#2: Coloring Challenge

 

The Challenge of LEGO Coloring

LEGO bricks have limited colors, making it difficult to recreate the original hues of a wooden station. This time, I aimed to rebuild the lost 1918 Changhua Station. Structurally, it was not too challenging to deduce from old photos, but since all the images were black and white, determining the correct colors was a real headache.

The available LEGO color selection is even more limited than a 16-bit palette. On top of that, rare-colored bricks in my collection are often scarce. Even if I find the right piece in the right color, there may not be enough of them! My collection mainly consists of light gray, blue, and some brown and reddish-brown bricks, but I have very few sand-colored pieces. (By the time I finished the roof, I had completely run out of light gray tiles!)

Research and Color Selection

To decide on the best colors, I referred to both real-world wooden train station photos and LEGO creations. However, most surviving wooden stations in Taiwan have been repainted, making it difficult to determine their original colors. So, I searched for Japanese resources on “wooden station buildings” and found numerous railway models, many of which had beautifully crafted Japanese-style wooden stations.

The Takumi Diorama Workshop model was the closest match to the 1918 Changhua Station, featuring a postbox and bus stop sign—what a coincidence! Its roof used a dark gray-black top with a brown-orange lower section, and the pillars were a darker shade. This color scheme was both classic and visually appealing.

Taiwan Wooden Stations vs. Japanese Wooden Stations

Many old wooden stations in Taiwan were later painted in bright colors, which made them look less historically authentic. In contrast, Japanese wooden stations, such as Qidu, Xiangshan, and Shiliu Stations, maintained a more natural wooden look. The most majestic Japanese wooden station is likely Ōyashiro Station (旧大社駅), which is exceptionally well-preserved both inside and out.

Considerations for LEGO MOC Coloring

Since LEGO colors are limited, some adjustments were necessary. For instance, Yi-Chien Cheng’s Keelung Station MOC used higher saturation colors in the landscape to make the main structure stand out beautifully.

I simulated different color schemes using PowerPoint, extracting colors from reference photos and adjusting them to fit LEGO’s palette.

Final color choices:

• Second-floor roof: Dark tan on both sides + dark gray in the center

• First-floor roof: Light gray

Conclusion

Creating with limited LEGO colors requires experience and creativity—the key is in smart color combinations to avoid monotony.

In future projects, I hope to improve the flooring and platform area colors and experiment more with different roof color variations to better reflect historical accuracy!

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See Final Work in Display: The Timber Terminal – Changhua’s Golden Age Station

01 Recreating - 02 Coloring  - 03 Parts Inventory  - 04 Karahafu Roof  - 05 Colombage Skill  - 06 Main Roof  - 07 Steam train  - 08 Vintage Bus  - 09 Tree and Shelter  - 10 Final