are almost always clean, so both the black and olive drab are gloss.

Why an MSP cruiser?

Thank you for your response, I appreciate it! My neighbor wanted to be an MSP officer when he was younger. I just want to try and make an MSP cruiser and give it to him.

Where can I find some clear gloss (who makes it?)

Thanks again!!

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by SWAT2

Where can I find some clear gloss (who makes it?)

The same place you buy your paint, I imagine. Just about every paint manufacturer produces a clear paints in gloss, semi-gloss (satin) and matte finishes. Certainly Testors, Tamiya, Vallejo, Humbrol and Gunze do.

Just make you pick up the rigt kind of clear for the paint you will be putting it over (search here for "hot paints" etc )

HTH

PS. MPWR, is that the voice of expereince speaking? Camoflaged MSP cruisers while you are not managig to stay below 55MPH?

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

PS. MPWR, is that the voice of expereince speaking? Camoflaged MSP cruisers while you are not managig to stay below 55MPH?

Fortunately no. I've never had any problems with the guys on the ground(!). But my other experinces with MSP tend to be equally harrowing. It turns out that the only FAA helicopter pilot examiners in Maryland are also also Trooper pilots for MSP's air force of helicopters. They have a dozen Eurocopter Dauphins. Whenever you have a checkride, they of course show up in full uniform, usually in a marked cruiser (no pressure! ), although once I had one show in an MSP fixed wing plane. It's especially fun when they bring their guns along in your aircraft (you'll fly this approach right or else!) As for my familairity with cruiser paint schemes, they paint their heli's in the same scheme.



I've always thought the Dauphin is one of the most beautiful helicopters ever built, but that the black and drab scheme is at best unfortunate on it. When I asked one of the pilots explained the rationale behind the black and drab scheme- and MSP appearently likes the continuity of painting the heli's like the cruisers.

Not to get off topic....

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Not to get off topic but...woha!! love it too.

Last time I was up close to one of these was in the Dolomites. These are the birds they use for air ambulances there. Mega cool when they land on the slopes

Now, back to color....

[Gridgirl]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

Now, back to color....

Well it's not strictly color, but if you go here and look under the Chimneyville products (listed as police decals, not police vehicles) - they have some decals for MSP. I found this website once when I was searching for something else, I have never dealt with them, but they do have some cool products.

[freakmech]

Since we are on the topic off Maryland, is anybody going to join me at NNL Mid Atlantic in Baltimore next weekend? And yes olive drab is a good color to start with but it always looked to me that it was slightly metallic? IMHO, i think MSP troopers have some of the best looking cruisers in the country.

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by freakmech

Since we are on the topic off Maryland, is anybody going to join me at NNL Mid Atlantic in Baltimore next weekend? And yes olive drab is a good color to start with but it always looked to me that it was slightly metallic? IMHO, i think MSP troopers have some of the best looking cruisers in the country.

Oh, yeah- will be there! I was getting ready to start a thread on it.

I'm pretty sure both the black and the olive drab are solid colors- but I'll take a good look the next time I see one (as I expect you will too!).

And I'm not sure about the cruisers, but they could do better with those Dauphins....

[blubaja]

Welcome to AF SWAT2!! I think those guys covered you on the paint issues. Sorry to keep off topic, but I think I'll be heading down your way next weekend too guys Hope to NOT see any of your ugly police cars tho

[SWAT2]

Originally Posted by blubaja

Welcome to AF SWAT2!! I think those guys covered you on the paint issues. Sorry to keep off topic, but I think I'll be heading down your way next weekend too guys Hope to NOT see any of your ugly police cars tho

LOL, thanks for the welcome! I'm actually in Southern California. I'm just painting a model for a friend of mine who used to live in Maryland.

Looking forward to participating in the forums!!

[sstrooper93]

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I too plan on building a Maryland State Police FCV. I have several reference photos of their cars and when time permits, the build will begin.

SWAT2,

Have you made any progress on the car you are building?