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All the above info is great. If I can suggest a publication that will really expand your skills in dealing w/ structures, locate a copy of Dave Frary's book "222 Tips For Building Model Railroad Structures" - copy I have was published in 1989 by Blue Ribbon Models. This book covers structures made out of all materials-wood, plastic, resin, plaster, metal, paper, etc. It includes a chapter specific to weathering, as well. Frary is a master at realistic, understated scenery and how structures are part of that scenery and compliment an overall railroad theme. There are lots of weathering materials available on the cheap-finely sifted dirt and clay, ashes, chalk, pastels, pumice, rottenstone, ets. -- all of which can be 'fixed' in place w/ Dullcoat or another matt aerosol spray. Various washes made out of alcohol and India ink, diluted paints, 'dirty' solvent left over when cleaning brushes - be careful and test on an inconspicous place first because some solvents like lacquer will craze some plastics (although that can be desirable to depict rusting gutters, etc.), Suggest that you try using either a base coat of a solvent-based paint (enamel, pref.) and then weather w/ an acrylic/water-based paint wash, or vice versa. If you start w/ an acrylic/water-based paint you could also top coat w/ a lacquer. With care, a lacquer can be lightly sprayed onto bare plastic and slowly build up a finish w/out crazing. It can be tricky painting lacquer over an enamel-paint may not adhere and attack enamel coat. Remember - enamels dry from the inside out while lacquers are a 'hotter' paint, usually much thinner per coat and dry almost immediately upon application. I always lay down a fairly thin spray coating of a primer before painting and weathering. Primers - avail. in white, light and dark gray, flat black and oxide red are available in plastic friendly sprays from Krylon - I'd only use these large aerosols on larger structures; Testors makes an excellent white and 'hot rod'/dark gray primer in small hobby spray cans. All of this not only applies to structures, but to railroad equipment, scenery items, bridges, vehicles and clutter around buildings and trackwork. Even a freshly shopped locomotive will show subtle effects of being operated-exhaust, dust, road grime, stains from fuel spills, escaping steam, and occasionally even bird doodoo.
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