Basic Weathering, a Pictoral Guide

[tcf511]

Wow, thanks very much. I'm new to the hobby and weathering is one of the things that I most want to learn. This was helpful. One question please, in the photo of applying the soot there is both a paint bottle and a chalk container. Do you use some combination of both?

[grandeman]

Thanks guys for all the positive comments.

The above technique is cheap and quick, two positive attributes! We have more weathering to do, ya'll know I'll post pics. [:D]I hope you guys have fun weathering! Here's a lighter colored car done with the same system to show the effect.

[howmus]

grande man, Thanks!!! I love your work! I just bookmarked this thread as I should be starting some wheathering of rolling stock soon and this will be very helpful.

[Ibflattop]

Thats a cool job ya have got there. I like the idea of the wedge brush on the trucks, I weather mine the same way ya got but I done use dullcoat. I have been weathering this way for about 8 years and havent really had any problems at all would the chalks coming off. Kevin

[ereimer]

very nice , thanks !

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by electrolove

grande man:

I just wake up and turned on the computer. Wow, this was a nice surprise. It's mini tutorials like this that makes this forum so good, I want to see more things like this. The tutorial looks absolutely professional. Nice pictures and explanations. The only thing that I can complain about is that the pictures could be a little bigger. But that's only my opinion. GREAT WORK GRANDE! [:D]

Glad you enjoyed the thread. [8D]

As for the pics, you do know a double click will enlarge them, right? As for larger pics (high res), my dial up is a severe handicap during the upload.

[AntonioFP45]

I like that hopper!

A+!

[electrolove]

grande man:

I just wake up and turned on the computer. Wow, this was a nice surprise. It's mini tutorials like this that makes this forum so good, I want to see more things like this. The tutorial looks absolutely professional. Nice pictures and explanations. The only thing that I can complain about is that the pictures could be a little bigger. But that's only my opinion. GREAT WORK GRANDE! [:D]

[Anonymous]

There is one thing that I would like to add. If you purchase the pastel chalks from an art store, like I did, I have found that if you wait for a couple of days or a week before you apply your Dullcoat, or in my case Krylon, the chalk seems to "fix" itself better and not "disappear"

[Anonymous]

Bump!!
Nice job!!!

[AggroJones]

Nice tutorial. You can never have to much info about weathering. [tup]

[steveblackledge]

That look's a great job, it's good of you to share these things with everyone

[grandeman]

There seems to be a lot of interest here in weathering freight cars and locos. Weathering adds to a model's realism. There are several methods to achieve a weathered look such as airbrushing, washes, etc. The method described here works well for me but keep in mind, there's a right way, a wrong way, and there's grande man's way. [:D] This is a quick and dirty (no pun intended [:D]) method to turn out a quantity of rolling stock in a hurry. It probably takes about 10 minutes per car plus drying time for the dull cote. Maybe some of ya'll will find it useful.

The "victim" and basic materials. The chalk came from a LHS and Testors Dull Cote is widely available. I prefer an angled brush because it can reach into small spaces yet still cover larger areas. I use the same brush for all chalk colors.


The first step is to add soot. Go ahead and coat darker colored cars like this oxide color fairly heavy. For lighter color cars add a little less "soot".


With a paper towel dampened with "wet water" (water with a few drops of dish detergent added for spraying scenery before cementing it) add streaks to the soot. On a car body such as this hopper, I like to leave soot around the verticle structure.


The next step is to apply a coat of Testors dull cote over the entire model. This seals the soot and "grabs" chalk added later. Don't get dull cote in the truck journals. Tape them if necessary.


While the dull cote dries, apply a cote of Floquil Rail Brown to the wheels. Be careful not to get paint in the journals or on the treads.


Add "dirt" with appropriately colored chalk.


Complete the final details like adding dirt and rust colored chalk to the trucks, couplers, etc.


Viola! The "dirty" hopper at home in the dusty, soot filled environment of the Split Rock Mine.