weathering tips?

[Anonymous]

Would it be possible to weather my locos and rolling stock without an airbrush or is it recomended. if so, how would I use a regular brush?

[Anonymous]

Don't go out and buy an airbrush unless you think you can make good use of it, for more things then just weathering stuff. The easiest way and least damaging if you screw up, is to use pastel chalks. Buy colored chalks at a craft store. Get black, gray, white, a rusty color, tans and dirt colors. With a piece of course sand paper and done over a piece of paper to collect the chalk dust, simply sand the chalk. Then take an old model paint brush and pick up some of the dust with the brush and rub randomly on the car or loco. Experiment on a cheap box car to get the feel for what your doing. If you don't like how it turns out, use soapy water to remove the chalk and start over.

[eng22]

I agree with Marks post. I would also recommend using a product called Testors Dull Coat. Spray the cheap box car with Dull Coat, let dry, then use the chalks. Prior to doing your first car, go online and look at pictures of prototype rolling stock. The prototypes will get you going in the right direction as far as where rust and grime can be found on cars. One more note, do a search in this forum for weathering, that should take up the rest of your evening. Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

How about fading?

www.mrhobby.com and scroll down to "fading box cars".

[AggroJones]

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12068

[snowey]

one way, is to make a "wash" of acrylic paint by mixing acrylic paint with water at about a 50/50 or 50/75 ratio. Then just brush it on like regular paint. Another method is to mix windsheild washer fluid with Grimy Black acrylic paint-any brand will do (I use Polly Scale) at a 1/5 ratio-1 teaspoon fluid to 5 teaspoons paint-then brush it on, wait 20 to 30 seconds, then wipe it off with a rag or paper towel or something.
If you use chalk dust, one thing you can do to lettering to make it look fade, is bru***he chalk over the lettering, lick your finger, and rub it over the chalk.
A method that Dave Fray & Bob Hayden demonstrate on one of their tapes, is to mix black india ink (avaible from a craft store) with either rubbing alcohol or paint thinner-they say it doesn't matter how much.
And then, ther's the method of drybrushing the paint. Dip your brush in paint, wipe off as much as you can on paper or cardboard, or a rag or something, then "drag" it across the surface. It will take about 4 to 6 times before anything shows.
One more thing about the chalk dust. When you put it on, and you're atisfied with it, spray over it with a crear, flat coating (Testors "Dull-Coat", Floquil "Figure-Flat) but when you do the chalk will dissapear. Don't panic, wait till it dries, about a minute, then put some more on and spray again. In fact, you may have to do it 4 or 5 times. But, if you spray it BEFORE applying the chalk, ther's no need to spray after.
Like someone else said, do a search on this site for "weathering" to get more tips.

GOOD LUCK!!