Weathering Trepidation

[JimValle]

All the above advice is good, especially the part about knowing when to stop before you get to the point of obliterating all your lettering. For learning how to do a steam engine, I'd suggest investing in a plastic HO locomotive like those put out by Monogram. You can try out all your ideas without ruining a runner that way. In fact, you can spray it out black after each weathering session and try again any number of times with plastic engines. When you decide you're ready to do your running steamer you'll have to devise some way to have its moving parts in motion while you spray to distribute the grime evenly on the drivers and rods. That takes a little imagineering but the results are worth it!

[Tilden]

Well Trevor, you just have to do it. I started with an airbrush after reading a couple of articles. I haven't looked back. The one piece of advice I found invaluable is "start with a LITTLE weathering". Not all cars weather the same, even in the same service. AND you can always INCREASE weathering. Of course starting with pastels, which can be washed off ,is a fine way to get your feet wet. There are many fine articles on weathering with caulks.
And yes, 17 pieces of rolling stock is pretty much small by most standards :-). We train buffs are a collecting lot. :-D

[Tilden]

Unless it's brass.....

[goldinhands2]

It is best to work with Pastel chalk this way if you mess it up it can be removed very easily. If you paint it, it will be hard to remove the paint. Believe it or not, your wifes makeup is cheaper than the pastels and you have more of a variety of colors. Go to train shows there are lots of clinics on weathering.

Good lucl,

Ed

[Anonymous]

a very forgiving way to start is to used chalk or powdered color .you can apply it dry...if you hate it it will wash off. ......start slow build up you rweathering gradually......after all thats the way nature does it ! another method is to use water colors in thin washes...as in the oither method you can wa***he car and start anew. By the way, water based acrylic paints are not washable after they dry.....anyhow when you like the effect achieved, coat with dull coat...usually you will find that upon drying the dull coat has lighly toned down you weathering...and then you can apply a bit more