Grampys Trains wrote:... So, here is my first post here. I did a quickie weathering job on this coal hopper. ... Does it need more or less weathering?
DJ, The hopper body looks OK, you followed the less-is-more approach and that's good. One thing that would help is to paint the centers on those metal wheels, they still have that fresh-from-the-box shine. They should be a flat, dusty gray or faded black color if you want to make them look 'real'.
One medium I recently discoved [thanx to the gang at MTW] is gouache - a highly-concentrated, water-based paint that dries extremely flat (available at any Michaels or artists supply stores). I used that stuff on the wheels of a Chessie PS2 2-bay cement hopper and was quite happy with the results.
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
I wasn't sure where to post this so posting here and in this week's WPF:
After toiling along on and off for the last six months, I finally finished my latest locmotive for my layout, a D&H RS-3m #504, this is the "good enuff" version, (long hood was not raised):
The model started out as an original Atlas RS-3 with my own castings for the nose, headlight/number board housing, dynamic brake box, exhaust stack, , sinclair antenna, air tanks and battery boxes. I used SmokeyValley stancions except for the front and rear for which I repurposed the original Atlas handrails. The fuel tank and pilot faces were also rebuilt.
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums
Grampys Trains wrote:Hi all: I really like the premise of this thread. So, here is my first post here. I did a quickie weathering job on this coal hopper. I used Bar Mills black and rust powder. Does it need more or less weathering? BTW, you can't insult me, I was a sailor.
Just a few pointers that would add materially to the car's realistic appearance. You've got a nice start and, of course, much depends on just how much weathering the individual likes on his rolling stock. I'm personally not much of a fan of the rolling wrecks all too often painted up by some hobbyists today.
A coal hopper in heavy use would show a decided amount of darker weathering along and around the rivet lines, exterior bracing and especially the side sills, as compared to the open field of the panels (probably best accomplished with repeated washes of diluted India ink). If long in service, the logos and lettering would be visibly faded (done with a light overspray of a thinned color the same as the car body, best be done prior to any actual dark weathering).
Although not visible in your photo, the hopper's interior might be painted as moderately to heavily rusted, with an overcoating of thinned grimmy black (coal dust).
Likewise, a light coating of road dirt would likely be quite apparent low along the sides and particularly the ends of the car (thrown up by the wheels and the color of the dirt or ballast in the region the car has traveled through). The areas around the hopper doors would also be quite dark and dirty (coal dust, rust and road dirt).
The couplers, as well as the wheels (but not the treads!) would be quite dark from both rust and road weathering (both having never seen any paint).
CNJ831