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Spraying Rust

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  • Member since
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  • From: North Myrtle Beach, SC
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Spraying Rust
Posted by Beach Bill on Friday, November 7, 2014 12:57 PM

I like the appearance of rusty interiors to hopper cars as the wear and acids from coal usually create that color in coal country.  Seeborg's article in the November 2014 MR (page36) included nice photos of a rusted interior on a gon, and the article states that he sprayed it with Model Master "leather".

Model Master "Leather" is not offered in a spray can, so an airbrush must have been used.  But is there a good RUST color available in a spray can ("rattle can")?   I was in an auto parts store this week and was wondering if anyone had tried the red primer spray for such an effect.

To the folks preparing an answer similar to "well, an XYZ airbrush only costs $$ and can use lots of attachments"...   That doesn't answer the question.  The question is whether there is a spray can paint that creates a good flat base coat for the old rust patina of oxidized steel.

Thanks, Bill

With reasonable men, I will reason; with humane men I will plead; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost. William Lloyd Garrison
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  • From: Ontario Canada
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Posted by Mark R. on Friday, November 7, 2014 1:17 PM

Couple ideas for you ....

http://ahlcoopedup.blogspot.ca/2010/09/rusty-can-tutorial.html

http://oldepearprimitives.blogspot.ca/2010/05/todays-tutorialfaux-rust.html

Remember, rust isn't a single solid color, but rather a texture of many similar colors.

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

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Posted by HO-Velo on Friday, November 7, 2014 1:18 PM

Bill,  I sprayed the hull of this tugboat with a coat of Bondo brand Easy Finish Primer, No. 722 Red Oxide, think I bought it at a chain auto parts store a few years back.  Then did the peeled paint effect.

regards, Peter

 

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Posted by Dannyboy6 on Friday, November 7, 2014 2:09 PM

That would make a nice flat base coat. Then use rust, brown and black powders to enhance the colors [black in the corners, then brown, then rust toward the center leaving the center the paint color; same on the sides - just one guy's opinion]. After that spray some flat Krylon over it to seal.

Dan

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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, November 7, 2014 3:43 PM

Krylon makes a primer called "Ruddy Brown" that is my go-to color for rust, or the more politically correct "oxide."  Spray paint does give a very uniform coat, so I also like to go over it with rust and black powders (I use AIM) and then seal it with a flat clear spray.

I have a lot of brick structures on my layout, so I've collected quite a few spray paints in brick-like colors.  For the price, a big hardware store can of Rustoleum or Krylon really beats a "hobby" sized container.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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  • From: Fullerton, California
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Posted by hornblower on Friday, November 7, 2014 5:22 PM

I really liked the rusty effect described on the "ahlcoopedup" blog.  However, though it listed the Cinnamon color for the Rustoleum Accent paint, it did not list a color for the Rustoleum texture paint.  Any idea what that color is supposed to be?

Hornblower

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Posted by doctorwayne on Friday, November 7, 2014 8:54 PM

Not hoppers, but rust nonetheless:







...and, finally, a hopper:


Wayne

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Posted by Kyle on Saturday, November 8, 2014 3:06 AM

I have a picture of the inside of a coal hopper, and the bottom of the interior looks silver and shiny.  I am thinking the coal took off the paint.  The coal might also take off any surface rust as well, I am not sure.  The exterior of the hoppers looked pretty clean.  The sides appear to have some paint on them.  Now there is the end of another hopper that looks rusty inside, but the majority of it is under the bridge in the photo.

  • Member since
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  • From: North Myrtle Beach, SC
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Posted by Beach Bill on Saturday, November 8, 2014 12:48 PM

Kyle

I have a picture of the inside of a coal hopper, and the bottom of the interior looks silver and shiny.

 

Perhaps that one was one of the "newer" cars made with aluminum.  Those are more expensive to make than steel, but do not degrade from rust as much.  N&W and Southern are noted for their use of aluminum hoppers.

Bill

With reasonable men, I will reason; with humane men I will plead; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost. William Lloyd Garrison
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Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Saturday, November 8, 2014 1:54 PM

I know there are some good rust paints and stuff, but I wonder if real rust could be used? Like maybe leave some scrap steel in a damp place and let it rust a while, scrape the rust off, and then sprinkle it in place with a little glue? I personally like my trains to have a clean, "fresh from the shop" look, so I haven't experimented with weathering, but it's an idea maybe?

_________________________________________________________________

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Posted by chutton01 on Saturday, November 8, 2014 5:57 PM

Not directly answering the OP's question (since he asked about Spray Cans), but I have an old Athearn SOO Line Gondola which I haved tested various finishing and weathering treatments, including using Sophicated Finishes Rust Antiquing Set on the interior. I first applied the Iron Solution, which paints the surface grey-black, then I applied the Rust Solution which didn't seem to do anything for quite a while. I left it alone for a few days, and when I came back, I saw these results:
Gondola  Interior Image 1

Gondola Interior Image 2

It looks OK, but again I really didn't put any effort into it (which could include putting the model in a bag while it dries, adding chalks and pastels, or even adding some ground rust shavings). Just figured I'd add this to the rust-making choices.

 

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Posted by choo choo charlie on Sunday, November 9, 2014 6:08 PM

I use Rustoleum primer for rusty metal.I even use it to paint track.It leaves the rails a nice,flat rusty finish and the ties look great after ballast has been added.

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Posted by HO-Velo on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 9:27 AM

Dan,  Thanks, going to give that a try.

Regards, Peter

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Posted by PennCentral99 on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 8:37 PM

choo choo charlie

I use Rustoleum primer for rusty metal.I even use it to paint track.It leaves the rails a nice,flat rusty finish and the ties look great after ballast has been added.

 

I also do this, and a little wash doesn't hurt either (I used black). Can you tell where I stopped for the evening?

"Washed" track and ballast

I also use Rustoleum Rusty Metal Primer and Rustoleum Chestnut Brown for painting the wheels on my rolling stock. I'm still in R & D, but it's a start...

"Weathered' Wheels and Trucks

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