Weathering

[Toolbelt]

Weather the wheel faces, if it’s a tank car also Weather the axle

Would you use artist oils for those, or just straight acrylics?

 

[TLOC]

Would you use artist oils for those, or just straight acrylics?

For me, acrylic for the wheel faces and axles.

I love oils for weathering but they are slow and not cost efficient for commission work. I will use them for my own fleet but they don’t fetch as much as they should when I eventually sell them. If you decide to use them make sure to leech out the linseed oil

 

[CambriaArea51]

General rule in weathering, no two cars weather the same and no two sides weather the same.

 

[Toolbelt]

General rule in weathering

And it looks easier than it is.......and less is more?

 

[KB02]

I have one loco that I have weathered and "Beat Up."

The rest are all as they came out of the box (except for the two I painted for my RR's personal colors. Still, though, no weathering).

I have a few intentionally weathered rolling stock, most are not. My results have been so/so so I'm not eager to push it at this point. I don't have an air brush and weathering powders are nearly impossible to find anywhere loocally and haven't really found a technique that I like the results of using what I have on hand. I need to get some dull coat if i'm going to do any more. For now, though, I'm happy to run my trains as they are. I've got a lot of layout left to build first, then I'll work on rolling stock.

 

[J.Albert]

KB02, I'm with you.

I run my engines and cars "as they come out of the box".
No "weathering" that I apply.
Other than the natural dust of the basement.

Most... not "all" but most... of the "weathering" jobs I've seen from others... well, they don't impress me. Particularly the "over-done" ones.
They look as phony to me as [those guys] would tell me my stuff does.

But if I mention the natural, real-world "weathering" that models acquire from just being out on the table for years, they'll protest, "oh, no, that doesn't resemble reality...!"
Now figure that one out.

I do have a few engines/cars bought used that HAVE some weathering applied, and I don't mind them at all.
But not going to bother with it myself...

 

[Toolbelt]

I have one loco that I have weathered and "Beat Up."

The rest are all as they came out of the box (except for the two I painted for my RR's personal colors. Still, though, no weathering).

I have a few intentionally weathered rolling stock, most are not. My results have been so/so so I'm not eager to push it at this point. I don't have an air brush and weathering powders are nearly impossible to find anywhere loocally and haven't really found a technique that I like the results of using what I have on hand. I need to get some dull coat if i'm going to do any more. For now, though, I'm happy to run my trains as they are. I've got a lot of layout left to build first, then I'll work on rolling stock.

With the price of modern dcc diesel loco's, I'm more inclined to bring them to a high end car body shop for painting. lol I think I re-entered this hobby a few years too late as loco's have increased $150 over the last 2 years. Luckily I've picked up quite a few pieces at local train shows at good prices and want to add a few weathering details at low risk.

 

[wheeler1963]

Lots of good comments in here. I'll give you my 2 cents worth.

I used to build mainly switchers, but I stepped away from the hobby for a while. When I came back, I want to try weathering some of my own equipment.

As others have said, Lots of videos to watch. Practice on junk cars. Try as many products as you can afford. I use a combination of air brush, chalk washes, oil based paints, dry brushing etc. etc.

As some fellow modelers around me saw my work, they asked me to do their cars. Light bulb moment .

I started to do commission work. It turned into a small business for us. We started doing train shows and making a name for ourselves.

5 years later, I've taken my layout down, selling off my complete collection of trains, and now concentrate on the weathering business. We have 10 shows scheduled for this year so far.

I've seen prices of some online sellers that are insane. I try to market to the average guy that wants a few nicely done cars but still not pay $200 a car.

So far in 5 years, we do not have any competition in our area. So there is room to grow for people who want to try it.

There is 3 types of weathering in my opinion. Light, Medium and Heavy. Each person has their own taste. I do all 3 types to please as many as I can.

Hope this helps.

Here are examples of Light, Medium and Heavy.

 

[AirbrushNo5]

What's the general consensus on weathering freight/locos? I enjoy weathering - a hobby within a hobby
What percentage of train hobbyists weather their new acquisitions? I don’t know…
As weathering styles can be a bit of a personal taste thing, does weathering make cars more difficult to sell or buy? Just guessing, unless it’s well done, weathered are harder to sell
Does it limit the market when selling, or become an added criteria when deciding to purchase stock? See above
How many just spray a matt clear on rolling stock and call it a day? Flat coat after the whole nine yards of dirt…
Do most remove trucks/couplers during the weathering/flat coat process? Trucks usually off… couplers never

 

[Toolbelt]

What's the general consensus on weathering freight/locos? I enjoy weathering - a hobby within a hobby
What percentage of train hobbyists weather their new acquisitions? I don’t know…
As weathering styles can be a bit of a personal taste thing, does weathering make cars more difficult to sell or buy? Just guessing, unless it’s well done, weathered are harder to sell
Does it limit the market when selling, or become an added criteria when deciding to purchase stock? See above
How many just spray a matt clear on rolling stock and call it a day? Flat coat after the whole nine yards of dirt…
Do most remove trucks/couplers during the weathering/flat coat process? Trucks usually off… couplers never


View attachment 255664

Love the weathering. A perfect example of less is more.

 

[Toolbelt]

Lots of good comments in here. I'll give you my 2 cents worth.

I used to build mainly switchers, but I stepped away from the hobby for a while. When I came back, I want to try weathering some of my own equipment.

As others have said, Lots of videos to watch. Practice on junk cars. Try as many products as you can afford. I use a combination of air brush, chalk washes, oil based paints, dry brushing etc. etc.

As some fellow modelers around me saw my work, they asked me to do their cars. Light bulb moment .

I started to do commission work. It turned into a small business for us. We started doing train shows and making a name for ourselves.

5 years later, I've taken my layout down, selling off my complete collection of trains, and now concentrate on the weathering business. We have 10 shows scheduled for this year so far.

I've seen prices of some online sellers that are insane. I try to market to the average guy that wants a few nicely done cars but still not pay $200 a car.

So far in 5 years, we do not have any competition in our area. So there is room to grow for people who want to try it.

There is 3 types of weathering in my opinion. Light, Medium and Heavy. Each person has their own taste. I do all 3 types to please as many as I can.

Hope this helps.

Here are examples of Light, Medium and Heavy.

I think my goal is light weathering, especially trucks/wheels, and maybe a few rust spots and sun fading.

 

[wheeler1963]

I think my goal is light weathering, especially trucks/wheels, and maybe a few rust spots and sun fading.

The undersides always need weathered in my opinion.

 

[CambriaArea51]

I will say that at shows where I'm selling the weathered stuff sells first before the non weathered.

I have also found myself going back on cars I weathered when I first started and adding a bit more. I've always started on the light side in the begining.
Pictures help as a guide, hard to do exact because you only see one side.
I have had many offers to either buy or ask if I do weathering when running trains at a show with the club. I had 5 offers on this engine at a show.