Monongahela question

[bman]

Hey all,

I've a question concerning the "M" on Monongahela GP38's.  I've in hand the Microscale set 60-586 decal set for MGA locomotives and all the M's are red.
I believe Atlas did a run of their GP38 and the M on the cab sides looked orange to me.  I've also seen photos with the M looking orange.  I've also seen 2 GP38's in the late 80's and the M is red.  I've got a request through inter-library loan for the book, "The Monongahela Railroad" in, but I am getting a little impatient to paint one or 2 of these.  Thanks for any help.

[6axlepwr]

Atlas did it correct. It is supposed to be orange.

It is red on the Super 7's.

[RRRover]

When the road received the Super 7s I had a chance to shoot them alongside the GP38s. Super 7 Ms were much redder. But, the orange look is mostly from fading - the MGA Ms on everything else were definitely red, but with a hint of yellow - sort of a vermillion-red, the same as red taillights on a lot of vehicles. Since there's no such thing as a perfect color match, I'd suggest applying one M to a black piece of plastic and seeing how it looks on that first - and view it under daylight and under layout room lights.

[Rich_S]

Here is a photo of two of the GP38's taken in 1979. The 2002 was painted in the bicentennial paint scheme around 1975. 

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/mcrr/mgy2002abn.jpg

Here is a picture of the 2000 in 1972.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3769407

It looks to me like the MGA started off with a orange M and then switched over to a red M as seen on the bicentennial unit and later super 7 units.

Just looking at the Microscale set number 60-586, it looks like the set is only good for the Super 7's.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1179572

As far as I can tell, both the GP7's and GP38's had orange M's.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1110710

[bman]

Here's 2001 and 2002 in 1990.   2001's M is red while the bicentennial unit, 2002, has either a faded red(earliest I've seen photo's of a post bicentennial paint is 1988) or orange. 

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2408228

 I know on the early photo's the Kodachrome film red's tended to fade to orange over time.  I've seen this on some early Amtrak photo and video.  But some of those early shots it sure does look like it was orange.  As far as Atlas, ya, they are pretty good. But so is Microscale and all the M's are the red and the sheet is supposed to be for the GP7's, 38's, and the Super 7's.  So you can see why I am a bit perplexed.  Been searching the web for info for a few days now.  Here's a thread from American Z  I just came across and the one individual says he worked on the MGA and they were a faded red. 

http://www.azlforum.com/thread/55/le-gp38

If I only wanted one, no problem.  The late 80's works well for me since I model Conrail primarily.  I could do a little work and fade the red M decal as it is separate from the MONONGAHELA lettering.  Probably would look the best anyway.  Thanks for your replies.