Weathering Wednesday - 11/6/2024 Edition

I love weathered items! 

I tried a few years ago and weathered a boxcar with chalks.  Looked pretty good.  I then sprayed it with dullcote and the weathering all but disappeared.

When I have the time I'd like to take it up again.

I picked up a resin kit years ago at the Amherst show. A NYC gondola by Funaro & Camerlengo. They are big in HO kits. Just finished it up. Involved gluing up the body, drilling numerous holes for grab irons and modifying some Atlas trucks to go under it. The B&A also had them. I usually weather just using an airbrush. I did some experimenting to give its well worn look. The car would be 20 years old in the era I’m modeling and spent it’s life hauling metal of some sort.

@Dave_C, great job on that gondola!  I had no idea F&C made O-scale kits.  Very cool!

Side A

Side B

Good idea Randy.

I've dipped my toes in the pool. Not much to show for it so far. I scratch built this body on an All-nations track cleaner. The trucks came out good but the body could have used a little more.

The powders do tend to vanish when sprayed with clear coat.

Bob

Wonderful idea Randy!   Here's my B&O C- 16 Docksider, also known to B&O crews as a "Little Joe",  which I weathered some years ago. My intention was to show a heavily weathered locomotive which had been earning its keep for decades without ever having been steam cleaned.  The C-16s were build by Baldwin in 1912.    These photos show it in different settings.  I snapped all of these photos in natural light.

This is my first attempt at weathering. I used weathering powders, and applied them using paint brushes from the dollar store as well as cotton swabs. The tanker looked a little pink, I sprayed it with orange spray paint, I stood a few feet away and hit the tanker with a light mist. Then I finished it with rust-oluem matte clear. The Timmy graffiti i put on with a paint pen. I watch railfan videos and some of them are from the Ohio region, and a lot of hoppers have the Timmy on them. It looked easy to do so I decided to try it.

Just started this K-line E-9. Still alot to do. Windows,portholes, full length antennas, winterization hatches, pilot mods, and also going to add up the nose grab rails so the crew can get to the windshield to clean it. I tend to overdo things. I am not convinced I like the grey dusting on the lower body shell. Is this too much weathering? Thoughts please. Don't hold back.

Thank you to all who posted on this inaugural edition of "Weathering Wednesday". There is some great work by talented forum members out there. Again, Bravo to all who participated and be ready next week for round 2.

P. S - Tell your friends about this topic.

Here's some freight cars I have weathered over the past 5 years.   Most are done with acrylic washes then followed up with Pan Pastels.  It takes time to develop a technique that you like...  I started with some cheap Lionel MPCC cars that I picked up at local shows for a few bucks so I didn't initially ruin anything.   

Some of mine over the years. 

Athearn CNJ Boxcar.  Probably a little on the over weathered side, but there is an online photo of this car in the late 1970's that has this level of patina.  I just don't think it was in service then.

Lightly weathered F40PH showing the dirt kicked up off the roadbed onto the sides, a Conrail NE6 caboose that has not seen the wash rack in a while, and that same CNJ box car. 

'

Conrail GG1 4840 still in it's PRR DGLE single stripe scheme.  It would be retired in 1977 wearing this same paint.

Modified MTH NE caboose with some rust added in addition to the streaks running down the side.

From my HO days done with Floquil rattle can weathering over 25 years ago when I was still in my 20's.

Another NJT repaint and weathering project. 

Fun topic.  One day when I get back to painting, I will be doing more weathering, but probably will be a little gentler on my approach.   

Love weathering!

I like this topic. There's nothing like getting rid of the "new car shine" from locomotives or rolling stock to give us a bit of realism to our models.

Here are a couple of examples of my weathering attempts.

Lionel Wabash gondola with coal load. Dullcoted the car then use a wash of oily black then a rust wash. Used Rustoleum's stone effects paint to stimulate a load of Limestone.

MTH slag car, a natural for weathering. Flat black rattle can base, then rust effects finish.  Dullcote comes next then a wash of ordinary white flat house paint to simulate lime.

MTH ALCO RSD4/5,  used acrylic washes on it for the body and trucks, then dullcoted , followed by rust colored powder applications then a final shot of dullcote.  Since I model a steel mill layout,  I want my models to have a heavy coat of rust colored dusting on them.

With powders I've found that you have to lay it on heavier than you think is enough since the final matte finish tends to mask some of the color.

This was a brand new Swift Reefer car that I weathered using 71% alcohol and india ink.

This was some early work with chalks. I promise not to use rattle cans anymore.

I have a nice collection of weathered cars that I have purchased over the years. Would really love to figure out how to do it myself. The people that have posted so far make it look so easy.

@corsair29 posted:

Love weathering!

I have one of these (converted to ERR). My favorite Berkshire. I weather, but have yet to do this one. Maybe I'll put it higher on the to-do list. I use the dry pigment method, with a wee bit of dry brushing (got to watch that). I admire your work.

Great job guys.  Keep up the good work. 

Never found a switcher that didn't need some weathering.

Lionel FM H12-44 and ALCO S 2.  Both done the same way as the previous pictures.

The premier of my son Chris' brainchild, "Weathering Wednesday" seemed to be very well received. There was some FABULOUS work displayed last week and we are hoping to see more. So, the bell is ringing for the beginning of Round 2. Prepare your photos and narratives and come out of your corners for another exciting week of "Weathering Wednesday".

But first, the forum ground rules as so stated by my good friend Patrick Whitehead (aka trumptrain), host of the popular topic of this type, Switcher Saturday:

• Have fun and enjoy!
• Post only photos that you have taken.  
• If you post a photo taken by someone else or a copyrighted photo be sure you have express written permission from the photo's owner to post their photo.  
• Any individual who posts copy written material is subject to legal liability.  Furthermore that individual will be banned from the OGR Forum.  
• Please consult the OGR Forum TOS (Terms of Service) for further information regarding copyrights.

Chris and I will start with some photos by more of Chris' work and some work done for us by other talented artists on the OGR forum. Remember, in addition to locomotives and rolling stock, buildings are also fair game. Also, please feel free to include photos and narratives of your techniques. We are all interested in learning from our friends on the forum.

A Weaver, brass, PRR G-5, 4-6-0 expertly weathered by our friend, Harry Hieki in New Jersey. This locomotive was also converted to MTH PS-3 by Louie at the recently closed Engine House Hobbies in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

An MTH dockside tank engine and a Great Northeastern Railway caboose expertly weathered by my close friend, Patrick Whitehead, aka trumptrain on the OGR Forum. The tank car in the middle was weathered by Chris Harrison.

A close-up photo of the tank car above.

OK ladies and gentlemen. now it is your turn. Let's see what you have this week.

Continuing on from last week,  here are a couple of examples of my weathering attempts.  MTH Railking  CNW NW2 number 1017  and his trusty sidekick MTH Railking CNW/CMO SW8 #126. Both have been converted to TMCC  by the crew at CLRC and weathered by me. 

They are my go to units whenever I want to run trains.

For this fine weathering Wednesday!  

Here are photos of my K line A2 which I bought brand new in 2019.   The bottom 3 photos show the locomotive new before I weathered it.

I wanted to create a look of a locomotive that had been earning its' keep for many decades. I chose to heavily weather the locomotive to give it just that.   I first applied  Testor's Dullcote to take off the shiny sheen.  Next I applied some Floquil Grimmy Black spray paint to the wheels and running rear & a various other spots on the locomotive.  I then applied chalk pastels, rubbing the pastels on with my fingers.  Once I finished with the pastels,   I sealed the pastels with Testors Dullcote.

I took great care in weathering the tender's apron and slopping back.  I made sure to show spilled coal.

The final result showing the A5 within the context of scenery.

Tender apron.  Lots of spilled coal.

Another pic showing the locomotive and tender in context of scenery.  

Spilled coal on the sloping tender's sloping deck.

Spilled coal on the side of the coal bunker.

Brand new out of the box.

Tried to simulate a light coat of dust across the bottom of the car due to travel through the Mojave Desert on symbol freight QLA. 

This weeks project. MTH 50 ft. Automobile boxcar. I model the Rutland. You see a lot of these cars in the backgrounds of photos. Added Atlas’ trucks to get the ride height down a bit. Used Tamiya paints for the weathering.

These weathering examples are amazing! This is something I have not attempted but once on rolling stock, and it was a disaster. If you all can tell us HOW you did your weathering when you show the examples, that would be helpful. Just a quick, “used an airbrush, or used powders, used a matte coat over top” etc. Thank you

Mike

I love the effects of weathering on locomotives and cars. I detest graffiti. Fortunately, my modeled era (1964), so such was not seen.

My proto-free lance modeling theme was crafted to represent a Class 1 that had very poor family-owned management during the 1950s. (Thus, instead of continued investing in motive power, physical plant, etc, the were siphoning off funds via dividends, exorbitant salaries, and so forth.) By 1960 the cash was running out, and early in the 1960s bankruptcy was declared. The courts came in, the bad seeds rooted out, and a Receiver appointed. The road is now trying to re-organize. So it is, that my Kansas City & Gulf railroad is trying to make a successful trek back into solvency, but the road is a long and hard one, and thus far fraught with setbacks.

I wanted the bulk of my modeled KC&G engines to look like what they were: Engines that were run hard, had minimal upkeep, and essentially a "patch up and make do". Some of the engines are fairing better than others, but some are really hurting.

I base my weathering effects on photos I have of prototype engines. I also use my "Foundational Four" prototype railroads to guide my weathering decisions as well as my motive power logic, etc. Those four railroads were part of the region I model: They are, the Frisco, the Missouri Pacific, the Rock Island, and the Kansas City Southern. Simply put, if an idea I have for motive power (and etc) was NOT present on any of my Foundational Four, I reject it for use on my KC&G. By doing so, I hope to keep an degree of "plausibility" in my theme and my modeling. My friends tell me it's working for me. I hope so.

ANYWAY... over the course of this thread, I'll post a few examples of the engines on the KC&G's roster.

First up is KC&G GP7 #412. This engine is still wearing it's original (and fading/eroding) paint scheme as delivered in late 1950:

And for contrast, here is one of the fortunate GP7's that actually received a shopping after the bankruptcy. In so doing, it received a "simplified" paint scheme to help reduce costs:

Last pic for now. Here's a down-on shot from the hill overlooking the mountain town of "Ozarka". The trio of road switching engines are used out of Ozarka to cover two turns (the GP7's) and the power for the "Ozarka Switcher" at Ozarka (the RS-3). At times any of them can be called upon to help a freight up the long climb from Ozarka, around the end of Hogback Mountain, up through Possum Holler, around Hickory Knob into Buck Holler, and the final ascent of Buck Mountain to arrive at the small summit town of Piney. Piney lays in the natural gap there called Piney Gap. At Piney Gap, there is also the Piney Gap Tunnel by which the KC&G pierces the divide to eventually end up in at their subdivision point at Branson, Missouri.

Note: That last pic has temporary scenic elements in place so I could get an idea of what the final scene could look like. All the foreground photoflat free standing tree lines will be replaced by actual 3D modeled trees, and the there will be a scenic form to convey the side of hill where the road is. If you'll look closely, you'll note that almost all the trains/etc are weathered to various degrees.

All fer now!

Andre

This is an "old" Atlas (Bev-Bel) 40' boxcar that I modified by adding Kadees and wire grab irons...and weathered, of course!

This was my first and only attempt at weathering. Haven’t done any Locomotives or rolling stock.

I weather this workman shack last year with powder rust colors. The steam engines that you guys have done are fantastic a job well done!

@corsair29 posted:

Yeah, that guy. I have one of these, still bright and shiny. May be a "soon" weathering project; I weather, so it will get done, I guess. The loco has been a bit of a problem child, so I don't tend to mess with it so much.

@D500 posted:

The loco has been a bit of a problem child,

It's always run great for me. One of my favorites! Even more so after it was weathered.

Edition 2 of "Weathering Wednesday" was another great success. Again, some fine work was displayed here. I am always impressed with how much talent there is among our OGR Forum members.

Thank you all for participating and get your photos ready for next week's "Weathering Wednesday".

Welcome back another exciting week of "Weathering Wednesday" where things that have been "schmutz-up" reign supreme. I am really eager to see what you all have to show us this week.

But first, the forum ground rules as so stated by my good friend Patrick Whitehead (aka trumptrain), host of the popular topic of this type, Switcher Saturday:

• Have fun and enjoy!
• Post only photos that you have taken.  
• If you post a photo taken by someone else or a copyrighted photo be sure you have express written permission from the photo's owner to post their photo.  
• Any individual who posts copy written material is subject to legal liability.  Furthermore that individual will be banned from the OGR Forum.  
• Please consult the OGR Forum TOS (Terms of Service) for further information regarding copyrights.

Chris and I will start with some photos of more of Chris' work and some work done for us by other talented artists on the OGR forum. Remember, in addition to locomotives and rolling stock, buildings are also fair game. Also, please feel free to include photos and narratives of your techniques. We are all interested in learning from our friends on the forum.

Here is a shot taken of Mt. Carroll yard showing gondolas with Chris' custom coal loads. Also in the photo is an MTH dockside switcher weathered by my good friend Pat Whitehead (aka trumptrain).

A close-up of the Lackawanna gondola and scrap load also expertly weathered by Chris.

Here is a close-up photo of our K-Line C&O Allegheny weathered for us by Harry Hieki. Note the window awning and wind deflector also added by Harry. Though not in this photo, Harry also added cab curtains. Harry Hieki's artistry is second to none!!

This is a full shot of the C&O on my work bench. Though not readily visible, Harry also included an enhanced coal load.

Here are two better photos of the coal load.

Also, here are the cab curtains

The Texas Zephyr had 86 ft. RPO's in the consist.  Although the entire train usually gleamed after a good washing, the RPO's were often set out at the station mail track and missed the wash rack. Part of the weathering for Silver Messenger includes an area where catching the mail bags has beat the devil out of the door frame.

Here's a Santa Fe boxcar I weathered with pastel chalks, and Floquil Grime Black spray paint.  Shown here the car has collided ( and is on the ground ) with a switch locomotive at a junction point.   This is a Weaver boxcar.  

So here's some more for this Wednesday,

Chris, your weathering is just outstanding! I hope to get there one day 🙏

@mike g.  Mike - thanks for the kind words.....   Experimenting with weathering is a great activity when you're between layouts !