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How do you guys photpgraph these things? It doesn't look all splotchy and textured like this IRL.
Mostly done. Need to repaint the MU hoses and cut levers (god those were a pain and you can't even really see them), and the decals didn't stick to the number boards at all! Any advice on the latter? I was debating painting them white anyway. Still need to add the wipers, but I figured I'm going to be taking it apart to re-do the number boards first anyway.
I thought the clear would knock the powder down a bit more. Fuel tank looks grayer in pictures than it actually is. Trucks look better in pics than IRL though lol.
Critiques appreciated as always. I know this won't win any shows but its a huge step up from what it was and I think its my new favorite (sorry SXT Chessie!)
my
favorite pictures are outside, natural sunlight on a small diarama. No flash.
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I would add some earth highlights on the frame and trucks, even a smidge of light tan wash on the body. Clean some dark off the yellow step handrails, those are generally cleaner from use and safety maintenance.
"the photo doesn't look like it does in reality" - that's just a long time fact of photography
I would add some earth highlights on the frame and trucks, even a smidge of light tan wash on the body. Clean some dark off the yellow step handrails, those are generally cleaner from use and safety maintenance.
"the photo doesn't look like it does in reality" - that's just a long time fact of photography
Noted, will do. Its nice to get other eyes on the pictures, I wouldn't have noticed the handrails! Gonna try to redo the number boards today too.
Got around to weathering the Chessie engines. First tape off windows and lights and spray with dull coat. Then added a light coat of rust.
I would add some earth highlights on the frame and trucks, even a smidge of light tan wash on the body. Clean some dark off the yellow step handrails, those are generally cleaner from use and safety maintenance.
"the photo doesn't look like it does in reality" - that's just a long time fact of photography
Added some browns along the lower extremities. Maybe too much. Definitely looks good on the plow though! Its not sealed yet. Cleaned the handrails and fixed the number boards too. I think I need to paint the insides of the fuel tank just tarnished balck or something, it seems to pop in every picture.
Critiques still appreciated.
From the few pictures I could find 4023 was a bit more dirty than 4054. So I just did a little grimy black to 4054 and a bit more to 4023. At the end the trio is together in advanced consist to utilize the drive hold features. On to the next project.
From the few pictures I could find 4023 was a bit more dirty than 4054. So I just did a little grimy black to 4054 and a bit more to 4023. At the end the trio is together in advanced consist to utilize the drive hold features. On to the next project.
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Excellent work Tom
Customer i had wanted that really worn out look. Love those Kitty Cats!!
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Customer i had wanted that really worn out look. Love those Kitty Cats!!
Some were really beat up especially towards the end when they were switching to CSX. Chessie photo archives helps with pictures along with other sites. It's still hard to fine photos though.
Those trucks are incredible.
Rare natural light pics. Powdered but not sealed yet. Was trying to be gentle on this one. Added hoses, cut levers, and sun shades. Panel liner. Light fade. The powder really stuck to the trucks for whatever reason, but I think it looks pretty good in person. Not happy with the tank, particularly on the left. Right side is better for sure. Forgot to paint the filler and sight glass, need to do that still. I think I'm going to repaint the intakes too, particularly at the front which isn't showing up at all in these pics.
Critiques appreciated. Grade me like you're judging a contest.
Just one thing, that I caught myself doing as well. Typically the front and back of the fuel tank have more road dirt than the sides due to the wheels kicking up and spraying dirt (think about mudflaps on a semi). When you're weathering, you're applying it from the sides and it's easy to end up with little to no dirt on them, compared with the sides. I saw it in another progress post too, but also realized I'm guilty.
Those trucks are incredible.
Thank you.
Realized I still need to paint the cut levers yellow, and trim the hoses at the rear (I need to come up with a better solution for these, debating drilling and inserting them 1 at a time on the next loco). Also might get the handrail verticals with some powder, they look very white in these pictures. Sprayed some grimy black on the tank and trucks, which knocked down the rust on the trucks nicely. Redid the grills with both panel liner and paint. Had a little run in the panel liner on the left side which is why its messier than the right. Overall I think this came out pretty well though.
Was playing with camera settings, these are actually direct sun pictures. Iphone still seems to have added some blotchyness particularly on the right.
Critiques appreciated as always.
The couplers could use a rust color, other than that looks good. If you look at videos you'll see that most have a brownish look on the tanks and trucks than rust. I usually layer rust, then a tan/mud and lastly grimy black. The 3 tones give a nice look when they a applied in light coats. Depending where they are at also differs. Northern areas have more grimy black where south has more dirt tone.
The couplers could use a rust color, other than that looks good. If you look at videos you'll see that most have a brownish look on the tanks and trucks than rust. I usually layer rust, then a tan/mud and lastly grimy black. The 3 tones give a nice look when they a applied in light coats. Depending where they are at also differs. Northern areas have more grimy black where south has more dirt tone.
I'll take any praise from you, your stuff is amazing.
The rusty brown powder stuck way harder to the trucks than I thought. I wasn't originally going to spray the trucks and tank and just use powders, but I realized that was a mistake since the earthy-er powders were way too bright and not well blended. I should've just started with a grimy black spray to begin with. Despite not having a real layout, my goal is to model an Appalachian setting so I tend towards blacks more than dirts anyway, though I have seen the difference you mention in photos.
I think I have 1 more set of brown MT couplers but they're reserved for the other SD60 I just picked up that has rapidos. Next time I'm spraying brown I'll try to remember to hit them. Now that you've pointed it out, its all I see.
Lets go girls.... this one is going to get grab irons too.
Tried something new on fading.
I've been using a mix of Microlux flat clear, 50% water, and a few drops of micromark reefer white for fades. It looked ok but was a bit too frosty AND didn't adhere terribly well. I couldn't really use masking tape on it or it would pull it off like sunburn.
I picked up some more Tamiya paint the other week and thought I'd try using Tamiya X85 with a bit of white instead. It sprayed a lot better and more consistently (I honestly think I'm going to abandon trying to spray acrylics unless I really have to, its too inconsistent and frustrating), but my god it finds literally every spec of oil or fingerprint you've ever left on the model. I do think it came out slightly less frosty, though its still not perfect. There's a few random blotches on the hopper, though I think the SCL gon is probably the cleanest fade I've done (the P&LE was fingerprint city but I sorta salvaged it). This is probably the worse side of the BN. So when it works, it does work well.
We'll find out how well or not the masking goes on these gondolas (why is the rolling stock thread locked?)
This B23-7 is a side quest while I wait for more #80 drill bits to arrive. I started to do the grab irons on the SD60, and found the Train-worx template is way too small for the #80, and then managed to drill out 1 whole hole on the template before breaking my only #80. Maybe I'll try to do the individual hose MU insertion on the B23-7 as a practice round, I don't think I have the correct cut levers.
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