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Mario started a thread last week on weathering cars and asked forum members to share their process.  I had given my word to show how I generally do a car.  Now I did not finish the car today, I only have about a hours worth of time into it, I do go to work tomorrow so I hope to have it close to done on Wednesday.  For the victim I will be using a newer Lionel PS-2 hopper for Chessie.  This car has lots of nice detail like air lines and separate grab rails.   

001In the 1st phase I will prep the car.  I will remove the trucks from the car, makes it a lot easier to do the trucks and under side of the hopper.  On box cars I will remove the bottom of the car and the doors too if they open.  This allows you to weather the floor and inside of the car.    

003With the trucks off I now will take some 600 grit sand paper and slightly fade some of the logos.  If you look up real photos most of these chessie brands faded off the cars. 

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006After sanding I will give the car a nice bath in luke warm water with mild dish soap.  I will use a air hose to remove most of water then let dry.  Need to be careful with closed hoppers you will get water inside so I did not submerge this car in the water.  After completely dry, inside and out I will Dullcoat the entire car.  Today I used a spray can but generally I mix my own, 50/50 dull with thinner.   Notice the latex glove, from this point on I will use the glove to prevent oil finger prints (do not eat chips while doing this).

007With the car sealed I will start my fade with a air brush.  How far you want to take it is up to you on what era you are modeling. This car will be middle of the spectrum, not a light weathering and not a total rustbucket.  I have 3 colors I will work with on this car, brown, white, and black.  The water is distilled too.  In the jar I add 3 drops of white and a half of black drop, fill with water and mix completely.  I will also use my wife's hair dryer, don't tell her .  I start by applying a dusting of the spray then use the dryer ON LOW!!! things can warp and melt real quick.  Repeat this step many times, for this model I counted up to 20 applications, after that I ran out of toes and fingers.  You spray a quick pass then hit with the dry, real quick.  It sounds like this is time consuming but its not, about 15 minutes for this step.  When you are satisfied with your fade I add a few more drops of black and brown plus more distilled water, mix well and work on the underneath of the car.  I did highlight the lower sides of the hopper and the ends where their will be some wheel spit ( another step in the fade process).      

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013Now if you are happy with your faded look its time to seal again with dullcoat, let dry.  This next step is something I tried for the 1st time.  Out here I see a lot of hoppers with the wheel spit and grime on the ends.  So with a piece of cardboard I mixed brown and black for a greasy color.  I place half of the hopper over the edge of a box, PUT ON SAFETY GLASSES.  and took out the dremel.   I turned on the dremel and moved the greasy looking paint on the end of the cardboard and let the dremel splatter it.  Be sure to keep the dremel straight up and down, the 1st try was at a funny angel so I had to clean it off with water and redo.  I think with practice this look will get better.  If the splatter looks harsh I will fade it out when I get to the powders.  When done with this step I seal with dullcoat.    

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017That is as far as I got on this sled today.  So stay tuned for Wednesday, same Bat time, same Bat channel and I will be adding some graffiti (AH MAN I know most folks don't like that). and I should be finished up on the weathering and rust for this car.  Nick 

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Last edited by t8afao
Original Post

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Well its about that time.  To finish up on the Chessie hopper my next step is to add some weather , grime and everyday loving that these cars go through.  With the car freshly dull coated and dried I mix a black and light grey of powders and use a short stiff brush to apply the color around raised edges and other parts of the car that likes to catch the grime.  I will also use a Q-tip to feather the filth out so you do not have any sharp lines.  When satisfied with the amount of filth you want on the car I dullcoat again.   

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002After the dullcoat has dried I mix some black and burnt sienna on a piece if paper to get a dark rust color.  I use a toothpick to a very small pointed brush and add my areas of rust on the car.  This car I did not add to many, I am keeping it mildly beat up.  When done with the locations of your scratches I dullcoat them again.  The nice thing working with water based colors is if you do not like something, you can remove it with a little water (unless it has been sealed with dullcoat).   

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010As you can see I also painted the trucks with a Camo Brown, Later I will add rust powders and grease to the trucks.  With the dullcoat dried I put some water based oil paint, Burnt sienna on a piece of paper.  I will now add the orange color to all the rust spots that we just put on previous step.  Some of the spots I would take a ultra damp brush and pull it down the car to give rust streaks.  When satisfied with that I seal and let dry.   

012I also painted a few section of the walkway as if they where replaced during the life of the car.  One section is of a primer color and the new replaced areas are silver.  Now I mix up several rust colors from dark to light to be applied on the car as needed.  When you feel good with what you have seal and let dry.  This car has about 4 hours of labor in it, I did go threw it pretty quick but would normally take more time on the rust, scratches and dings.      

005Here are photos of the finished car.  You also notice no graffiti, I messed up on it so I gave it a painting over Like in the real train world, messy and not clean.  

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Last edited by t8afao
Originally Posted by Passenger Train Collector:

This is certainly becoming a very popular subject. Very nice job.

Thanks, I did run threw this car pretty quick.  The more I look at it I can see some areas I need to pay attention too.  When we build our new layout I plan on fixing all our weather cars with Kadee couplers.  Nick 

Originally Posted by Lee Willis:
Originally Posted by Gregg Laiben:

I also noticed that your track is well done also.  Any chance of a photo series or description of how you did the track?  Especially the paint coloring.

I agree - extremely well done.  I walk through your details would be fantastic . . . 

 

Originally Posted by Gregg Laiben:

Excellent primer on how to weather - thank you!

 

I also noticed that your track is well done also.  Any chance of a photo series or description of how you did the track?  Especially the paint coloring.

Thanks for the comments, The track and actually the whole little display is done to Joey Ricard 4 or 5 part video series on on Scenery.  The track was Atlas O 3 rail, I just removed the center rail for this prop.  I also had to use a roto zip to grind down the center tie plates too.  Spray painted a Camo brown, dry brushed a white paint on the tyes then used some black and dark grey powders to give that weather look.  Mr. Ricard had some great videos on all the scenery done on that Dio.  The wood wall is my creation and the rocks are pink foam cut and carved by my son.  Check out his videos, they are entertaining and very helpful info too.  Nick   

Last edited by t8afao
Thanks - love Joey's videos.  Bought several of his background also.  Will check #4 & #5 for the track tips.
 
Originally Posted by t8afao:
Originally Posted by Lee Willis:
Originally Posted by Gregg Laiben:

I also noticed that your track is well done also.  Any chance of a photo series or description of how you did the track?  Especially the paint coloring.

I agree - extremely well done.  I walk through your details would be fantastic . . . 

 

Originally Posted by Gregg Laiben:

Excellent primer on how to weather - thank you!

 

I also noticed that your track is well done also.  Any chance of a photo series or description of how you did the track?  Especially the paint coloring.

Thanks for the comments, The track and actually the whole little display is done to Joey Ricard 4 or 5 part video series on on Scenery.  The track was Atlas O 3 rail, I just removed the center rail for this prop.  I also had to use a roto zip to grind down the center tie plates too.  Spray painted a Camo brown, dry brushed a white paint on the tyes then used some black and dark grey powders to give that weather look.  Mr. Ricard had some great videos on all the scenery done on that Dio.  The wood wall is my creation and the rocks are pink foam cut and carved by my son.  Check out his videos, they are entertaining and very helpful info too.  Nick   

 

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