I don't weather. I don't do litter either. My memories of the 50's don't include the dirt, so why include it on my layout? I see my layout as a painting not a photograph.
That said, I have seen some very nice effects.. It's just not for me.
Enjoy
Paul
I weather my Rio Grande steam fleet just enough with Bragdon powders so that they look both used and fairly well taken care of--the Yuba River sub is known as a 'good housekeeper'. The effect I try for is the normal wear and tear on the road between shoppings.
With that said, I have acquired some used SP brass steamers--SP has trackage rights on the YubaRiver Sub-- that have been weathered to the point where they look like 'rolling junkyards' (SP modelers seem to have an absolute Fetish for this, LOL!). However, I'm not about to go through the major pain of stripping and repainting them--getting lazy in my Old Age, I suppose.
But to answer your question--is it really necessary? I think that's up to the individual hobbyist. I enjoy 'weathering' my locos, but oddly enough, I don't weather my rolling stock. The several times I tried, I ended up with freight cars that looked as if they'd been buried in the Sahara Desert since the time of the Egyptian Pharaoh's. Not one of my talents, I suppose.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
I guess this is the reason I continue to look in on the forum.I occasionally find a like-minded person who clearly has excellent taste ,graet vision...oh and agrees with me!!!
I don't weather my locos,I have weathered one or two freight cars (but they seem to be stored ) but I have some seriously beat buildings .Go figure
I can think of few things I enjoy more than watching my shiny ,clean lash-up of Overniter cars rolling around my layout.
I can't think of any rules in model railroading that you have to obey. It may be a good idea to obey some of them, but weathering locomotives isn't one of them.
I prefer my locos to be weathered, but not weather-beaten.
A friend for whom I paint locomotives originally liked his to be weathered more heavily:
However, after I did this almost freshly-shopped loco for him, he decided that he liked the lighter weathering better:
Eventually, I re-painted and re-weathered several earlier locos for him, including the one shown earlier:
Another friend, modelling the very end of the steam era, wanted her loco weathered fairly heavily. I first sent her a picture of the newly detailed and painted loco (I like to paint the loco in colours that represent an almost-new look, including gloss and semi-gloss finishes where appropriate.):
...and another after some initial weathering (it's easier to add more than it is to remove too much):
...and the final version:
While I no longer run diesels, I liked to weather them, too:
Wayne
I weather everything even people animals and autos. But, everyone has the right to do what they want and this is what makes it such a great hobby. As you advance and become more skilled, the reasons you use for not weathering will probable disappear unless in fact you want or need to be a seller or collector. Then it (As the latest Philosophy Friday Thread points out) will become your own particular preference or philosophy as to how you will go about weathering. Weathering is the easiest way to make your model look real life even if it is just to take the sheen off a plastic car, locomotive, structure or figure. I suggest you take a close look at how even the most detailed locomotive can look toy like when it is taken out of the box and this is certainly not meant to criticize the Lionel crowed or HI Railers who I greatly admire. The first PFE reefer on the left is an Athearn metal kit that I weathered as a beginner some 55 years ago. The one on the right is a very basic Accurail kit with cast on detail that took me less than 15 minutes to weather with removable chalk and IMO helps to disguise it's lack of realistic detail.
Peter Smith, Memphis
galaxy Short answer is that you don't have to weather your RR equipment. I am funny about weathering. I will weather buildings to make them look more realistic. But I do NOT weather my locos or RRcars. I prefer to think my RR keeps 'em clean and shiney. I, too, have a hard time even weathering a $50 loco or a $4.99 RR car, let alone a $250.00 loco.I am affraid I will "muck it up" and if I do on a building I can always strip it and start over, but loco,,,it's hard to get that factory-like new look back again. Now maybe if I could do a great weather job like Robby P. ,,,,
Short answer is that you don't have to weather your RR equipment.
I am funny about weathering.
I will weather buildings to make them look more realistic.
But I do NOT weather my locos or RRcars. I prefer to think my RR keeps 'em clean and shiney.
I, too, have a hard time even weathering a $50 loco or a $4.99 RR car, let alone a $250.00 loco.I am affraid I will "muck it up" and if I do on a building I can always strip it and start over, but loco,,,it's hard to get that factory-like new look back again.
Now maybe if I could do a great weather job like Robby P. ,,,,
I don't have a layout yet, but here are my thoughts on weathering:
And leep in mind the number one rule of model railroading: It's your railroad. Who cares what you do? Don't spend your time trying to please strangers. Unless you're founding a model railroad club not many people will be looking at your layout and judging it to your face.
Modeler of the Lehigh Valley Railroad in Bethlehem PA, 1971 and railfan of Norfolk Southern's Lehigh and Reading Lines of the modern day.
http://hohobbyist.weebly.com
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"When railroading time comes you can railroad...but not before."
- Robert A. Heinlein
Welcome to the group, HO H. You've dug up a topic posted in 2010!
Weathering, and the degree of it is a highly personal choice. Some things will never look good without it, like track. Most things look better with at least some. But a bad weathering job on a nice model is counterproductive.
It's a matter of taste, and even risk management, until a modeler has down a technique that can be handled safely.
John Pryke had some articles in Model Railroader that I think are some of the best examples of excellent weathering. Airbrush skills needed, but achievable. Dan
to the forum. Your initial posts are moderated so there will be a delay before they appear.
There is no charge to start a new thread.
Some of the people in the thread posted today, about 1/3 of them haven't been here in 5 or 6 years. Also in old threads, as you can see, links may not work.
Anyone named Anonymous has been deleted from the forum, that's why the have 300,000 posts.
Actually I'm not sure what you have to do to graduate to Anonymous class. When I first joined, some guy had just been kicked off this forum and his posts were deleted. He went to another forum and did not receive a warm welcome there.
As to the OP's question, if he hasn't figured it out in 9 years, I doubt I will sway his opinion. I've weathered all my diesels and not one steam engine. I'm afraid it won't look right. I guess I should take my own advice and practice on one that is in the parts bin.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Southgate Welcome to the group, HO H. You've dug up a topic posted in 2010!
Necro topic good and proper. I thought all those members on the first page looked unfamiliar and immediately felt a disturbance the schwartz. Sure enough, 2010 topic!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
There are two things you absolutely must do to be considered a "real" model railroader.
1 - Weather your locomotives and rolling stock
2 - Use the word "Subdivision" in your railroad's name
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
Why are we digging up old topics? There must be more current issues to discuss. Perhaps we can talk about helping new people with weathering and the joy of adding that to a loco or freight car.
I too haven't weathered the locos yet. I might do that once the weather gets warmer to spray dullcoat outside. Weathering locos can make it look more realistic.
My weathering techniques have evolved over time. I used to over-paint the cars and they looked pretty awful. Following my wife's sage advice, I subscribed to the "less is more" approach. That makes far more sense.
@jumijo - LOL
kasskaboose Why are we digging up old topics?
Why are we digging up old topics?
For some reason it's modus operandi here. Guessing noobs are googling things and it pulls up a forum topic, often very old, and it gets posted to without any thought of how old it is, or if even these people are still members or even alive.
I've seen so many horrible or overdone weathring jobs, it's put a healthy fear of weathering into me. I can't remember how many times someone will post a photo of a car they weathered, which looks horrible, and all the responses say how great it is - probably to boost self esteem but not really offering truly "helpful" feedback.
For sure well done weathering is a major enhancement to realism of a model train.
Following my wife's sage advice, I subscribed to the "less is more" approach. That makes far more sense.
Less is definitly more, especially for 70's era models. Modern, of course, many freight cars look pretty awful in real life but making a model of one look realistic is still a talent. There is a guy on TrainOrders who does some amazing weathering of freight cars that are from the last 20 years. Very weathered, patched etc, and very realistic. Not by bag, so that's why I'm liking the 70's and early 80's.
On someone else's layout I think it looks great. It adds to the realism of the layout.
.
It will add realism to your layout too.
However, I plan to keep my locos and rolling stock the way they look out of the box. I'm afraid to void the warranty/decrease resale value/ruin the loco.
If you bought hobby/toy items with resale value in mind, you bought them for the wrong reason. Go ahead and ruin them.
Oh and I'm too lazy. When I make my layout I intend to weather track and buildings.
You will eventually weather everything if you stick with the hobby long enough to build your skills.
Maybe someday the mood will strike me, but that day is not today.
Standing by...
-Kevin
Living the dream.
These older threads crop up because newbies come here and soon find suggestions to their questions that they 'do a search', and that this 'has been discussed many times before', and 'oh no, not this question again!' But, their particular question might only be somewhat related and not precisely answered. So, they bring up the thread and ask away.
Weathering is as much an obligation as an oval track setup or a switching layout. That is to say, not at all. It's something one does in an effort to make one's layout more realistic at eye level, just like ballasting, telegraph poles, realistic trees and static grass. It is typically something some of us attempt after a year or more in the hobby and we're looking for something new, 'another level' to our layout realism.
It's yes AND no, not yes OR no. Just like every other autonomous decision in the hobby we share.
I certainly don't mind seeing older threads pop up as I'll somtimes see valuable information that I could use or may have forgotten about.
This is an interesting topic. It never ocurred to me that some modelers would consider selling their more expensive units, hence hesitation on weathering them.
I enjoy weathering locomotives lightly and, in the past, I focused on the underframe and trucks, like this unit here:
This way if I ever wanted to sell or donate a unit, it would be a simple matter of firing up the airbrush, applying a thin coat of black followed by one thin coat of semi-gloss clear.
Lately, however, whenever I buy a unit my intent is to keep it for life so now I'll weather the body lightly as well.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
AntonioFP45 It never ocurred to me that some modelers would consider selling their more expensive units, hence hesitation on weathering them.
2 Timonium shows ago, you could have bought a Spring Mills Depot I-5 B&O caboose for $60. They are now out of stock, probably never to be produced again. There are three for sale on Ebay
The highest bid is $139.99, the second one has a high bid of $113.50 and the third, with the most time left in the auction is up to $67.
The BLMA reefers also command a high premium. $135 So every once in a while, your rolling stock isn't dumpster food.
Exactrail GNTX gons get up over $150 too. Their TTX hi cubes did too, until a recent run ended that
Well, since my last post 8 years ago, my grandson was born.
Upon reaching the age of 5, he looked at my one weathered piece (a caboose) and said "Grandad you need to clean this car".
Wisdom from the mouth of babes.
Good points above!
In the end, it's a simple matter of choice. Modelers should not be slammed for choosing to take either direction and should be encouraged to enjoy the hobby.
I have a friend who, over a period of months, purchased 3 MTH HO BNSF models (they're sure pricey) and, at first, was hesitant about weathering them. I suggested that he just enjoy his beautiful units. His response was "I like realistic looking engines and if they cost $350 each, so what! I bought them to relax and have fun! They're not decorations!".
Puzzled me but he finally opened up and asked if I could help weather them since his hands trembled slightly (Vietnam Veteran).
I respect his attitude and have adapted that for myself as well.
I think:
If you have a "model railroad", weathering is not nessisary. If you are trying to "model a railroad", dirt and muck are part if the real thing, so...
But really, it's your hobby, so do what you like.
Harrison
Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.
Modeling the D&H in 1978.
Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"
My YouTube
I guess the biggest chuckle I get from the "old-into-new" thread, is "resale value"
If you bought anything for your model railroad, and I mean ANYTHING, with resale value in your mind before during, and after the sale, maybe your not the model railroader you'd like to think you are.
I've never bought anything with resale value in mind. I bought it because I wanted it for my model railroad.
When I'm gone, the kids can throw it all in a dumpster. It's served it's purpose.
I buy Kato locomotives, recently bought a new Scale Trains Gievo, and they get weathered they way I see them in real life.
Mike.
My You Tube
I'd agree with your assessment, Mike: the value is in the enjoyment these items give us.
That said, when I backdated my layout and sold-off most of my diesels and too-modern rolling stock, much of it went for more than I had originally payed. That was most noticeable for the rolling stock, a lot of which was bought "used" originally. I'd guess that the money made was mostly due to the work put into those items. I'm not sure that that would be the case nowadays, but as you say, when we're gone, it doesn't really matter.
mbinsewiIf you bought anything for your model railroad, and I mean ANYTHING, with resale value in your mind before during, and after the sale, maybe your not the model railroader you'd like to think you are. I've never bought anything with resale value in mind. I bought it because I wanted it for my model railroad.
Not only do I not have resale in mind, but I have kept it all even though I have changed scales twice.
After all, you just never know ...
One more vote for "it's your stuff, do as you like with it." The Weathering Police aren't going to break your door down and make you dirty up your models.I myself weather my rolling stock quite heavily, but it's entirely a matter of personal preference.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
I think there are a few valid reasons not to weather locomotives and rolling stock. One could be simply the modeler being focused on other aspects of the layout at the time, while weathering is nice its more of an 'icing' on the cake and some modelers might not approach it until all the structures, ballast, scenery, signaling, etc. is in place on a layout. Another can be a fear of messing up nice equipment, this can be solved by practicing on cheap junker pieces until the skill has been built up enough to approach weathering that $350+ DCC/Sound locomotive. Lastly, some modelers might want to have a "hyper-reality" approach that makes their world look better than it actually is, sort like Disneyland with everything being clean and shiny no blemishes in sight (of course there is an opposite hyper-reality approach which is making the world look WORSE than it actually is, which would involve copious amounts of weathering on everything). Any modeler who seriously is trying to look 'real' though should learn weathering, eventually. Practice on the cheap cars, build up skills, study it; then approach it when the time is right. Even in the pre-graffiti era most railcars and locomotives accumulated nice layers of grime and dirt. Your local shortline that might have had their crew clean of their sole locomotive with a garden hose or a washrag probably wasn't able to get 100% of the grime off (take a look at any modern tourist railroad today, and while their locomotives might look shiny from a distance I have no doubt a closer look will reveal grime and grease stains especially in the running gear and near the exhaust).
HarrisonIf you have a "model railroad", weathering is not nessisary. If you are trying to "model a railroad", dirt and muck are part if the real thing, so... But really, it's your hobby, so do what you like.
I like these statements. Well said Harrison.
mbinsewiIf you bought anything for your model railroad, and I mean ANYTHING, with resale value in your mind before during, and after the sale, maybe your not the model railroader you'd like to think you are.
I also 100% agree with this one. All my stuff was bought to entertain me. I have never lost one moment of peace about destroying the "value" of a model.
Bayfield Transfer RailwayThe Weathering Police aren't going to break your door down and make you dirty up your models.
Oh no, there are Weathering Police? This I might lose sleep over.
selector These older threads crop up because newbies come here and soon find suggestions to their questions that they 'do a search', and that this 'has been discussed many times before', and 'oh no, not this question again!' But, their particular question might only be somewhat related and not precisely answered. So, they bring up the thread and ask away.
I didn't even realize that this thread was old, and I was answering the original question.
HarrisonI didn't even realize that this thread was old
Either did HO Hobbyist when he dug it up.
No problem, lots of new members find this stuff on a search, and jump in, not paying any attention to the date.
I do not weather my locomotives. I weather my rolling stock, especially the stock cars, but I still have some box cars and reefers that have not been weathered and won't be, based on the assumption that there are new fresh from the manufacturer cars that have not been in service long enough to be weatered.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
I own and operate a painting business so I find it ironic that although I spend my working days trying to make houses and such look nice and “new”, I typically weather the heck out of my newly built HO structures. Wonder what a psychiatrist would say about that?
And for what it’s worth (I know - not much), as a fairly new member, virtually none of the threads are necros to me. And although I would certainly do a search to see if a topic has already been covered before starting a thread, sometimes just scanning recent posts to see what might be some interesting reading can be rewarding.