In my "collection" of ancient HO Athearn metal cars and car kits are two IC reefers (identical model numbers- #402), but with two different car #'s - 50456, and 50234. Both have yellow sides and green lettering. However, the former car has black ends and a painted aluminum roof, hatches and running boards while the latter car has Oxide roof and ends.

Which scheme(s) is/are correct, or both?

To further confuse things , a Varney papersides reefer 50200 (R-16, 1942-90) has black ends and an oxide roof; a very early Varney metal reefer 51004 (R-27, 1950-51) has aluminum sides, ends, and roof, but with green lettering.

Additional Varney metal IC reefers (R-32, c. 1950-52) had MDT reporting marks AND livery.

Clear as a bell.

Denny
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Denny S. Anspach, MD
Sacramento, CA