Liveries: Works Grey

[twa_dogs]

For my first venture into p4 etched chassis construction I'm building a NER J-72 using the Comet underpinnings and the Bachmann body shell.

Being as yet undecided on the period for my layout, and this being my first serious venture beyond detailing and plastic kits, I'm considering this being outshopped in the NER/LNER photographic works grey. Now the questions.

I know the grey livery was done for photographic technical reasons (contemporary non panchromatic emuslions being ortho and therefore not sensitive to the red spectrum) in order to provide the most clear and definitive image possible of the subject. However what is not apparent is was the applied lining done in black/white/grey too? Yeadon 43a p70 shows a j71 in NER works grey while p52 shows Doncasters LNER equivalent on a j72. Ken Hoole's "An Illustrated history of NER Locomotives" p214 briefly mentions "shop grey" but no indication of the tone of grey or original colouring of the lining out is given. Interestingly the entire scheme would appear to be executed in matt.

Given the purpose of the livery I am inclined to believe that in a what you see is what you get manner and to avoid the expense of coloured paint pigments the entire scheme was monochromatic, but can anyone come up with a definitive answer?

Thanks all

Steve

[52D]

Steve if you can give me a couple of days i think i have a pic of a J72 at Jarra Slakes (locatin of NER works grey photoshoots) in aforementioned livery. I will try and locate it for you.

[Bill Bedford]

For my first venture into p4 etched chassis construction I'm building a NER J-72 using the Comet underpinnings and the Bachmann body shell.

Being as yet undecided on the period for my layout, and this being my first serious venture beyond detailing and plastic kits, I'm considering this being outshopped in the NER/LNER photographic works grey. Now the questions.

I know the grey livery was done for photographic technical reasons (contemporary non panchromatic emuslions being ortho and therefore not sensitive to the red spectrum) in order to provide the most clear and definitive image possible of the subject. However what is not apparent is was the applied lining done in black/white/grey too? Yeadon 43a p70 shows a j71 in NER works grey while p52 shows Doncasters LNER equivalent on a j72. Ken Hoole's "An Illustrated history of NER Locomotives" p214 briefly mentions "shop grey" but no indication of the tone of grey or original colouring of the lining out is given. Interestingly the entire scheme would appear to be executed in matt.

Given the purpose of the livery I am inclined to believe that in a what you see is what you get manner and to avoid the expense of coloured paint pigments the entire scheme was monochromatic, but can anyone come up with a definitive answer?

While some railways e.g. the GCR could run locos in grey primer, most 'photographic' grey was done in a water based paint, probably white wash with various amounts of lamp black added. This was quick to dry and could be washed off the loco without the need for an expensive repaint. It was also usual to only paint the side of the loco that was to be photographed, the other side was left un painted.

[twa_dogs]

Thanks for that info Bill. I'm guessing the lamp blacking (btw just what makes up that stuff) might explain the very matt finish of the smokebox in pictures I've looked at.

I'm guessing at some point the NER used a proper paint for the grey since pics do exist of shopped locos in grey only being used for holiday traffic and then returning for full painting in correct service livery and that both sides were done for photography sicne the notes for Darlington mentioned being photographed both sides facing south - - - - on a 20x24" view camera. Having worked with 5x4 and 10x8, thats a set of glass plates I'd like to print

[silver fox]

one exception being A4 4489 Woodcock, which ran in shop grey (not Silver) for 2 weeks before enterning the paint shop and coming out in Garter Blue as Dominion of Canada

[Bill Bedford]

one exception being A4 4489 Woodcock, which ran in shop grey (not Silver) for 2 weeks before enterning the paint shop and coming out in Garter Blue as Dominion of Canada

But this was plain grey undercoat, there was no lining, was there?

[silver fox]

Lined in white with green wheels, fully named nubered and LNER'd

[Muzza]

Lined in white with green wheels, fully named nubered and LNER'd

That's one I'd love to see done by Owen at 'Fictitious Liveries'

Apple Green A4 too.

[silver fox]

I have the Hornby Golden Eagle in LNER Green, i'll post a picture when I did it out!

dug out

[jwealleans]

There was a chap on the exhibition circuit a few years ago who was working towards a model of every A4 in every livery ever carried (mainly using the old HD/Wrenn body shell). He had 'Woodcock' in that livery. IIRC there are details in the RCTS volume but no pictures.

I assume he must have had green A4s with the vertical black smokebox as well, but I can't visualise them now.

[wehf100]

Dunno about NER but there are a couple of very well known photos of GCR locos running a regular service in works grey (A class 11A i think), plus a picture of a 1b 'crab' parked in woks grey that looks suspiciously work-stained.

Will

edit: just noticed Bill Bedford's post- sorry for repetition, should have looked closer!!