Wood decked flat car. A question for the weathering experts.

[Anonymous]

I have been weathering my rolling stock with the technique shown in the July issue of Model Railroader. Then I came to a Union Pacific flat car, and flat cars aren't mentioned in the article, so I wasn't sure what to do. Would a flatcar have a yellow deck, how do you weather it? What would it look like on a real railroad?

[waltersrails]

i would just spray paint it lightly.

[edkowal]

Flat car decks were not painted. There was no need to, since the deck was wooden so that timbers and blocking could be nailed to it, and so the surface would get torn up and weathered anyway. There may also have been a slight issue of safety, since painted wood can be slippery.

A flat car deck would look like weathered wood. That's what most were.

-Ed

[AggroJones]

1. Paint the deck wood color, if not already wooden.
2. Dullcote deck.
3. Hit said deck with Sepia gwosh/ water/ rubbing alcohol wash.
4. Dullcote again.
5. Drybrush Polly S dirt/aged white 50/50 to highlight.

THE END

[tstage]

If the flatcar deck is wood, why not stain it?

Tom

[Anonymous]

No it is a plastic car, but it would be wood on the prototype.
Hey AggroJones, I have seen some of your work, it is amazing. What is Sepia gwosh?

[Anonymous]

I have photographed two prototype flat cars, They were built in Canada and were in a NS yard in south ga. The deck was weathered wood. It was faded gray with lots of chiped wood and the cars were even missing a couple of boards while others were warpped and some not even the same lenght.. They were laid over a steel frame. I just checked the pictures to be sure before I made this post. Hope this helps. Phil

[hminky]

I have a "what I did" on making styrene look like weathered wood at:

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/rough_weathered_plastic/

Click images to enlarge





and a slightly different effect at:

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/weathered_plastic/





Maybe that can help and thank you if you visit
Harold

[Anonymous]

Check this month's RMC (Feb. 2006) - page 71 "Painting wooden freight car floors". There are step by step instructions with illustrations. Can't beat that!

While you're there, mosy on over to page 93 to see my Kitbashing Award article!

Bob Boudreau

[Anonymous]

Another Idea:

Glue scale real wood 1" X 6" (or appropriate size) over the top of the deck. Pre-stain them in alcohol and shoe dye. Comes out great and by using the thin pieces, the thickness of the deck is not increased by a noticeable degree. Aileen's tacky glue works well to hold the pieces to the deck. I've used this technique to improve the looks of many of my plastic flat cars.

Check the deck in this photo:

[Anonymous]

hminky has it cold. The dark areas on the water tower are due to moisture, you will not see much of that on the deck of a flat bed. Gray & rough is the key to modeling a wooden deck.

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by The Duke

No it is a plastic car, but it would be wood on the prototype.
Hey AggroJones, I have seen some of your work, it is amazing. What is Sepia gwosh?

'gwosh' is this mini-tube, expensive artist watercolor stuff many weather guys use.
Can be had at an art supply store for $2 a tube. Dries flat and much more transparent than acrylic paints. But it MUST be sealed for handling. I use gouche on almost a daily basis. The bit of moisture in your fingers is enough to reactivate the pigments, so if not sealed, you run the risk of ruining what ever you did.

[2c]

[hminky]

QUOTE: Originally posted by The Duke

No it is a plastic car, but it would be wood on the prototype.
Hey AggroJones, I have seen some of your work, it is amazing. What is Sepia gwosh?

I believe that is gauche or egg tempra. It is available at art stores. It is like water colors but is waterproof when dry. The great late Alan Armitage, the styrene guy, had an article about weathering with gauche paints a long time ago in Model Railroader.

Just a thought
Harold

[ukguy]

I kinda followed hminkys directions, but I used a 'minwax' provincial stain over the kilz, kinda came out OK for me...... the other stain I use is Wal-Marts, golden-oak, in the arts dept.





UP unweathered car in background (obvly)

have fun & be safe
Karl

[hminky]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ukguy

I kinda followed hminkys directions, but I used a 'minwax' provincial stain over the kilz, kinda came out OK for me...... the other stain I use is Wal-Marts, golden-oak, in the arts dept.

Karl

The Kilz has to be stained with an ink or dye. Most "stains" lack a "staining" quality. Commecials stains are designed to be "goofproof" so the project you are working on won't be over-stained.

Just a thought
Harold