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weathering

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  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
weathering
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2003 2:07 PM
I have grown a big selection of locomotives and rolling stock over the years, however I am very reluctant in trying to weather these pieces. I am afraid that if I fail the fist time these pieces will be ruined. (I am not an artist.)Any failsafe ways to achieve this on my $50-$100 locos[?]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
weathering
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2003 2:07 PM
I have grown a big selection of locomotives and rolling stock over the years, however I am very reluctant in trying to weather these pieces. I am afraid that if I fail the fist time these pieces will be ruined. (I am not an artist.)Any failsafe ways to achieve this on my $50-$100 locos[?]
  • Member since
    November 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,720 posts
Posted by MAbruce on Saturday, July 19, 2003 3:24 PM
I've just (minutes ago) completed my first weathering of a box car (I'm in N-scale). I started with a cheap LifeLike (Penn Central) so if I do mess up, it won't be any great loss. So far it's looking great. Any PC car looks most realistic when heavily weathered, so I figure it's hard too mess one of those up! [;)]

There are, of course, several different ways to go about weathering. Here's what I did.

I picked up a set of artstic water colors for cheap at Micheals ("Watercolor Wheel" stack pack as it seemed to have many different shades of brown), and some Matte clearcoat spraypaint. It took a while of experimentation, I found it best if I did as combination wet color washes and dry brushing (several coats). If you don't like what it looks like, you can always rinse off the paint and start over. Once it dried, I sprayed a light coat of the clearcoat to seal it (it's still drying - but still looks great). I'm also experimenting on another cheap boxcar by spraying it with the clearcoat first. I read somewhere that this will help the paints take to it better (I noticed it was though getting the paint to stick on the first uncoated car).

The point is that I think you would feel much more at ease if you started on a cheap car to practice. Once you get the hang of it, then you will have more confidence to make an attempt at your other (more expensive) locos.

Also, surf around on the internet for pictures of weathered RR equipment (almost all pictures are). This will show you how the weathering looks on a given car/loco.
  • Member since
    November 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,720 posts
Posted by MAbruce on Saturday, July 19, 2003 3:24 PM
I've just (minutes ago) completed my first weathering of a box car (I'm in N-scale). I started with a cheap LifeLike (Penn Central) so if I do mess up, it won't be any great loss. So far it's looking great. Any PC car looks most realistic when heavily weathered, so I figure it's hard too mess one of those up! [;)]

There are, of course, several different ways to go about weathering. Here's what I did.

I picked up a set of artstic water colors for cheap at Micheals ("Watercolor Wheel" stack pack as it seemed to have many different shades of brown), and some Matte clearcoat spraypaint. It took a while of experimentation, I found it best if I did as combination wet color washes and dry brushing (several coats). If you don't like what it looks like, you can always rinse off the paint and start over. Once it dried, I sprayed a light coat of the clearcoat to seal it (it's still drying - but still looks great). I'm also experimenting on another cheap boxcar by spraying it with the clearcoat first. I read somewhere that this will help the paints take to it better (I noticed it was though getting the paint to stick on the first uncoated car).

The point is that I think you would feel much more at ease if you started on a cheap car to practice. Once you get the hang of it, then you will have more confidence to make an attempt at your other (more expensive) locos.

Also, surf around on the internet for pictures of weathered RR equipment (almost all pictures are). This will show you how the weathering looks on a given car/loco.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2003 4:56 PM
Also, if you use chalk, you can always wash it off and start over.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2003 4:56 PM
Also, if you use chalk, you can always wash it off and start over.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2003 6:29 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by higssy

Also, if you use chalk, you can always wash it off and start over.

I have used PASTEL chalks, file it down, grind it down into a very fine powder.

Some folks use dulcoast first and before it dries blow some chalk on the model moving
side to side.

Also an application of dulcoat, let dry overnight, spray on rubbing alcohol for a faded effect(Per Athearn)
Don't like it? reverse it by re-applying dulcoat(chemical reaction)

Try these methods on your un-popular cars.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2003 6:29 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by higssy

Also, if you use chalk, you can always wash it off and start over.

I have used PASTEL chalks, file it down, grind it down into a very fine powder.

Some folks use dulcoast first and before it dries blow some chalk on the model moving
side to side.

Also an application of dulcoat, let dry overnight, spray on rubbing alcohol for a faded effect(Per Athearn)
Don't like it? reverse it by re-applying dulcoat(chemical reaction)

Try these methods on your un-popular cars.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2003 7:21 PM
When someone tells me they want to weather somthing, I tell them to just bury the item in the back yard for 2 months, then go dig it up, what realistic weathering[:0][:0][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:D]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 19, 2003 7:21 PM
When someone tells me they want to weather somthing, I tell them to just bury the item in the back yard for 2 months, then go dig it up, what realistic weathering[:0][:0][:p][:p][:p][:p][:p][:D]

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