Weathering Rolling Stock, a Continous thread

[TLOC]

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?

The brick laying guy was met face to face on the job site the other day and needless to say he couldn’t have been nicer when he figured out I am also his weathering guy. I think he now understands I’m not doing the weathering for the money but for my enjoyment.

I have played with a few N Scale cars and it’s an adjustment. The techniques are the same as for The Horribly Oversized scale. The fades and the washes are same. Rusting effects need to be adjusted to really small. Send me a car, I do the first one for free, you pay the postage.

 

[Jaz avalley]

The brick laying guy was met face to face on the job site the other day and needless to say he couldn’t have been nicer when he figured out I am also his weathering guy. I think he now understands I’m not doing the weathering for the money but for my enjoyment.

I have played with a few N Scale cars and it’s an adjustment. The techniques are the same as for The Horribly Oversized scale. The fades and the washes are same. Rusting effects need to be adjusted to really small. Send me a car, I do the first one for free, you pay the postage.

That is a more than fair offer.

 

[troyphoto]

Thanks for the offer on the car. I may take you up on it once I get more rolling stock to worry about.

I've got this thread bookmarked for when I get to the point where I want to try my hand at it. I'm not unfamiliar with the techniques. but I've been more geared to the gaming table. Rough handling is expected there. And in a larger scale.

Doing Desert theme is mostly dust. Which here was a very light drybrush of sand-colored paint. Some gamers (like those depicting the mud of the Russian front) really cake on the "mud". I've had to go for a lighter touch, and very little of it.

This little fellow is 1:56 scale. And it's been about a decade since I was trying to weather game minis at 1:100 scale. I'm just now starting to wrap my head around 1:160 scale trains. And that I can be more delicate in the process since they won't be getting carted all over the state for tourneys.

I'm looking forward to trying my hand at the N-scale cars and learning a new field. I'm tempted to pay you for a car up front that I can use as my spirit guide example going forward. But that will be a while. I need to get track laid first.

 

[TLOC]

Thanks for the offer on the car. I may take you up on it once I get more rolling stock to worry about.

I've got this thread bookmarked for when I get to the point where I want to try my hand at it. I'm not unfamiliar with the techniques. but I've been more geared to the gaming table. Rough handling is expected there. And in a larger scale.

Doing Desert theme is mostly dust. Which here was a very light drybrush of sand-colored paint. Some gamers (like those depicting the mud of the Russian front) really cake on the "mud". I've had to go for a lighter touch, and very little of it.

View attachment 168461

This little fellow is 1:56 scale. And it's been about a decade since I was trying to weather game minis at 1:100 scale. I'm just now starting to wrap my head around 1:160 scale trains. And that I can be more delicate in the process since they won't be getting carted all over the state for tourneys.

I'm looking forward to trying my hand at the N-scale cars and learning a new field. I'm tempted to pay you for a car up front that I can use as my spirit guide example going forward. But that will be a while. I need to get track laid first.

I know you paint the figures so you shouldn’t have any issues with N Scale. The weathering would be the same type of washes you use, just nothing full strength IMO.

I have watched and hopefully learned a few things from the military modelers that provide You Tube content. I particularly like

Panzermeister36

he is maybe in his mid20’s now but over the years has definitely matured into an excellent content provider with excellent skills and has good video production skills. As a bonus he a couple times a year does Railroad stuff in HO.

I can tell you, WEATHERING IS ADDICTIVE but fun

thanks for tuning in

 

[TLOC]

That is a more than fair offer.

It’s a way to introduce people to a part of the hobby I have really come to embrace.

I had a mentor when I got out of college (1974) that introduced me to painting steam brass locomotives. My own, he was getting $50 each and I couldn’t afford that. So instead he showed me how to paint and weather them and refused payment for supplies. Twice a week after work I would stop by his studio and we will work on them for an hour. When we finished the first one he said next we weather them, I said why it’s new. He said to imitate real life or something to that effect. Over the years then till the early 90’s I painted brass until the business disappeared, always with a touch of grime. Then I stopped painting and weathering until roughly 2018. Then it was a new process of learning with Arcylics. I got strong into weathering just weeks before Covid.

Not much of how I do my weathering do folks always agree with and that’s fine. I tried to stick to the tried and true methods and still occasionally do. But as with anything I believe if a person does something regularly you find YOUR OWN way and I have. With the help of some very good You Tube content providers I experimented to find my way of doing. Not original but it works.

I am a disciple of Boomer Diorama, his weathering tutorials are straight forward no BS but he is a talker. JC’s RipTrack is excellent but he is not putting out new content. His beginner series I think is a must see, IMO. Panzermeister36 is a military model who occasionally does trains, but military modelers for the most part are very good. Another young modeler, just turned 28 is DansRailroad2011 on YouTube. Does fantastic weathering (heavy) and graffiti using the craft paints from HobbyLobby and Walmart.

I know a longer response then you were expecting but I enjoy this

 

[TLOC]

I finished this up just before midnight 5/15/2023. It maybe heavier then some would like but I model 2015 and the build date on the car is 1994

 

[troyphoto]

Have you checked out this fella?
(they make it like that... Tim)

Found him when I was searching for Canadian railroad layouts. Sounds like he does a bit of weathering in both N and HO. Wondering where he falls on the Tom Technique scale??

Edit: I suspect this dude is in the basic category after watching a few various vids.

 

[TLOC]

Have you checked out this fella?
(they make it like that... Tim)

Found him when I was searching for Canadian railroad layouts. Sounds like he does a bit of weathering in both N and HO. Wondering where he falls on the Tom Technique scale??

Edit: I suspect this dude is in the basic category after watching a few various vids.

I watch his videos and Tim is very good. But he’s not really posting much lately which is why I didn’t include him on my list. He has started posting many shorts and they are too quick to be informative IMO

yes his own stuff is N

 

[PNKFLOYD]

Whew! I have finally read through all 64 pages of this thread.
By osmosis, I have learned much, but at my age, many of my memory sectors become corrupted.
I have 8 pages of items and comments noted in one document.

TomO- thank you so much for starting this thread and sucking so many other talented people in to share their experiences.
Kudos to all who contributed their comments, pictures and opinions.

I have been watching this forum since 2005 and this is probably the most informative thread I have seen. ( The ANPL Cafe doesn't count since it is not limited to one general subject. Some politics and religion drift by occasionally but are closely monitored.) I just wish I had paid closer attention to this thread about 24 months ago.

 

[TLOC]

Whew! I have finally read through all 64 pages of this thread.
By osmosis, I have learned much, but at my age, many of my memory sectors become corrupted.
I have 8 pages of items and comments noted in one document.

TomO- thank you so much for starting this thread and sucking so many other talented people in to share their experiences.
Kudos to all who contributed their comments, pictures and opinions.

I have been watching this forum since 2005 and this is probably the most informative thread I have seen. ( The ANPL Cafe doesn't count since it is not limited to one general subject. Some politics and religion drift by occasionally but are closely monitored.) I just wish I had paid closer attention to this thread about 24 months ago.

Ah, you are welcome Mikey. It’s been a fun ride and it will continue to be. I think if nothing else this thread reinforces, practice, practice and more practice. We are all learning and as you found reading many of things I did in the beginning I have adjusted. Just ask away and because its late Spring in the Northern Hemisphere you may not get as many response as if it were Winter time, they will be helpful and positive.

No matter what. YOUR eye knows what it likes and weathering has no boundaries.

 

[troyphoto]

I get an Amazon gift card each month of varying amounts (my associate's income from people clicking links on my website to get to Amazon). And I try to spend it on hobby. Just ordered this:

I suspect it will have solid info. But are there any areas covered here that are better to start with? Does it parallel the techniques in this thread fairly well?

 

[PNKFLOYD]

No matter what. YOUR eye knows what it likes and weathering has no boundaries.

TomO- I am not a complete newby. I have muddled along for years using a brush on acrylic washes and the vintage alcohol and ink weathering.
I hope to add some air brushing fades and grime around the edges of cars. I have been using 5/0 and 10/0 brushes for detail where you are using micro brushes to get small detail rust streaking. Yes, my weathering tastes differ a little from yours, but it does not lessen my appreciation for the work of others.
I hope to be able to get a work area organized enough to slap some paint on a practice box car soon.

 

[TLOC]

I get an Amazon gift card each month of varying amounts (my associate's income from people clicking links on my website to get to Amazon). And I try to spend it on hobby. Just ordered this:

View attachment 168613

I suspect it will have solid info. But are there any areas covered here that are better to start with? Does it parallel the techniques in this thread fairly well?

Troy, I’m not sure. I know I have a few books from Kalmbach on painting that mention weathering. Not sure if it’s this book or one of Jeff Wilson’s other books he did after he left Kalmbach. He was rather a prolific writer on many modeling subjects. I will look through the library today in the train room. But, it should contain the basics but depending on the publishing date he may not delve to much into Arcylic paints.

I strongly (as a cult follower) suggest looking at You Tube content provider Boomer Diorama. Look under his playlist and then custom painting.

Another is JC Rip track, his how to start is absolutely excellent

enjoy

 

[RIGuyUK]

I strongly (as a cult follower) suggest looking at You Tube content provider Boomer Diorama. Look under his playlist and then custom painting.


Another is JC Rip track, his how to start is absolutely excellent

100% agree on Boomer's content, I've learned a ton since I discovered his channel last year. He's a very talented guy.

JC RIp Track is a new one to me, I'll start watching tonight, thank you

 

[TLOC]

TomO- I am not a complete newby. I have muddled along for years using a brush on acrylic washes and the vintage alcohol and ink weathering.
I hope to add some air brushing fades and grime around the edges of cars. I have been using 5/0 and 10/0 brushes for detail where you are using micro brushes to get small detail rust streaking. Yes, my weathering tastes differ a little from yours, but it does not lessen my appreciation for the work of others.
I hope to be able to get a work area organized enough to slap some paint on a practice box car soon.

Oops, I hope you didn’t think I believed you were new to this, I know you’re not. Sorry who you thought that.
Tom

 

[PNKFLOYD]

Oops, I hope you didn’t think I believed you were new to this, I know you’re not. Sorry who you thought that.
Tom

Tom - Sorry if I made you think I was upset!
Guess what I was trying to say was that y'all are teaching this old dog some new tricks.
Arf! Arf! Growl! lol

 

[TLOC]

Mistakes happen

and better yet, I know how to fix it. Wait, I just made it worst…

when I applied the decal over the weathered car side I was very happy with how it came out. Taking pictures was going well tonight and I decided to zoom in on the decal and noticed the cotton fibers clinging to the side of the car.

when I rolled the decal with a q-tip/cotton bud the rolling squeezes out the wetness from the decal. Seems I left some fibers behind. Rubbing them out didn’t work because the car has been sealed with a clear dull coat finish. An eraser was no match for the sealed and dried clear coat. I touched it with 99% Isopropyl Alcohol that looking back was more than a touch. Basically I stripped 3 panels. Let’s just say the plan was all along that I keeping this car for myself for the layout.

I left the train room about 90 minutes before the plan was thinking. Frustrated and not a happy camper but I can always strip it and start the panels again. The decal was getting abused by the 99% Isopropyl Alcohol. It was time to walk away.

 

[TLOC]

Tom - Sorry if I made you think I was upset!
Guess what I was trying to say was that y'all are teaching this old dog some new tricks.
Arf! Arf! Growl! lol

Got it, all is good!

 

[troyphoto]

Mistakes happen

View attachment 168659and better yet, I know how to fix it. Wait, I just made it worst…

when I applied the decal over the weathered car side I was very happy with how it came out. Taking pictures was going well tonight and I decided to zoom in on the decal and noticed the cotton fibers clinging to the side of the car.

when I rolled the decal with a q-tip/cotton bud the rolling squeezes out the wetness from the decal. Seems I left some fibers behind. Rubbing them out didn’t work because the car has been sealed with a clear dull coat finish. An eraser was no match for the sealed and dried clear coat. I touched it with 99% Isopropyl Alcohol that looking back was more than a touch. Basically I stripped 3 panels. Let’s just say the plan was all along that I keeping this car for myself for the layout.

I left the train room about 90 minutes before the plan was thinking. Frustrated and not a happy camper but I can always strip it and start the panels again. The decal was getting abused by the 99% Isopropyl Alcohol. It was time to walk away.

If that were a mistake on terrain, I'd just say to put a bush on it, to camouflage the mistake, and call it done.

 

[TLOC]

If that were a mistake on terrain, I'd just say to put a bush on it, to camouflage the mistake, and call it done.

I would loved to have figured a way to say it was done to replicate something, but my mind just is not that imaginative.

The cotton fibers are gone and I will revisit this car upon returning from vacation travels around the 16th. I really liked where this car was before I found the fibers.