Weathering Wednesday - 3/26/2025 Edition

I relettered these pieces for The Farmingdale Traction Company. I choose them because the match the base paint of the Steeple Cab and trolley. I also did some light weathering.

to all of my Weathering Wednesday fans and all other forum members!!!

December is upon us. Christmas looms ahead in 21 days. Santa is working on finalizing his Naughty and Nice Lists. So, to not wind up a member of the Naughty List, have your layouts ready and your engines, rolling stock, buildings, scenery weathered and prepared for realistic presentation to your family members, friends and the big man, himself when he slides down your chimney on Christmas Eve. Therefore, head to your workrooms and GET WEATHERING!!! Also, remember another way to wind up on Santa’s Naughty List is by not posting your results and your techniques to achieve your artistry here on Weathering Wednesday’s 12-4-2024 Edition. I and the rest of this topic’s followers are eagerly looking forward to seeing your artistry and learn from your techniques.

But first, here are the forum ground rules:

• 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 expressed written permission from the photo's owner to post their photo.  
• Any individual who posts copyrighted 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.

There is, again, nothing new here from the Great Northeastern Railway’s weathering shop. So, today I will begin the festivities with a blast from the past, a Great Northeastern Railway (GNR) caboose painted and decaled by me and weathered by my good friend, Pat Whitehead (aka trumpettrain):

Two photos before the addition of the ladders and marker lanterns.

Weathered and sitting on a Free State Junction Railroad siding awaiting delivery to the Great Northeastern Railway (GNR).

Minus one of the ladders that came off during delivery, here is GNR #201 In the GNR's inspection shop prior to assignment for duty in the GNR's rolling stock fleet.

Two final photos of #201in the GNR's Mt. Carroll Yard awaiting connection to the next outbound train.

Now it is your turn to show us your weathering artistry as well as how you achieved yours results and then go to York, have a GREAT time and come home with exciting new things for your layout.

Here is an Atlas Missouri Pacific It's naturally weathered or just filthy dirty which is how I bought it. I've never gotton around to adding a little rust, the trucks could use some.

This old gem is showing some signs of weather...still runs good and perfect for hauling an Airstream and an Xmas tree!

I am sorry that I am so late in starting this week’s edition. When I get this this posted, I will hit the floor and give you 20! The only thing that I ask is for someone to call 911 to pick my fat, superannuated butt off of the floor. I am sure that I am on Santa’s naughty list for this week’s infraction. But still, the best way for the rest of you to remain on Santa’s nice list is to have your layouts ready and your engines, rolling stock, buildings, scenery weathered and prepared for realistic presentation to your family members, friends and the big man, himself when he slides down your chimney on Christmas Eve. Therefore, head to your workrooms and GET WEATHERING!!!

Also, remember another way to wind up on Santa’s Naughty List is by not posting your results and your techniques to achieve your artistry here on Weathering Wednesday’s 12-11-2024 Edition. I and the rest of this topic’s followers are eagerly looking forward to seeing your artistry and learn from your techniques.

But first, here are the forum ground rules:

• 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 expressed written permission from the photo's owner to post their photo.  
• Any individual who posts copyrighted 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.

Ms. Zora Maya Keith again takes the spotlight this week for her work weathering the floor in the interior of the second floor of our “J” Tower model. She also did some of her magnificent painting of an O scale pot-belly stove with incredible detail work and a weathered finish. In addition to all of the aforementioned, the “Z” lady made the railings for the stairs outside of “J” Tower. The photos are below.

Now it is your turn to show us your weathering artistry as well as how you achieved yours results and then go to York, have a GREAT time and come home with exciting new things for your layout.

A bright blue MTH Wabash flat car I weathered.

@Randy Harrison posted:

I am sorry that I am so late in starting this week’s edition. When I get this this posted, I will hit the floor and give you 20! The only thing that I ask is for someone to call 911 to pick my fat, superannuated butt off of the floor. I am sure that I am on Santa’s naughty list for this week’s infraction. But still, the best way for the rest of you to remain on Santa’s nice list is to have your layouts ready and your engines, rolling stock, buildings, scenery weathered and prepared for realistic presentation to your family members, friends and the big man, himself when he slides down your chimney on Christmas Eve. Therefore, head to your workrooms and GET WEATHERING!!!

Also, remember another way to wind up on Santa’s Naughty List is by not posting your results and your techniques to achieve your artistry here on Weathering Wednesday’s 12-11-2024 Edition. I and the rest of this topic’s followers are eagerly looking forward to seeing your artistry and learn from your techniques.

But first, here are the forum ground rules:

• 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 expressed written permission from the photo's owner to post their photo.  
• Any individual who posts copyrighted 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.

Ms. Zora Maya Keith again takes the spotlight this week for her work weathering the floor in the interior of the second floor of our “J” Tower model. She also did some of her magnificent painting of an O scale pot-belly stove with incredible detail work and a weathered finish. In addition to all of the aforementioned, the “Z” lady made the railings for the stairs outside of “J” Tower. The photos are below.

Now it is your turn to show us your weathering artistry as well as how you achieved yours results and then go to York, have a GREAT time and come home with exciting new things for your layout.

I was beginning to wonder Randy. I’m glad to see your smiling face. Ms Zora did an incredible job. My weathering is stalled due to all the jobs need a spray; either base or final. I have to wait for warm weather.

Due to Christmas as well as the first day of Hanukkah both falling on next Wednesday, December 25, 2024, Weathering Wednesday, 12/18/2024 Edition is the LAST one for this year. But Weathering Wednesday WILL return on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Since those of you who celebrate Christmas will hopefully have time between Christmas and the New Year to weather more of your engines, rolling stock, buildings, scenery, we need you to make the first Weathering Wednesday of 2025 a resounding success. Those of the Jewish faith will be immersed in celebrating the 8 days of Hanukkah during that week. We all look forward to seeing your work included in Weathering Wednesday, 1/8/2025 Edition.

So, let us wind up the WW year in grand style here on Weathering Wednesday’s 12-18-2024 Edition. I and the rest of this topic’s followers are eagerly looking forward to seeing your artistry and learn from your techniques.

But first, here are the forum ground rules:

• 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 expressed written permission from the photo's owner to post their photo.  
• Any individual who posts copyrighted 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 Harrison has struck again with yet another GREAT, Lehigh Valley coal hopper to add to our fleet. Before and after photos are below.

Before

After

Assigned to Mt. Carroll Yard

I close by wishing all who worship in the Christian religion a

to our Jewish friends a

and, to all a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2025!!!!

Now it is your turn to show us your weathering artistry as well as how you achieved yours results.

Here is a 57 Chevy I weathered to look more at home on my 1971 era layout.

@Dave Ripp. posted:

Here is a 57 Chevy I weathered to look more at home on my 1971 era layout.

@Dave Ripp.

Dave:

Thanks for the above post. Automobiles and trucks are also in the purview of Weathering Wednesday (WW).

Thank you for your past and ongoing support of WW. Happy holidays to you and yours!

Today, we forgo our regular Weathering Wednesday festivities. But you all still have assignments for today.

Everyone relax, enjoy your family and loved ones and have a...

We will reconvene on January 1, 2025, to enjoy more of your great weathering projects!

Wishing You a Blessed Christmas

Happy Holidays

…to you and your families!!! Welcome to the year’s first, Weathering Wednesday (WW), 1/1/2025 Edition. I hope that your holidays were the best ever and that the new year will bring all of you health and happiness.

So, let us kick off the WW year in grand style with more of your weathered engines, rolling stock, scenery and structures. I and the rest of this topic’s followers are eagerly looking forward to seeing your artistry and learning from your techniques.

But first, here are the forum ground rules:

• 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 expressed written permission from the photo's owner to post their photo.  
• Any individual who posts copyrighted 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 Harrison, the Great Northeastern Railway’s CPSO (Chief Painting and Schmutzing Officer) again takes the spotlight with his masterful painting and weathering of coal hopper 275, a 3-bay coal hopper that is leased to the Free State Junction Railway (FSJRR) in Patsburg. As of this writing, GNR hopper #275 has been delivered to the FSJRR, its new home. Photos are below.

Now it is your turn to show us your weathering artistry as well as how you achieved yours results.

Here is a lightly weathered 1957 Ford Fairlane.

@Dave Ripp. posted:

Here is a lightly weathered 1957 Ford Fairlane.

Dave, the light weathering is just right, very realistic. The roof came out perfect. Excellent job.

Gene

I'm happy to report the Free State Junction Railway has just pulled Great North Eastern Railway's hopper car 275 off the interchange track.  Number 275 is now on FSJR rails.  Car inspector Sooty Snyder has given the newly leased car his extensive eagle eye mechanical inspection before approval for movement over FSJR rails.  O'l Sooty is particularly impressed that the car has been left in the elements for what he calculates as decades without a wash job!

Due to the increased demand for coal from the nearby Black Dimond Mines, the Free State Junction Railway is expanding its' open top hopper fleet by leasing cars from other railroads.  

Free State Junction Railway CEO Patrick Whitehead is most appreciative of the Great North Eastern Railway's executive staff Randy & Chris Harrison for the lease!   Thanks guys, the car looks great!!!!  Happy new year too!!!

@Dave Ripp.: That 1957 Ford Is weathered beautifully. Though I was never a real car fanatic, the 1957 Ford was always my favorite among cars of that vintage.

@trumpettrain: Thank you for posting the arrival of our hopper in Patsburg. All of us here at the Great Northeastern Railway wish you and your employees a Happy New Year and happy, prosperous railroading for many years to come!

Happy New Year!🚂

@JDtrain

Welcome to Weathering Wednesday. That is wonderful weathering work!!! I would love to see a photo of the whole locomotive. Also, the detailing on that model is superb!!!!

@Randy Harrison posted:

@JDtrain

Welcome to Weathering Wednesday. That is wonderful weathering work!!! I would love to see a photo of the whole locomotive. Also, the detailing on that model is superb!!!!

Thank you Randy ,

it’s a Mike train House Proto sound too from around 2000. Still running strong. Here is a pic of the whole locomotive  

Welcome to Weathering Wednesday January 8, 2025 Edition. We had a GREAT Weathering Wednesday last week on New Year’s Day so, let’s try to top the January1 iteration with more of your weathered engines, rolling stock, scenery and structures. I and the rest of this topic’s followers are eagerly looking forward to seeing your artistry and learning from your techniques.

But first, here are the forum ground rules:

• 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 expressed written permission from the photo's owner to post their photo.  
• Any individual who posts copyrighted 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.

This week, life got in the way of fun for the whole Great Northeastern Railway crew. Therefore, we have nothing new to show you. So, I will kick off this week’s festivities with a retrospective of our projects from the past.

Done by Zora Maya.

Done by Chris.

Now it is your turn to show us your weathering artistry as well

I've been working on two engines.

Here's where I'm at with KC&G GP7 #427...

AND... just finished getting the masking tape on F7A #321 in preparation of shooting the Gulf Coast Blue to it. Later this morning I'll tackle shooting the GCB to it.

SO... that's what's going on this Weathering Wednesday!

Andre

Nice job!. I'll be starting this on my steam locos soon.

Here's an old junker I weathered for my scrap yard on a previous layout. I've intended to make it a flatcar load but never got around to it. In rust we trust.

Andre and Dave - awesome looking weathering!!! Great subjects to weather and you guys really have done a fabulous job!!!

Evening guys!

These are a couple of carry over buildings from the “What did you do on your layout” thread but not everyone follows that one.
The buildings in question are two Bar Mills kits I got for Christmas.

Decided I wasn't that pleased at my first attempt on this Black PRR H21a 4 bay hopper.   

Took some window cleaner, (Armor All, no ammonia), scrubbed it down pretty diligently then went back over it with a very mild diluted black wash.  Also touched up the wheel trucks with the same wash.

On some black 70 Ton Covered NKP Hoppers, I went back and added some dry brushing of off white around the top of the car where the covered hatches are....   

@chris a posted:

Decided I wasn't that pleased at my first attempt on this Black PRR H21a 4 bay hopper.   

Took some window cleaner, (Armor All, no ammonia), scrubbed it down pretty diligently then went back over it with a very mild diluted black wash.  Also touched up the wheel trucks with the same wash.

On some black 70 Ton Covered NKP Hoppers, I went back and added some dry brushing of off white around the top of the car where the covered hatches are....   

Chris - Awesome job!!!  Thanks for sharing your process.   Although the weathering job on the open top coal hopper looks terrific, I particularly love your work with the NKP covered hopper!!!  Who manufactured the NKP covered hoppers?   I like the square roof hatches which seem hard to find ... at least for me.  I have one two bay covered hopper by Atlas O with the square roof hatches.  All the others are rounded hatch doors.  Again your work is awesome!!!

@trumpettrain posted:

Chris - Awesome job!!!  Thanks for sharing your process.   Although the weathering job on the open top coal hopper looks terrific, I particularly love your work with the NKP covered hopper!!!  Who manufactured the NKP covered hoppers?   I like the square roof hatches which seem hard to find ... at least for me.  I have one two bay covered hopper by Atlas O with the square roof hatches.  All the others are rounded hatch doors.  Again your work is awesome!!!

Thanks for the kind words,  the covered hoppers are Atlas O 70 Ton 2 bay covered hoppers.   I'll figure out what color Pan Pastel I used on the black hoppers, I watched a weathering video and they recommended a specific color pastel for black hoppers.  When I find the container I'll post it. 

Yeah the PRR hopper looks better in the HD photo than it did on the layout, it was just too "monotone gray".... Maybe it was the flat laquer I used, not sure.   I have gone back over some other earlier weathering projects and made some significant improvements, so I figured I'd post it here so that folks realize that if you weren't 100% satisfied the first attempt, it's possible to go back and add additional weathering to fix "issues" that you don't like.

@chris a posted:

Thanks for the kind words,  the covered hoppers are Atlas O 70 Ton 2 bay covered hoppers.   I'll figure out what color Pan Pastel I used on the black hoppers, I watched a weathering video and they recommended a specific color pastel for black hoppers.  When I find the container I'll post it.

Yeah the PRR hopper looks better in the HD photo than it did on the layout, it was just too "monotone gray".... Maybe it was the flat laquer I used, not sure.   I have gone back over some other earlier weathering projects and made some significant improvements, so I figured I'd post it here so that folks realize that if you weren't 100% satisfied the first attempt, it's possible to go back and add additional weathering to fix "issues" that you don't like.

So the Pan Pastel color that I use on all black hoppers after applying dull coat is: 

Pan Pastel  #708.1  Raw Umber Ex. Dark   

Pretty sure this was recommended by a modeler who contributes regularly to the MRH website.   I purchased the "Video Library from MRH, with maybe two dozen videos on Weathering" from them when they ran a deep discount special during the pandemic.   It's the base coat on all the hoppers below, the first photo depicts the difference Before and After the Raw Umber Ex. Dark pastel is applied.

@trumpettrain posted:

Andre and Dave - awesome looking weathering!!! Great subjects to weather and you guys really have done a fabulous job!!!

Thanks TT.

I enjoy weathering a lot... but sometimes it's challenging to get what I see in my mind onto the engine. I don't always hit the mark.

SO... you have to be flexible and adapt as the project moves along.

Andre

As self -appointed Grand Poobah, I welcome you to Weathering Wednesday January 29, 2025 Edition. Since you all have had two weeks to work on weathering projects, you should have more  weathered engines, rolling stock, scenery and structures to share. I and the rest of this topic’s followers are eagerly looking forward to seeing your artistry and learning from your techniques.

But first, here are the forum ground rules:

• 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 expressed written permission from the photo's owner to post their photo.  
• Any individual who posts copyrighted 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.

One of our followers reminded me that one of the things Weathering Wednesday has accomplished is to encourage beginners to take that big step of weathering their first freight car. So, today I will start us off today by re-posting a video that my son Chris made showing his quick and simple way of weathering a freight car using rattle-can spray paints and paper towels.

Now it is your turn to show us your weathering artistry as well as how you achieved yours results.

Here's a 1950 Studebaker that I weathered for my 1971-time frame.

I just received this shell  back from the painter. Is it too late to set the lettering on the hood? It’s about 7-10 days old.
Second question; I was planning on using Scotch Brite to remove the lettering on on the caboose. It’s been in a box waiting for the engine to come back. I realized now it a decal not paint. What solution do I use?

@Dave Ripp. posted:

Here's a 1950 Studebaker that I weathered for my 1971-time frame.

Wooooow weee!!  Dave ... excellent job!!  I love the rust!  

@Dave Ripp. Dave, I haven't seem that much rust since my father's 1967 Datsun!

Tom

@PRR8976 posted:

@Dave Ripp. Dave, I haven't seem that much rust since my father's 1967 Datsun!

Tom

Tom, in the Midwest due to heavy road salt in the winter this was common. Cars made in the 1960's-1980's were full of holes before you were done paying for them. They've gotten a little better except pickup trucks, they still rust out too fast.

Here's some of the first Atlas O H21a PRR hoppers I weathered.   Honestly,  in many wasys, I like the first ones I did better than later attempts where I applied more weathering. 

Also went back while I had some grimy black acrylic wash out for something else and went in and touched up an MTH PRR N6b woodside caboose that I run frequently.   The wheel trucks needed some attention.  There's a "before" and "after" the touch up photo below.

Finally found the photos of a double sheathed Lionel Woodside Boxcar I weathered over 5 years ago.  Wish I had made some notes of how I weathered the wood boards, came out with some pretty cool staining and not too uniform. 

@chris a posted:

Here's some of the first Atlas O H21a PRR hoppers I weathered.   Honestly, in many ways, I like the first ones I did better than later attempts where I applied more weathering.

Also went back while I had some grimy black acrylics wash out for something else and went in and touched up an MTH PRR N6b woodside caboose that I run frequently.   The wheel trucks needed some attention.  There's a "before" and "after" the touch up photo below.

Finally found the photos of a double sheathed Lionel Woodside Boxcar I weathered over 5 years ago.  Wish I had made some notes of how I weathered the wood boards, came out with some pretty cool staining and not too uniform.

Very nice work Chris, I really like the boxcars.