Weathering Gray Hopper cars

[novacoach]

Help needed - I have 3 gray Kadee hoppers - Pennsy, NH and Rutland - that I would like to weather. - any body done one yet? I've simply flat coatedone of them with a matt varnish - we can't get Dulcote over here anymore...
I've managed some box cars - flat spray and powders (MIG) or airbrush but the pale colored hoppers are a bit different and daunting especially as I'd like them as cement cars.

any ideas or suggestions?

Chris
modelling New England in the Old one...

[joseph2]

I work at a grain elevator and have seen grain spilled on the tops of covered hoppers,so I wonder if cement hoppers have a small amount of cement around the top hatches.The cement would also run down the car sides.Be sure to put some sledge hammer dents on car sides,cause sledges have to be used to unload cement and other powders. Joe G.

[kansaspacific1]

I took some digital photos last week at a local cement plant that I am planning
to model as part of an HO layout now in the planning stages. I looked at
some of those tonight and see that there are a couple of types of clearly
visible weathering:
. overflow from the hatchs running down the side - most of it seems to be
near the center hatch, and could best be described as white-ish streaks down
the side
.tan dust thrown up on the lower parts of the car body from the wheels.
Not a whole lot of contrast from the basic light grey color of the cars with either
of these effects.
There is also some graffiti on one of the cars, but unless you are modelling
the current era, that probably wouldn't be suitable.

If I can figure out how to get a closeup section of one or two the photos which
include cement hoppers, I'll try to forward them to you. I took the photos from
some distance, so I have to use digital zoom to get close enough to see
these details in the files.

[trolleyboy]

Nova if your wondering about colours,when i've weathered the grey or putty coloured hoppers I'll look at proto pictures first but generally light rust streaks from top down to the bottom of the cars,Polly scale dust colour for an overall misting of the undercarriage and side pannels, i've found this colour to my eye best simulates the dust found around cement plants and the residue this would leave on the cars,you could go with some light passes of grimey black on the trucks but this can really overpower a light coloured car so be carefull. Hope this helps rob

[Anonymous]

Chris,
I start like you do but I cut the matte finish with thinner about two to one thinner to matte finisher. I wet the brush with this solution and then rub the brush on whatever color chalk I want to use. If you get too much on, just wet the brush again and thin out the overdone portion. When the solution dries the chalk is pretty well bonded to the car by the dry matte finish. It's durable and it's pretty cheap! I can do a 40' HO box car in about 20 minutes. Remember to let each coat dry thoroughly because the colors will chage some as it dries.

Larry Pursell

[dwRavenstar]

nova:

On the Trains.com home page click on Modeling/Construction Projects

The "Quick and dirty freight car weathering" online extra might give you a jumping off point to get where you want to be

Dave (dwRavenstar)