I just bought a few sets of Blair line's wooden grade crossings. I was thinking of weathering them to look more of a realistic black/brown color. I was going to use a mix of india ink and alcohol, and just drop them in, but does anybody have a better way or more effective way to do it?
I have three pairs of curved and four pairs of straight crossings incase that means something. Sound off
Peace
I think you'd be happier with the result if you apply the coloring agent with a brush or cotton swab. The planks don't weather uniformly, so you might want to work in some subtle differences in tone.
In pre-smog-control days, the grease trail between the tire tracks would soak into the wood crossing planks, while the tire tracks themselves would be somewhat lighter than the wood outside the normal driving path - a medium/light/dark/light/medium effect in each lane. If the road itself was dirt, the dirt would be carried onto the wood by vehicle tires - but only where the tires would normally deposit it.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
To get a brown color, you can also try SEPIA ink in alcohol or commercial wood stain. (Comes in many shades). Have fun!
Karl.
The mind is like a parachute. It works better when it's open. www.stremy.net
I've gotten a good effect with Sharpie furniture touch-up markers; the stain is relatively easy to control. Other companies also make stain pens. Try on scrap first, to be sure the coloration is appropriate.
Wood stains and washes of thinned solvent or acylics will give you the desired effect. Wood grade crossings will seldon have that dark creosote look.
This was done with stripwood glued to the ties
Do note that the ends of the timbers should be champhered, these aren't. Champhering the edge will help w/ any low coupler trip pins and any other low details that may snag the crossing.
Old or heavily used crossings like this switching area are quite weathered to almost gray and oil staining from the equipment was done
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
I'Ve made street crossing different:
Wolfgang
Pueblo & Salt Lake RR
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