Weathering Rolling Stock, a Continous thread

[TLOC]

Well I hope his attitude changes, if he had concerns regarding how you weathered the stuff then voice them without ruffling feathers, there's no need for it. As you said, for you this is enjoyment, not supposed to be work.

According to his wife he has been having employee issues at work and took it out on me instead of her. I told her maybe he needs time away. Says he can’t do that he is the owner. Lost 3 employees who just walked off a job site this week without even telling him.

Told her sorry to hear that but…

Truly I am done with him though. I will have by Monday another 50 well cars done for him. All containers are being returned as are the spline cars that have had some work done. He had already pushed me as I quoted a total of 50 spline and well cars total. He kept sending more until last week I said finally said stop.

His wife just doesn’t understand how I can walk away from the money. I tried to explain its a hobby but she didn’t get it so I gave up. Now if he showed up and personally apologized and I felt it is sincere I may finish this project. But everything is packed up that I am not working on. The daughter was coming anyway for a few things I finished and he paid for after I billed him on Wednesday.

While he is not my first troublesome client, he has become the 1st one I put my foot down over.

 

[migalyto]

According to his wife he has been having employee issues at work and took it out on me instead of her. I told her maybe he needs time away. Says he can’t do that he is the owner. Lost 3 employees who just walked off a job site this week without even telling him.

If he treated them the same way he, did you, then it's probably not hard to see why they left.

 

[TLOC]

If he treated them the same way he, did you, then it's probably not hard to see why they left.

That’s what my wife said. Yesterday!

She stopped after her riding this morning at the new place. Talked to our contractor who told her he was getting behind and the brickwork will really be behind.

Guess who’s residential brickwork job my weathering client‘s workers walked off of? Yep, ours. Terry who said she tried not to laugh asked for an introduction to the owner of the brick laying company. Said he was super nice. She did not say anything about the trains.

 

[CambriaArea51]

Well I did not get the reaction from the client I was hoping for or expecting.

I have done weathering for folks but they let me do how I want. They like my cars and ask if I could do some of theirs. I ask them if they want the same, lighter, or darker than mine. Some mostly want the dull coat with a light grime on the bottom. Just enough to take away the plastic look.
I couldn't do what you do Tom, getting approval for your work, then they get picky.

 

[Smudge617]

I think you have enormous patience to deal with such people, I know I couldn't do it, I'd have lost my rag with the guy big time long ago. To me you have to let the artist work, odd suggestions and encouragement always work best, you are your own best/worst critic of your work, if it doesn't look right it literally goes back to the start

I (hopefully) let you weather my cars as you saw fit, with only very general idea's and little oversight from me, simply because after seeing your (and Tom (2)) work it was obvious you knew what you were doing and I trusted your judgement, this guy unfortunately (and this is my personnel opinion) obviously did not, and tried to micro manage the project.

 

[TLOC]

I have done weathering for folks but they let me do how I want. They like my cars and ask if I could do some of theirs. I ask them if they want the same, lighter, or darker than mine. Some mostly want the dull coat with a light grime on the bottom. Just enough to take away the plastic look.
I couldn't do what you do Tom, getting approval for your work, then they get picky.

I sell a lot of weathering my way. About 30% is stuff I do on my own and then put it on Facebook to sell. Weathered the way I want it and that is usually the way I get introduced to my clients. They become repeaters. I have had less then a handful of clients who have not purchased again.

The other 70% is of course, items to be weathered received from a client. I ask for pictures but only about 1/2 will send them. I won’t do rust buckets without a picture. The others say do it light, medium or heavy your way.

Everyone is told the picture request is for inspiration.

This is really the 1st guy I have even thought about putting my foot down, and I did.

Structures though are strictly per client requests. I need a sketch and dimensions. Then I need to know what they want on the face of the building. When I have that, I will draw up the building and show what I will be using for roof vents, pipes, cooling units. Some parts are scratched or like for gas meters, electrical panels and a/c units from various vendors. I do charge a per hour fee for that.

I enjoy it

 

[TLOC]

I think you have enormous patience to deal with such people, I know I couldn't do it, I'd have lost my rag with the guy big time long ago. To me you have to let the artist work, odd suggestions and encouragement always work best, you are your own best/worst critic of your work, if it doesn't look right it literally goes back to the start

I (hopefully) let you weather my cars as you saw fit, with only very general idea's and little oversight from me, simply because after seeing your (and Tom (2)) work it was obvious you knew what you were doing and I trusted your judgement, this guy unfortunately (and this is my personnel opinion) obviously did not, and tried to micro manage the project.

This is the second project in the last month that was micro managed. The other one was a locomotive project that he kept changing his mind on things. He ended up giving me a tip for putting up with him and the changes. I have 3 locomotives to do for him when I get back from Vegas. He wants medium and it’s my way without him seeing them till finished.

Really other than these 2 guys I have had literally no issues with weathering clients or even the few layout builds I have done. Changes are normal but being picky idiots is not. With layouts I always expect issues but thankfully have had none.

I have built many slot tracks in this area. One guy tried to tell me what to do while I was building a track for his neighbor and they were acting as helpers. I can build a train layout mostly by myself but I did really need lots of help with the slot tracks. I refused his request to build him and his kids a slot track while telling him why. He was ok with that. The track he ended up building was let’s say interesting. I no longer do slot tracks, only because they really make building a train layout feel like a very easy thing.

As to patience, I do have a short fuse but do not take it out on others. I spent my last 21+ years working in consumer collections starting with learning how to collect. No matter what, we could not lose our cool. Thankfully, I only spent 18 months learning that side of the business. The last 20 years was spent in sales and client services, again places you could not lose your cool. I did have to terminate or move staff around because losing your cool in that business is easy to do…

 

[TLOC]

ATTENTION SMUDGE617

Chris this was on Facebook today at Freight Car Photos

Dated 1997 in St. Paul, Minnesota on a BNSF train

 

[Smudge617]

ATTENTION SMUDGE617

Chris this was on Facebook today at Freight Car Photos

Dated 1997 in St. Paul, Minnesota on a BNSF train
View attachment 167155

Copied and saved, thanks Tom,

 

[TLOC]

Containers are part of the rolling stock and I have been weathering plenty of them. The one thing they are not is rust buckets. But many of them have lots of rust streaking. The Fedex containers are fairly clean, faded with just touches of rust spots. There will be many more FedEx containers showing up here but for now these 12 containers of various shippers are what I can show. This finishes a double stack train of 4 cars, 3 articulate and 1 well car.

 

[TLOC]

Good good. Got home to the bench yesterday afternoon.

It’s been a couple months since I started working on a Centerbeam. I spent some time yesterday touching it up and spraying the final clear coat.

At this time the intent is to keep this one.

While out playing golf in the Neveda desert this arrived. A 5 pack of ARMN Reefer cars by Athearn. Looked better online for sale than they do in person. But, I have actually had requests for the older version of these cars and Athearn came close and if this is what the people want…

These will definitely be weathered and yes with graffiti and tags. $75 plus $20 for shipping the 5 cars made this a deal that couldn’t be passed by
The picture below is of one of the car numbers in the 5 pack. Dates taken on the picture show the car in 2012

I think this will be a fun one spread out over the Summer

 

[TLOC]

I posted this question in the diner.

What is the difference between a molten sulfur tank car and a corn syrup/sweetener tank car?

I know the models available or rather previously made have a difference in the number of gallons carried but mechanically does anyone know or can lead me to the information.

thanks

 

[migalyto]

I posted this question in the diner.

What is the difference between a molten sulfur tank car and a corn syrup/sweetener tank car?

I know the models available or rather previously made have a difference in the number of gallons carried but mechanically does anyone know or can lead me to the information.

thanks

Tom,

Are you a member of MFCL (modern freight car list)?

Great place for information, or to ask a question. My guess is someone there will know or know where to go for the info.

MFCL groups.io Group

A discussion forum dedicated to the prototype and modeling of North American railroad freight cars and cabooses operating from 1960 to the present day. Topics may also include trucks, couplers, cushioning devices, brake gear and other appliances applied to railroad freight cars and cabooses...

groups.io

 

[TLOC]

Tom,

Are you a member of MFCL (modern freight car list)?

Great place for information, or to ask a question. My guess is someone there will know or know where to go for the info.

MFCL groups.io Group

A discussion forum dedicated to the prototype and modeling of North American railroad freight cars and cabooses operating from 1960 to the present day. Topics may also include trucks, couplers, cushioning devices, brake gear and other appliances applied to railroad freight cars and cabooses...

groups.io

Thanks I will look into it

 

[TLOC]

The last of the containers are being shipped today, this is 3 of 30

This is going today but west to California

These 4 are waiting for payment and will ship Thursday

These 2 pictures are part of a series of pictures that will be used as inspiration for a 3 tank car project. Waiting for the decals. They haul from the paper mill a by-product made from the recycled slurry mix. I think…

I am finishing up some more projects

 

[CambriaArea51]

I posted this question in the diner.

What is the difference between a molten sulfur tank car and a corn syrup/sweetener tank car?

I know the models available or rather previously made have a difference in the number of gallons carried but mechanically does anyone know or can lead me to the information.

thanks

Molten sulfur is temperature regulated, tank cars are lined with an insulation. https://www.gatx.eu/news/finding-op... typically filled with,120°C during transport.
Corn syrup cars are made different with heating coils. https://www.gatx.com/products/small-capacity-general-service-tank-cars/

 

[TLOC]

When it rains it pours. I will soon have Walthers Proto molten sulfur cars coming out my ears. I am ok with that! Went from begging for cars at decent prices, less then $40 each, to 8 coming and a decision needed on another 6. I think I will take them.

Thanks for the info on the differences between the corn syrup and sulfur tank cars and the leads to more in-depth material. The MFCL group I did join and recall that I was a member a few years ago. 2 of the sulfur cars are coming from another modeler who also resides there.

While looking today for some Scaletrain tank cars for an 24 car Ethanol train, I noticed the cars at the brick and mortar USA shops were only the white bodied cars with black center panels. No solid black tank cars in USA shops. But found them in a Canadian shop.

Part of my model railroading fun is research and finding what I want. Sometimes it gets frustrating (ie Sulfur Cars) but mostly it’s enjoyable

 

[TLOC]

We’ll hi there to anyone venturing this far.

Been a busy few days for me. A few projects in the works, many items shipped and many more to go. I am having a good time.

I now have 2 black and 3 yellow molten sulfur cars

some pictures from Saturday and today. Decals only, weathering tomorrow. Plus 2 of the 5 sulfur cars already here

 

[Jaz avalley]

Well I did not get the reaction from the client I was hoping for or expecting. Glad these are mine and not his.

I also had to have a discussion on the phone to let the SOB know if he has issues with my experiments on my stuff he can say yes or no to the direction I’m taking in the future and that’s it. That is if we do business in the future. His wife called back after I told him his containers will be ready for his daughter to pick up after school on Friday, no charge as I haven’t done anything to them. She apologized for him. Told her the containers I have can be picked up and the balance of the 50 well cars I have not started other than clear coating will be ready also at no charge. The 50 well cars I had started I will finish this weekend and will be ready on Monday after payment is received. She laughed, said, “ he said you were pissed”. Yes, I am. I have bent over backward for this guy and he has pushed the envelope. This is a hobby and fun for me and as I told his wife last night I certainly don’t need the money. She asked what I meant by that. Told her I promised my wife and myself if this became a job I would quit. Her hubby has created a job I don’t need.

View attachment 166956View attachment 166957

Anyway, I like the green containers but I will tone down the grime on the future Swift containers. The one shown I will clear coat after working the front and back panels this morning. Every photo but one I found of the Swift containers are much cleaner on the side panels and dirtier on the front and rear door panels.
View attachment 166958

Just because you are doing a job for someone does not mean you deserve sh x t from them, the fact that this is a human interaction means there will be a definite element of diversion
1. One says sonething, the other person interprets it
2. Colours are subjective especially when photographed on a mobile phone transferred to a forum then uploaded colours will NEVER. Be exact, and do not get me going under the light conditions
3. Unless they provide colours and any textured goods they have to understand it is what you buy at a good price or what is available and if a job overruns the available kit colour matching can be a total b eeeech the more you do the worse the risk of not matching]
4. Plus line up a load of real wagons weathered then nit pick them!
5. I could never do it as a commission, I once did an art job for a customer and my husband was like you are never ever going to make a profit and they are changing the goal post…they were lucky he did not tell them where to go. work on a commission not this side of hell. the customer is not always right. especially when they give out a guideline with interpretation then do not like it.
6. I might make something then post it for sale but frankly I love my work and selling it for cash….fight me for it, I have had plenty of offers for my work and been badgered to do a commission,
7. you need to cope with someone who cannot do the job them selves but thinks they know how you should do it….l.shudders.
8. Nope watching other do their thing, doing it for myself, and on the odd occasion I have made something I gifted, but doing a commission….no never I commend your
patience, attention to making each a decent set, dealing with the posting in and out and ensuring no damage, trusting them to pay, eye for colour, and the fact that you have in my opinion upped the value of the item, and given of your skills for what usually turns out to be a pathetic hourly rate, because you love it.
But me I do mine for me, and if I am unhappy I rework it or trash it, and trying to please some dithering undecided want to change the original agreement - even if you already bought specific kit to do the agreed order they now want to change costing you time money and patience…..do I look THAT stupid! (your not stupid your talented and people are really really lucky you take commissions)
I come here admire your work pick up any tweaks that I can steal um copy …..and am grateful you also give a glimpse into your art, because many will NOT.

 

[troyphoto]

Is your brick-laying guy (in more ways than one) still in your hair?

And do you ever do N-scale cars... If so, how do your techniques alter for the smaller scale?