Hi Guys and Gals,
I've just finished painting a section of my HO code 83 track, ballasting it and then weathering the whole area. Attached are some photos, including the last one that illustrates what my ballast and rails looked like before the final weathering, where the ballast was all a single color gray. Please don't tell me now that I've overdone it because as you know, it is impossible to unscramble an egg....it would be difficult to unweather it.
Being 72 years old and being incarcerated in my home because of the virus, (yes, I'm wearing my ankle bracelet and mask religiously), I've had a lot of time on my hands. Let me tell you how I used that time on this step of my model railroad, which by the way has a double-track mainline with over 200 feet of track.
First, I airbrushed the rails to look like iron. Then, I airbrushed some rust on the rails. Next, I used a brush to paint the plastic ties dark brown.
Now came the fun part. I used a squeeze bottle to run black india ink, mixed with Bragdon soot-colored weathering powder to make the ties and ballast between the rails look "sooty" black. Then, I airbrushed Bragdon weathering powders, mixed with alcohol/water 3:1, along the outer sides of the rails, hitting the ties and down towards grade, leaving some ballast near the bottom to look unweathered. I should tell you that I went back and lightly airbrushed some gray chalk/alcohol over brown areas that were too uniformly colored brown. Bottom-line, I didn't want consistency.
Like I said, I have had a lot of time on my hands. If anyone has questions, I'd be glad to answer them. I'll be happy to provide my email or phone number.....heck, other than my wife and dog, I haven't had much opportunity to use my voice to speak so let's talk.
Mondo
I've just finished painting a section of my HO code 83 track, ballasting it and then weathering the whole area. Attached are some photos, including the last one that illustrates what my ballast and rails looked like before the final weathering, where the ballast was all a single color gray. Please don't tell me now that I've overdone it because as you know, it is impossible to unscramble an egg....it would be difficult to unweather it.
Being 72 years old and being incarcerated in my home because of the virus, (yes, I'm wearing my ankle bracelet and mask religiously), I've had a lot of time on my hands. Let me tell you how I used that time on this step of my model railroad, which by the way has a double-track mainline with over 200 feet of track.
First, I airbrushed the rails to look like iron. Then, I airbrushed some rust on the rails. Next, I used a brush to paint the plastic ties dark brown.
Now came the fun part. I used a squeeze bottle to run black india ink, mixed with Bragdon soot-colored weathering powder to make the ties and ballast between the rails look "sooty" black. Then, I airbrushed Bragdon weathering powders, mixed with alcohol/water 3:1, along the outer sides of the rails, hitting the ties and down towards grade, leaving some ballast near the bottom to look unweathered. I should tell you that I went back and lightly airbrushed some gray chalk/alcohol over brown areas that were too uniformly colored brown. Bottom-line, I didn't want consistency.
Like I said, I have had a lot of time on my hands. If anyone has questions, I'd be glad to answer them. I'll be happy to provide my email or phone number.....heck, other than my wife and dog, I haven't had much opportunity to use my voice to speak so let's talk.
Mondo
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