Question I have a few box cars with white roofs ( CSX Big Blue ) are these roofs fiber glass or metal? I want to weather the roofs on this and a few others
Hi there and sorry for the late reply. So, about the roofs, are you referring to the model or the prototype? The latter would be metal, although I'm no expert. I imagine you are referring to the model. Posting a picture would help but it is highly likely that your model is made of plastic, with a coat of paint of course. As for weathering, I suggest you look at prototype pictures for ideas (just google CSX big blue boxcars).
Maybe others have more informed opinions.
Simon
Generally, "white" roofs are galvanized steel. I read recently that galvanized steel MAY not take paint well, and that's why so many car tops aren't painted. And remain "metallic".
That said, if a railroad wanted white painted roofs, the builder would do it. I don't know CSX that well to say.
Ed
Some of the PC&F Mechanical Reefers and RBL's had White Painted roofs in order to reflect the sun and keep the cars from heating up to much. On my models I just paint them white, as I don't weather my models, I would assume they collect the normal grime and dirt as any roof.
CSX did inherit the B&O Canstock cars, which had a one of the metal panels replaced with a plastic panel to admit light at the long end of the car as it had extremely offset doors. The Spring Mills model has a white panel in this area of the roof.
Rick Jesionowski
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Not being familiar with the cars you are referring to, I can only speak from my observation of SPFE mechanical reefers and the 62 foot "beer" bunkerless reefers as produced in HO by Exact Rail. The roofs on these cars picked up a brownish gray earth tone that seemed to settle on the lowest surfaces of the roof panels, leaving the ribs much cleaner than the rest of the roof. If your cars travel through a lot of tunnels, there may be a soot component to the weathering as well. I suggest you study pictures of the aforementioned rolling stock for ideas, and consider the color of the terrain the cars will traverse. The age of the cars will also be a factor in how much weathering to apply. Start out with a light dusting and add more if necessary. Just like cooking, its easy to add salt, but hard to take it out.
The prototype cars have steel roofs that are painted white.
.
I am familiar with many pieces of heavy equipment made of steel with white roofs/tops. The roofs of these get dirty and grimey very fast. A wash with brown tint will go a long way.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Thanks for all the answers. I know some over the road trucks now are using fiberglass roofs of thier box/van trailers. I did not want to put rust on a box car if it was fiberglass and not metal.