Paul's Weathering Experiment

This should be interesting Paul.

I imagine not being metal it will simply fade. Will be interesting though!

Very interesting Paul. I would try rubbing some various types of dirt on it once in a while to help the weathering along, otherwise as Surefire said, it will just fade. Way to think out of the box.

John, Joe and Surefire - Thanks for the input.

I believe there is enough dirt / debris that gets blown around in the storms around here that I am going to resist any type of intervention. Maybe next year I will have different rules but this one seems like a good way to start.

My only concern is if a bird drops a turd on it? That is an awful hard one to explain to a paint foreman....

Paul - how big is a bird turd in scale? 

Reminds me of when I used to just bury stuff in the back yard to "weather" and "age" it.

Most VTR cars never really faded. These cars were painted using advancements in freight car primers and paints and always looked good for their short lived lives. Worst case shown was an abused car by late1983 with some rust. For the most part, they remained looking new through their life cycle.

My car is modeled as new for my time frame with slight dirt. I also believe most cars had silver roofs. The MTH PS1 car looks like an incorrect model. I think they might be flat top Berwick's in the real photos? Doors are also different than the MTH and sit much lower with the reinforced sill design.

I don’t believe your experiment will work and would not be prototypical for that road. I would spray it down and scrub it with mineral spirits to remove oily fingerprints. When dry, take a large brush and cover the body with orange powder. Spay with Dullcote and you will have an aged toned down yellow – orange boxcar like the last photo. Sponge the yellow roof with silver and you will have a nice looking slightly aged car. All could be finished in under 1 hour.

Rusty wheels and brittle plastic shell/details are a likely result.  I doubt MTH uses UV stable plastic...

Well that's why it's called an experiment - so we can see what will happen. 

Paul

The ultraviolet light will fade the paint and slowly destroy the ABS plastic. Moisture will cause rust to metal wheels. Simple facts. Hardly what I would call an experiment since people who have run their O gauge trains outdoors can attest to the drawbacks inherent to taking their trains outdoors. (And why garden railway manufacturers use UV-resistant plastics for their models.)

And you still won't end up with the kind of weathering you see on the prototype, where dirt collects closer to the running surface and rust eventually builds along the carbody seams. Your plastic won't rust without some modeling help.

I have used chalks and Dullcote on the N scale cars I have weathered. Considering all the options available to you, I'm not sure why you feel the need to try something like this, given the inevitable result. But it's your car. Do what you want.

Well everybody is entitled to their opinion. I'm beginning to regret sharing my experiment. Such negativity towards what I perceive as a fun endeavor.

Paul

Don't be deterred Paul. This is how we all learn new things. 

It will be interesting to see how your experiment turns out!  My brother once tied a freight car up in his bumper.  Got the road grime plus exhaust smoke.  He might still have that weathering job.  

The most weathered piece of equipment I have is a Lionel tank car shell that surfaced during a construction excavation in the Bronx.  Real rust stains (all sorts of scrap metal was buried along with it), and it appeared that some youth had used fireworks on it, as it had "familiar" burn marks...

Enjoy your experiment!

Paul:

If you find the weathering process is moving along too slowly -- particularly on hot days -- I volunteer to come over to your new pool and do a few cannonballs near "the experiment".

Anything to help a friend, don'tcha know...

Steven J. Serenska

Hey Paul are we going to get age progression photos ?  Thanks for the experiment 

Clem k 

Clem, I will take a shot every Tuesday to mark the changes. I'll share every so often to this thread. Thanks Clem.

Steve, I can always count on my friends. Your welcome to come do cannonballs anytime - however there is a six pack entry fee

Joe, Ed and Jim - thanks for your input.

Paul

Weathering courtesy of mother nature (and being buried!).

I figured is would become a fuel dealer storage tank on my "future" layout.

-Jim

my outside self weathering track, i will dig out the cars that i let sit out here for about a month as soon as i can find them......kind of works....good on metal.....slow on plastic....

I think the forum has hit a new low, LOL!

ED JAKL  said "My brother once tied a freight car up in his bumper."

I seem to remember someone attaching an engine shell on to his hitch with working lights. I wonder who that was Paul. LOL Waiting for the next episode.

I think it's a fun project why not try it?  Keep us posted Paul. 

Paul.

I think it is interesting what you are doing keep sharing the photos I'm watching.

I once left a piece of Peco O scale track outside for three years to test if it was suitable for the long hot summers we have over here it passed with flying colours.

Roo. In West Australia.