Finishing

What colour a mast is depends on the country, the kind of mast and the period. Below are the usual colours with their RAL number, and the Humbrol, Revell and Tamiya paint that comes closest. The paint numbers come from Artitec's colour chart.

Steel masts and portals in green

Older DB steel masts and many NS steel DIN portals are painted reseda green, RAL 6011. At DB that colour is called DB 601, a micaceous iron paint that looks matt and a little rough.

• According to Artitec's chart, Humbrol, Revell and Tamiya have no paint equal to RAL 6011. Modellers often use Humbrol 78 (Cockpit Green) as an approximation, or mix their own.

Galvanised masts and portals

Newer masts and most NS portals are galvanised: zinc grey, a matt silver.

• Humbrol 56, Revell 99 or Tamiya XF-56 (aluminium, metallic). Make it matt with a coat of matt varnish (Humbrol 49, Revell 2).

Concrete masts

Concrete masts, such as the DB concrete mast and the NS Veluwe and Brabant portals, are not painted. They are the colour of concrete, roughly cement grey, RAL 7033.

• RAL 7033 is not on Artitec's chart. Close to it are light grey RAL 7030: Humbrol 64, Revell 75, and pebble grey RAL 7032: Humbrol 40, Revell 70. Make it matt, and give the concrete lighter and darker patches with a dry brush.

Insulators and wire

• Porcelain insulators are brown. A red brown such as RAL 8015: Humbrol 160, Revell 383 or Tamiya XF-64.
• The contact wire is copper or bronze. Leave your wire's metal as it is, or give it a copper colour with Humbrol 12, Revell 96 or Tamiya XF-6.

Do you know for certain what colour the masts were on a line or in a period? Tell us on the forum, and we will add it to the list.