New Member - First Weathering Project

gearedsteel · Jun 3, 2008

Forgive my intrusion. New member here, who has just tried his hand at weathering. (Hello all, pleasure to type at you.) I hope for your critiques and experienced suggestions. Beyond the fact that a 60-year-old Lionel is likely not the best subject for a weathering project, will anyone provide me with additional direction here?

Being my first try, I used temporary materials, namingly Conte chalk and some 20-yr-old watercolors. Thus, whatever I dislike, I hope to be able to wash off. Only one side and the interior of the hopper has been worked upon thus far. Stiff-bristled brush applied the darker rust (chalk), while a thin-tipped el-cheapo brush applied the watercolor streaks.
http://www.gearedsteel.com/training/weather1/LVweather01.jpg
http://www.gearedsteel.com/training/weather1/LVweather02.jpg
http://www.gearedsteel.com/training/weather1/LVweather03.jpg
http://www.gearedsteel.com/training/weather1/LVweather04.jpg
http://www.gearedsteel.com/training/weather1/LVweather05.jpg
Before weathering:
http://www.gearedsteel.com/training/weather1/LVoriginal1.jpg

My first thought was that, since the ink on car lettering isn't the most water soluble stuff, I shouldn't streak it down as if it were. Secondly, I've got a ways to practice before I can get the right shine to grime and rust ratio for the highlights (especially on the wheels). Also, the interior is still quite obviously sloppy paint smear rather than rust smear. I hope to remedy this with its second treatment, likely using more chalk.
Any additional recommendations on technique and detail to watch would be most appreciated. Other suggestions (as in reminding me of forum etiquettes) will be heeded, though I must advise that I am both shameless and opportunistic, so I may take full advantage of my noob status excuses.

UP2CSX · Jun 3, 2008

I like it! The chalks work just fine for weathering. Watercolors are probaby not such a good idea since they don't cover very well and are hard to make permanent. Not sure what you mean by the lettering on the car not being water soluble but lettering on freight cars did often weather and the letter colors did streak down the sides. You can also do this with chalk or a fine brush that's used with white paint but almost dry before start the streaking process. You should pick u a can of Dullcote if you have a hobby shop near you or Krylon Matte Spray at Walmart. If your spray the car first with the dulling coat, it's easier to get chalks to stick. Once you have the car the way yu like it, you can then give it another coat of dullcote to fix everything in place.

Great start for your first try and welcome aboard here.

SpaceMouse · Jun 3, 2008

I like it as well.

What I find extremely helpful is to find a similar prototype photo and copy what you see. I find I often catch small details that make a large difference.

Granted this one is worse off than your model, but the thing that came to mind when I looked at yours is the trucks. Look how the wheels in the photos have a similar level of rust/dirt as the trucks.

gearedsteel · Jun 3, 2008

My thanks for the encouragement!
I'll certainly try the dull-coat-as-primer technique on my next try. I'll let you know how badly the watercolor reacts when a finished coat is added to seal it, but for a practice medium, I'd wager it's near perfect.
I'll watch more closely to the trucks and wheels next time. I've always seen rusty trucks, but bright shiny where the wheel touches track, as long as that car has seen movement.
I should also be able to capture some decent reference pictures (at least in motion), since I am fortunate to work immediately adjacent to a very busy set of freight lines. No kidding: some days there are trains as frequent as every 15-20 minutes. Some even park within a hundred feet, granting the heavy diesel sound to fill my workstation for a short time.

gearedsteel · Jun 6, 2008

UP2CSX · Jun 6, 2008

Looks like nice progress. The dullcote will actually help tone down that rust, which will help the overall look. The only thing I'd do add some rust to inside faces of the wheels and weather the couplers. Also, you want to weather the tops and bottoms of the trucks so they look uniformly rusty.

Dub · Jun 22, 2008

Lionel, I like It.

Good job on the weathering!

New Member - First Weathering Project

gearedsteel

Noob Extraordinaire

UP2CSX

Fleeing from Al

SpaceMouse

Fun Lover

gearedsteel

Noob Extraordinaire

gearedsteel

Noob Extraordinaire

UP2CSX

Fleeing from Al

Dub

Lionel 3 Rail