Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Easy but long way to weather cars

3372 views
24 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    October 2002
  • From: St. Louis Area, Florrisant to be specific!!!!!!!!!
  • 1,134 posts
Easy but long way to weather cars
Posted by bnsfkline on Sunday, January 27, 2008 10:04 AM

I accidently found an easy way to weather freight cars.....

Stick them in a Fish tank for 3 months! (Complete with Min. 4 fish and 20 Gallon Tank)

I did this with a Rio Grande 50 Ft. Boxcar, wen I took it out, it had a nice faded look to it and even some streaks that simulated rust.

However, when doing this, do NOT put any metal parts, just the trucks (without axels) and the carbody shell. Keep the doors open if they can open up and give your fish some more hiding places!

I know, I am lazy

Jim Tiroch RIP Saveria DiBlasi - My First True Love and a Great Railfanning Companion Saveria Danielle DiBlasi Feb 5th, 1986 - Nov 4th, 2008 Check em out! My photos that is: http://bnsfkline.rrpicturearchives.net and ALS2001 Productions http://www.youtube.com/ALS2001
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Amish country Tenn.
  • 10,027 posts
Posted by loathar on Sunday, January 27, 2008 10:35 AM
I would guess the ammonia from the fish wee wee did it.
  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: Hot'lanta, Gawga
  • 1,279 posts
Posted by Rotorranch on Sunday, January 27, 2008 11:26 AM

I'd like to see that!

Rotor

 Jake: How often does the train go by? Elwood: So often you won't even notice ...

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Sundown
  • 406 posts
Posted by Train Master on Sunday, January 27, 2008 11:31 AM
Something sounds 'fishy' here.Laugh [(-D]

David Parks
I am the terror that flaps in the night!

  • Member since
    October 2002
  • From: St. Louis Area, Florrisant to be specific!!!!!!!!!
  • 1,134 posts
Posted by bnsfkline on Sunday, January 27, 2008 12:55 PM

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1030500 Heres a photo of the said car, taken outside....

http://www.athearn.com/Products/Zoom.aspx?ProdID=ATH5039 Heres the Manufactures photo of the car

Note that after being submerged in the tank for 3 months in a Community tank, the car has faded.

What do you guys think?

Jim Tiroch RIP Saveria DiBlasi - My First True Love and a Great Railfanning Companion Saveria Danielle DiBlasi Feb 5th, 1986 - Nov 4th, 2008 Check em out! My photos that is: http://bnsfkline.rrpicturearchives.net and ALS2001 Productions http://www.youtube.com/ALS2001
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 27, 2008 2:19 PM
Ugh.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 27, 2008 2:42 PM
I like it im gonna do it Pirate [oX)] lol
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 27, 2008 3:12 PM

ok here you go!

">

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2002
  • From: St. Louis Area, Florrisant to be specific!!!!!!!!!
  • 1,134 posts
Posted by bnsfkline on Sunday, January 27, 2008 3:23 PM
 TRX450R racer wrote:

ok here you go!

">

 

 

Sign - Dots [#dots] Never tried it with 5 cars at once!

Jim Tiroch RIP Saveria DiBlasi - My First True Love and a Great Railfanning Companion Saveria Danielle DiBlasi Feb 5th, 1986 - Nov 4th, 2008 Check em out! My photos that is: http://bnsfkline.rrpicturearchives.net and ALS2001 Productions http://www.youtube.com/ALS2001
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Sunday, January 27, 2008 3:42 PM
All those years that I had my shark tank I never thought of that.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Shalimar. Florida
  • 2,622 posts
Posted by Packer on Sunday, January 27, 2008 8:53 PM

Wish I would have known that when I had a fish tank... Would have saved me from weathering 20 cars in the past 2 days.

I wonder though, does that car smell like fish?

Vincent

Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....

2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • 107 posts
.
Posted by MrKLUKE on Sunday, January 27, 2008 9:37 PM

.

  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Colorado Springs, CO
  • 2,742 posts
Posted by Dave Vollmer on Sunday, January 27, 2008 9:38 PM

Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 27, 2008 11:20 PM

Reminds me of a old forum posting somewhere there was a person who used VERY expensive non-conductive fluid to fill his water proof computer case and cooled his rig that way without a fan anywhere in sight.

Soon after, posts began to trickle in from angry users who attempted the same feat using ordinary tap water. =)

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • 1,089 posts
Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Sunday, January 27, 2008 11:31 PM

To speed up the ahh.. "weathering" process just shut off the filter for a few days...mind you, the fish will "weather" a bit too using this "method". Laugh [(-D]

What a maroon! Wink [;)]

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Shelby, NC
  • 2,545 posts
Posted by Robby P. on Sunday, January 27, 2008 11:44 PM
Hey Aggro, heres the secret!!!!!   There was a person awhile back that wanted to know, if he could get a fade job if he left the train car outside in the sun.  Someone replied, yeah in about a year or so.

 "Rust, whats not to love?"      

  • Member since
    October 2005
  • From: Massillon Ohio
  • 293 posts
Posted by eeyore9900 on Monday, January 28, 2008 12:13 AM

Oh my dear Lord.... 

Reminds me of many years ago when my bud buried in the gravel of his fish tank the shell of a model '69 Camaro because we absolutely hated Camaros & '69s especially. (Chevy folks, we were young then-give us a break-it was 20 years ago Whistling [:-^])

Anyone that tried to retrieve it would have to deal with his Pacu (a fairly large version of a piranha) that ate live goldfish, hotdogs, & your finger to the bone if you stuck it in the tank. 

Um, I think you would be better off learning more on modeltrainsweathered.com IMO. Learning to fade factory lettering, or painting in shades that reflect fading.

I still miss that fish-gone to the aquarium in the sky long ago. 

Mitch (AKA) The Donkey Donkey's Dirty Details
  • Member since
    October 2002
  • From: St. Louis Area, Florrisant to be specific!!!!!!!!!
  • 1,134 posts
Posted by bnsfkline on Monday, January 28, 2008 7:14 AM
Hey, come on now, I am not saying to use this as your main source of weathering......sheesh
Jim Tiroch RIP Saveria DiBlasi - My First True Love and a Great Railfanning Companion Saveria Danielle DiBlasi Feb 5th, 1986 - Nov 4th, 2008 Check em out! My photos that is: http://bnsfkline.rrpicturearchives.net and ALS2001 Productions http://www.youtube.com/ALS2001
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Sydney, Australia
  • 57 posts
Posted by SouthCoastRail on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 3:41 AM

Question,

does it only work for tank and reef (er) cars?

sorry couldn't container myself

Bob

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Ctr. Ossipee NH
  • 519 posts
Posted by Red Horse on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 5:40 AM

Thats great...I'm laughing my face off here.

What did the fish think when you took it away from them?

Please visit my Photobucket pics page. http://photobucket.com/Jesse_Red_Horse_Layout I am the King of my Layout, I can build or destroy the entire city on a whim or I can create a whole new city from scratch , it is good too be the King.
  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Greencastle, PA
  • 462 posts
Posted by OzarkBelt on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 7:21 AM
 Red Horse wrote:

Thats great...I'm laughing my face off here.

What did the fish think when you took it away from them?

Or did they demand a reefer or tanker to play with? Or, better yet, did they request some lengths of track and a engine? Whistling [:-^]

 

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot Visit my blog! http://becomingawarriorpoet.blogspot.com

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Greencastle, PA
  • 462 posts
Posted by OzarkBelt on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 7:21 AM
 Red Horse wrote:

Thats great...I'm laughing my face off here.

What did the fish think when you took it away from them?

Or did they demand a reefer or tanker to play with? Or, better yet, did they request some lengths of track and a engine? Whistling [:-^]

 

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot Visit my blog! http://becomingawarriorpoet.blogspot.com

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Joizey
  • 1,983 posts
Posted by SteamFreak on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 12:14 PM

What a cool idea! Cool [8D] I don't have a fish tank, so I guess I have to drive my whole collection down to the Camden Aquarium.

 

  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: California
  • 3,722 posts
Posted by AggroJones on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 4:50 PM

Whistling [:-^]

"Being misunderstood is the fate of all true geniuses"

EXPERIMENTATION TO BRING INNOVATION

http://community.webshots.com/album/288541251nntnEK?start=588

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: Southern California
  • 1,475 posts
Posted by New Haven I-5 on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 6:10 PM
 It looks very good!Big Smile [:D] Soak it for another 3 months, shell only & it will look even better!Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

- Luke

Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!