Need Niagara photos for weathering...now done opinions?

Dominic Mazoch posted:

That smoke box front of late NYC power has an odd look.  Not graceful.  Makes the locomotive lopk as if it is on grat pain !

I believe that design was referred to as the "Selkirk Front End", which improved drafting, cinder removal, and efficiency. 

You have made your comments about that NYC front being "ugly" or "odd", many, MANY times over the last many, MANY years. Please give it a rest!

First engine done for now. Spray flatcote, hand paint and powders. Am I missing anything? Thanks for all the help with pics.

Ray, I think you nailed the look you were after, any further & you might be sorry. Just enough to show regular use but not being totally neglected.

Just for a comparison, before & after shots might help. I know its a black engine but your lighting may even make the black look a little grey. If you have another that you're looking to weather, maybe a little more on the drivers, similar to the rest of the engine here, but slightly less overall, with just a little less above, showing slightly more black above. 

I actually love the Selkirk front end & means all business to me. I think looks awesome on the later Hudson's with the PT tenders & Scullin disk drivers. Some NYC Berkshires also sported that front.

Great job!

Joe

Joe

Thanks for the input. I only have one before pic of each. I have a hudson and mohawk to do next.

Ray

Ray, it looks really good...you did a nice job!..but...there’s no rules....nor would I judge you. Its  what you like and makes you happy...and not what anybody else thinks....if you’re happy ....that’s all that matters .....Pat

I agree with Pat. If you're satisfied, that's all that counts. Like most of us, we're looking for guidance before we jump into the deep end, especially with an engine that costs over a thousand dollars! Maybe even more than that, acceptance or a pat on the back.

As I mentioned previously, weathering is subjective & everyone has there own opinion. Not all of us  wants a weathered engine, but if your layout has distressed or weathered buildings, vehicles or scenery, than some wear & tear on the engines & rolling stock is natural. One thing about trains, no two subjects should ever look exactly the same, if that is even possible when weathering.

Nature is the best teacher & many of us are trying to duplicate that on our layouts, unless of course you favor the classic toy train approach. Because it's your layout, if you are satisfied, that's the main thing like Pat said.

When I was 16 years old I weathered some HO Bachman & Life Like inexpensive rolling stock. I studied some articles on weathering models before I got started. I used my airbrush & was very happy with the finished result. I anxiously took them to my local hobby store & the comment from the shop owner was, these look like a talcum powder factory blew up all over them! I was devastated & never forgot. Until that moment, I thought they looked great running on my railroad. So much better than the out of the box, freshly painted versions. I study photos & nature more carefully now.

Even looking at the before photos, I can see that the engine isn't a stark night black & is actually slightly grey. I'm sure you have done your fair share of reading on painting models. Although not everyone agrees, scale models, trains, cars, even every day objects should be a scaled down version of there actual color. To make the details pop, since these objects are smaller than life, shading (with darker washes) & highlighting with dry brushing, helps bring them to life besides the weathering. There are tons of books & videos on the subject & I'm merely quoting what I have read & seen.

BTW Ray, I just looked closer at your layout photos with the Niagara & I think you should be offering advice based on what I see. I'd love to see more photos of the layout!

Keep up the good work!

Joe

Very good weathering job.  In fact, I think it’s what this model really needs.  To me the Niagara’s long boiler has such a spartan look to it.  The weathering brings out what detail is there, imo. 

Ray Marion posted:

Jack

   I still would like to see if you ever recover those photos. Any reference will help. 

Ray

    

Any of them posted here on the OGR Forum if you search old postings?