Some weathered freight cars for Sweethome Alabama

[Jon Grant 4472]

Taking some time off from making trees for the layout, I decided to build up the fleet of weathered and graffitied freight cars. The first subject/patient on the treatment table is an Illinois Central A406 excess height boxcar, similar to the example below (RR Picture Archives)

The boxcar was weathered down with brown and grey acrylic washes, and the graffiti added in acrylic, applied with a brush.

Jon

 

[Jon Grant 4472]

The next freight car on the table was an athearn CSX 50ft A402 boxcar, similar to the one shown below

Again the car was weathered with acrylic washes, dry-brushing and graffiti applied to one side with brush-applied acrylic paint. I still have the brake gear and pipes to add to the model

Jon

 

[Jon Grant 4472]

Both cars together

Next up are a couple of Canadian examples
Jon

 

[N-gauged]

Well I'm not convinced that those are models and not real.
I'll need to see you holding one in your hands.

If they are in fact models, then great job, they look really good.
The scenery with all those trees is incredibly real looking.
​

 

[Dollie's Dad]

Very nice work. I keep forgetting how important graffiti is to modeling authentic contemporary railroads.

 

[RW&C]

Stunning work, looks totally real.

What kind of paint do you use for the graffiti?

 

[Secondhandmodeler]

Nice work. Welcome to this forum!

 

[Cjcrescent]

"Really don' mind if you sit this one out". Great avatar John!

 

[Ericsauto]

Well I'm not convinced that those are models and not real.
I'll need to see you holding one in your hands.

If they are in fact models, then great job, they look really good.
The scenery with all those trees is incredibly real looking.
__________________

Real trains don't use Kadee couplers

 

[ho/ttothemoss]

Nice work!

 

[Jon Grant 4472]

"Really don' mind if you sit this one out". Great avatar John!

'My words but a whisper, your deafness - a SHOUT'

Hello Carey, long time no see

Jon

 

[Jon Grant 4472]

I have finally finished weathering a couple of canadian boxcars. I only added graffiti to one side and for speed, used either Blair Line or Microscale Graffiti decals, plus a few handpainted tags.
The brake gear and end detail still have to be added at a later date.
The CP Rail boxcar is an Athearn 50footer, with extra ventilation added to the sides as per the CP prototype. The CN boxcar is from Intermountain and came with the detailling already added.

The plain side

The graffitied side

Jon

 

[Jon Grant 4472]

The next couple of cars to get the treatment were an E&C Shops excess-height A406 double-door boxcar for MDW and a 50ft NS (SOU) boxcar - I think this is a Roundhouse model, but it was heavily detailled by the late Dave Scott, and I am unsure of it's history - I have so far found no photo to match it.
The MDW car came in a shade of green that closely resembled BN cascade green, so had to be substantially lightened to match photos of the prototype before I could start the weathering.

Finally a couple of 'group shots'

Happy Easter,

Jon

 

[Photogdad]

Excellent. Very real looking from the cars to the scenery

 

[CSXPAID]

Hi Jon,

Welcome, and very nice work on the cars!!

I am a big fan of sweethome chicago

Later,

Devlyn

 

[Cjcrescent]

'My words but a whisper, your deafness - a SHOUT'

Hello Carey, long time no see

Jon

Same to you Jon. I spend most of my time here, its way less raucous than the others, that is when I'm not building on the layout. Believe it or not, I'm still listening to that tape you sent me. Great music.

PS, My son gave me a DVD of their 2005 appearance at the Montreaux (sp) jazz festival. Fantastic!!!

 

[Rico]

Excellent. Very real looking from the cars to the scenery

I agree, very well done!
If the trip pins were removed you'd never know they weren't real!

 

[Jon Grant 4472]

One newly graffitied car (Racing Hippo) and some shots of other weathered cars in the newly sceniced area

Jon

 

[Jon Grant 4472]

Photographed a few more freight cars tonight, including a freight car load to prove that they are models []

Two Proto2000 covered hopper kits

CSXT pulpwood car with pulpwood load

CSXT pulpwood car with 'pipe' load

Jon

 

[Jon Grant 4472]

One more newly weathered covered hopper (Horslips - Exiles) and a couple of new photos showing older cars.

The inspiration

a couple of Athearn boxcars

Jon