Tempra Weathering and Chain Link Fencing

[robert sylvester]

[8D] Sometimes I like to get back to basics because for me that is where the fun is. I thought I posted this not long ago but I couldn't find it, so I thought I waould try again.
I have tried just about every weathering technique, from chalk, airbrushing, hand painting, India Ink (works great for a fast job), letting the cars sit out side for a month, and Tempra paints. That's right Tempra paints. For about $4.00 you can by a big jug of tempra paints at Hobby Lobby, several colors, black, white ,brown, yellow, etc. I mix the black and white, it becomes a great grey color. I dust the sides of the cars, buildings, whatever, then lightly mist the tempra with water from a hair spray bottle, use black on the roof, and let it dry, you would be amazed how the weathering looks. And it is cheap.
The other day I needed chain link fencing, but I don't have a LHS for detail stuff, so sometimes I have to invent. I re-did a screen door when it dawned on me that the screen was about the same guage as HO chain link fencing. I took some brass thick wire cut them to the right length 2 1/2 inches, cut some screen at a 45 degree angle to match the pattern of the real fencing, cut the wright height and super glued it to the poles in the ground. Since my foundation is foam board, they stick right in. I spaced the poles about 4 inches apart, leaving about 1/4 to 1/2 inch at the bottom to stick in the ground and a 1/4 inch to bend at the top just like the real fencing. Believe it or not it looks great, and so do my weathered cars with Tempra.
Just some suggestion from a guy that has been doing this for about forty years.
Good luck.
General Manager
WTRR
Hub City Division[:D]

[simon1966]

I think it is time to give the Tempra method a try. I was most impressed with the photos of Joe Furgate's track weathering using Tempra.

[scubaterry]

Good idea with the screen for chain link fence. Tks
Terry[8D]

[jxtrrx]

Robert... I'm being dense. You're talking about applying the tempra in powder form, right?

[mgutwein]

I've used tempra as well - I got brown hoping I could use it as a colouring agent for plaster, but it was not "brown" enough - more of a reddish brown. It works quite well to represent rust (I've used it on a Walthers grain bin, putting it on some panels only) and seems not to have "disappeared" under a coat of Dullcoat like pastel chalks . The colour also works quite well at "fading" the stark white markings on boxcar red/oxide rolling stock.

[tatans]

Having learned the art of watercolor painting(well, as much as you can learn) I often wondered how people "weathered" buildings and cars in HO, I tried to look up methods on the internet but with all the complications of chalk, oil sticks,etc etc etc it seemed far too complicated for a bozo like me, so I had some small jars of acrylic craft paints I used for buildings etc, it comes in 500,000 diferent colors and is cheap, I don't mix black & white I just use grey, easy to thin out, easy to mix, easy to remove if needed, and easy to clean up, And here I was doing it right all along.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

QUOTE: You're talking about applying the tempra in powder form, right?

I think that's what he's saying alright. Come to think of it, I think I've seen some older modeler's using that technique before.

[mgutwein]

When I use them, it's dry, powder form straight out of the container, applied with a soft, dry brush.

[tatans]

rOBSYL quotes : " I dust the sides of the whatever, then lightly mist the tempera with water from a hair spray bottle"

[jfugate]

QUOTE: Originally posted by simon1966

I think it is time to give the Tempra method a try. I was most impressed with the photos of Joe Furgate's track weathering using Tempra.

Thanks for the kind words about my track weathering.

I mix the tempera with at least 50% plaster so you can mist the weathering with water and it acts as its own fixative and sets up, making it more permanent. [swg]

[robert sylvester]

jxtrrx: Sorry about the delayed answer. To answer your question, the tempra comes in large plastic jars I buy at Hobby Looby or Wal-Mart. The tempra is in a powder form. I take a fairly thick brush dip it into the jar of tempra and dust the sides, roof, and ends of a piece rolling stock, sometimes using different colors. Even the trucks with a burnt umber or yellow tempra. After I have applied the tempra to the piece I then spray a fine mist of water on the piece of rolling stock with the tempra powdered dusting then let it dry.
The tempra is just like water paint, in the fact that when missed with water it litterly forms paint. When the piece is dry, you'll be surprised how good it looks as a weathered piece of rolling stock.
Hope that helps.
Rob
WTRR