Weathering

I’m not a fan of new shiny engines, a specially if Lionel gets the smoke box grey wrong.  So I now get all my engines weathered

I prefer a weathered locomotive,  not one that came straight from the wash rack.

Slightly weathered:

Heavier weathering:

I do not prefer a model to look "Southern Pacific filthy", but a correct amount of weathering is nice.

I’m in the new and shiny camp for my toy trains.  I couldn’t bring myself to weather a beauty like this…just look at that profile.

Also I love tinplate which by its very existence it has to be bright and shiny.

New and shiny locomotives:

Weathered locomotives :

You decide.

I prefer clean, new-looking locomotives that look like a builder's photograph. I apply light weathering on structures but would not do it on a locomotive model. Every locomotive was once new, so it's not unrealistic. And, I think that some modelers apply too much weathering. A matter of personal preference.

MELGAR

@third rail posted:

New and shiny locomotives

Weathered locomotives :

You decide.

Bill,  A  new out of the box locomotive in this scene would look out of place.  The wethered locomotive and cars certainly makes the scene more realistic.  How does one weather a lake steamship which is often cleansed by rain water or fresh water spray? John

I'm sort of a "Peanuts" guy...

I like Charlie Brown as well as Pig Pen.

@rattler21 posted:

Bill,  A  new out of the box locomotive in this scene would look out of place.  The wethered locomotive and cars certainly makes the scene more realistic.  How does one weather a lake steamship which is often cleansed by rain water or fresh water spray? John

I guess that there would be minimal weathering.  During the "idle time " on board between ports,  the crew would busy themselves by scraping rust and repainting along with their other duties.