Weathering wheelsets, trucks, couplers, and underframes

[Anonymous]

What is a good paint or mix to achieve that dusty and grimey look you see on weathered freight cars? Do you put it on with an airbrush, or can you get the same results from dry-brushing?

Thanks,
Christopher

[orsonroy]

Hi Chris,

I generall grunge up my underframes with an airbrush application of Polly Scale grimy black, which is really a slate grey color. I'll then highlight with drybrushing on PS oily black and oxide red (a good rust color). Generally, road grime doesn't get onto the underframes of cars (they're weathered by brake shoe dust and oils), so I don't bother with any of the earth colors.

As for trucks, remember that in the good old days, most trucks were painted that same color as the car body, so start with a color that's close to that. Either airbru***hat color on for a fairly new car, or "moist brush" (drybrushing with a bit more paint) it on for an older car. After the base color is dry (I like Polly Scale paints for this because the dry time is minutes), add PS oily black around the journal boxes, and maybe some PS oxide red at the springs. Once all this is dry, add a wash of PS grimy black to the entire truck sideframe to tone it down a bit. This sounds like it takes a while, but you're really talking about a minute a truck, when you do them in batches.

I haven't gotten this far with my freight cars yet (I'm too busy building the layout!) but I'll eventually paint the sides of the wheelsets PS grimy black too. I know some modelers who add some talcum powder to this paint, to achieve a REALLY realistic look of build up crud on the wheels, but I don't think I'll get THAT fancy!

Hope this helps! And your freebie box is about tho be packed and shipped!

[AggroJones]

On a simple boxcar, sometimes I like a heavy wash of black shoe polish in alcohol provides a hazy-grimey look, but comes out glossy. Dullcote will correct it. Then I come in with rust and streaks, whatever. Followed by more dullcote.

On trucks, you can paint them grimey black, then drybrush rust, dirt, or mud over it. Go heavier on the bottom and sides of the truck, as thats where dust collects more.

Drybrush Polly S rust on the couplers.

Once I get the computer fixed, I'll post photos of the new stuff I did since the old layout destruction.

[Anonymous]

Talcum powder in paint used for wheels. Hmm. That sounds interesting. I'll have to do a bit of experimentation.

[Anonymous]

Hi, I just use a mixture of Polyscale Grimy Black and Rust, mixed at about 50/50. Maybe a bit heavier on the Rust colour. I paint it on and when it's dry, I drybrush on some different shades or washes of rust. Hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

Funny you mentioned mixing things in paint. When I was a teenager building tank models I used to mix epsom salt with tan paint to simulate thick mud.


Tom

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones


Drybrush Polly S rust on the couplers.

Is that only for the couplers with plastic molded springs? Once I heard that brush-painting couplers with metal springs will clog up the tiny springs.

[orsonroy]

Drybrushing and airbrushing won't hurt Kadee couplers, as long as you kep the paint coverage light. Once the paint's dry, working the coupler a little will make sure it's free.

[Anonymous]

I've been painting my N Scale trucks and wheels either grimy black or roof brown then dusting them with rust and gray color chalk.

[Anonymous]

My favorite is a mixture of Polly scale engine black and Testors (Acrylic) Rust... I just mix the colors randomly and the rust breaks through in uneven patterns. It looks very run down (which I love). I also use Bragdon rust powders with good results. I find that anytyhing that kills the shine of plastic trucks and bright silver wheelsets improves realism.

Guy

[Anonymous]

I use craft paints, they come in just about any color you can think of, and they are cheap, I dry brush earth tones on the wheel faces, and sideframes, and you can mix any color you can dream up, and they clean up with soap and water, being water based paints to begin with, Michaels, or Hobby Lobby has large selections of them.


Mac

[dehusman]

I like Armour Grey, its light enough to show up on dark cars and dark enough to show up on lighter cars. It also has a warm cast to it that I find complements 50's era equipment. That, black and Mineral Brown will do almost any group of 50's era cars.

Dave H.

[CBQ_Guy]

Chris,

There's a weathering group on Yahoo. Also the RPM list has links, files, and photos of weathering related stuff.

Weathering Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/weathering/?yguid=154581698

RPM Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RPM-forum/?yguid=154581698

Be sure to find out about Jim Six's "Q-Tip Weathering" technique and look for photos and references to weathering by Mike Rose while checking out the RPM Group.