Weathering Streamlined Steam Locomotives? GASP!

Maybe just some dirt on the running gear, I wouldn’t distress it too much 

I would leave it alone, as pride of the fleet it would have been kept very clean.

Dave

Lehigh Valley Railroad posted:

Maybe just some dirt on the running gear, I wouldn’t distress it too much 

That's exactly what I was thinking.  I like having it clean but at the same time I'd like to take some of the shine off.  at least on the bottom and a little bit near the smokestack.  

Rusty

I would tone down the rods with neolube (graphite suspended in alcohol, aval at micromark)

Flat finish the overall loco, add road grime to running gear and very light smoke dirt at top of loco.

I wouldn't go as dirty as photo...IMHO

Rusty Traque posted:

Rusty

Whats funny is that was one of the photos I was going to use.  lol.  

Dave Funk posted:

I would tone down the rods with neolube (graphite suspended in alcohol, aval at micromark)

Flat finish the overall loco, add road grime to running gear and very light smoke dirt at top of loco.

I wouldn't go as dirty as photo...IMHO

I generally use acrylic paints.   I'll keep your color suggestions in mind!

maybe do it with chalk first, and if he likes it then spay clear coat if you can ( not an artist but believe I have heard that before ) 

rtraincollector posted:

maybe do it with chalk first, and if he likes it then spay clear coat if you can ( not an artist but believe I have heard that before ) 

My thing is I never spray my locomotives because I am afraid of getting clear coat or paint inside the motors and running mechanisms of the locomotive because of the aerosolized nature of the spray.  

For some reason in my twisted mind, when I look at a dirty Lehigh Valley streamline locomotive it just wipes the entire concept of streamlining out of existence.

If you can't get somebody out there with a soapy bucket of water and a scrub brush to clean the beast, then it's just another sooty, dirty steam locomotive. If you're selling the look of modernism with clean, streamline shapes and you don't follow up with keeping the hardware clean in and out, there's no point to having spent the money to streamline the machine.

Bogie

I use Bragdon's weathering pigments; similar to chalks, but more effective, I feel. The surface should be flat (Dullcote) before you begin.

Unless you overspray it, the weathering job remains theoretically reversible - or re-doable for a better effect. I have no desire to reverse mine.

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Streamliners get dirty just like anything else, and the way to find out how to do it is just to find photos of the subject, or similarly-shaped locos, study them for a while, and do what "nature" did to the Big one.

Did streamliners ever get dirty (and banged-up)? You tell me. I call this the Dreyfuss "rough day at the office, dear?" shot:

(Probably WWII-era, not at the end of its life, as all NYC Hudsons were de-streamlined and lived several more years after that. My Weaver brass ERR-equipped PT-tendered Century Hudson may look like this one day; I want to correct the shape of the badly-done factory pilot streamlining eventually, so as long as I'm fiddling...)

OldBogie posted:

For some reason in my twisted mind, when I look at a dirty Lehigh Valley streamline locomotive it just wipes the entire concept of streamlining out of existence.

If you can't get somebody out there with a soapy bucket of water and a scrub brush to clean the beast, then it's just another sooty, dirty steam locomotive. If you're selling the look of modernism with clean, streamline shapes and you don't follow up with keeping the hardware clean in and out, there's no point to having spent the money to streamline the machine.

Bogie

You have a good point.  Though no matter how much you clean the engine, nature has a way of making it dirty again.

D500 posted:

I use Bragdon's weathering pigments; similar to chalks, but more effective, I feel. The surface should be flat (Dullcote) before you begin.

Unless you overspray it, the weathering job remains theoretically reversible - or re-doable for a better effect. I have no desire to reverse mine.

-----------

Streamliners get dirty just like anything else, and the way to find out how to do it is just to find photos of the subject, or similarly-shaped locos, study them for a while, and do what "nature" did to the Big one.

Did streamliners ever get dirty (and banged-up)? You tell me. I call this the Dreyfuss "rough day at the office, dear?" shot:

(Probably WWII-era, not at the end of its life, as all NYC Hudsons were de-streamlined and lived several more years after that. My Weaver brass ERR-equipped PT-tendered Century Hudson may look like this one day; I want to correct the shape of the badly-done factory pilot streamlining eventually, so as long as I'm fiddling...)

THATS COOL.  I'll have to do some research.  

Rusty Traque posted:

Rusty

Is that a Lionel phantom paint job?

romiller49 posted:

Rusty Traque posted:

Rusty

Is that a Lionel phantom paint job?

I would photoshop the photo of the real engine and make it look clean.  Solves the problem.

I'll get around to it when I get back from work today.  While I'm gone any other tips?

Prefer clean version

http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/740/p/260524/2930535.aspx

https://picclick.com/Lehigh-Va...ic-141052466439.html

I'm going more for the JW for when they substituted the regular red cars in rather than when it was brand new.  Around the time they were getting ready to repaint it into the solid black with the thick red stripe.  

The Pennsy's Torpedo was looking pretty rough by the late 40s.  That is when the fairing were removed.

I think those photos of unclean streamlined steam engines are the exception, rather than the rule.  There could be a logical explanation for the LV and NYC engines being seen in that condition:

• Winter.  Some days it is just too cold to wash engines for days at a time.  Sometimes there is a storm at one end of an engine's run, while, at the other, it can sit out in clear weather, in plain sight, in an unkempt condition after arrival.
• Running through stormy weather.  This does not rinse dirt off of steam locomotives.  Instead, it makes exhaust adhere.  And engines normally are not washed at locations where there is a storm in progress.
• A bad trip where the engine steamed poorly or was poorly fired.  Yes, even streamlined locomotives developed defects and steamed poorly sometimes.
• Late arrival at the end of the run, requiring turning and departing without washing.

Id say, some dust from the track, plus some grease from the rods and oil blowback from the lubricator would be the norm, along with a very light amount of soot at the top.

I've seen the Hiawatha F7 Hudson with dirt and grime - and it actually it is a very interesting look because it shows the contrast of the two aspects - what the creator/designer envisioned vs. what actually happens in real life. Its very apropos.

Seeing a named train steam engine weathered sends a message of poorly kept equipment and passenger service in decline. I would not have such an engine on my railroad.

Number 90 posted:

I think those photos of unclean streamlined steam engines are the exception, rather than the rule.  There could be a logical explanation for the LV and NYC engines being seen in that condition:

• Winter.  Some days it is just too cold to wash engines for days at a time.  Sometimes there is a storm at one end of an engine's run, while, at the other, it can sit out in clear weather, in plain sight, in an unkempt condition after arrival.
• Running through stormy weather.  This does not rinse dirt off of steam locomotives.  Instead, it makes exhaust adhere.  And engines normally are not washed at locations where there is a storm in progress.
• A bad trip where the engine steamed poorly or was poorly fired.  Yes, even streamlined locomotives developed defects and steamed poorly sometimes.
• Late arrival at the end of the run, requiring turning and departing without washing.

Id say, some dust from the track, plus some grease from the rods and oil blowback from the lubricator would be the norm, along with a very light amount of soot at the top.

That is exactly what I was planning on doing.  Those scenarios were definitely helpful.  Also, I think that considering the LV was not entirely wealthy as far as railroads go, they may not have had time to say to someone: "Hey you go get a ladder and a bucket of water and wash this thing down before we have to leave next"  at least as far as washing the train between stations goes.  

PR&NJRR posted:

they may not have had time to say to someone: "Hey you go get a ladder and a bucket of water and wash this thing down before we have to leave next"  at least as far as washing the train between stations goes.  

Takes a little more than a bucket of water to wash down a steam locomotive:

Rusty

my weathered streamlined locomotive

Rusty Traque posted:

PR&NJRR posted:

they may not have had time to say to someone: "Hey you go get a ladder and a bucket of water and wash this thing down before we have to leave next"  at least as far as washing the train between stations goes.  

Takes a little more than a bucket of water to wash down a steam locomotive:

Rusty

well they're not going to have a train wash at every station......  and if you're running late.......

Paul Kallus posted:

I've seen the Hiawatha F7 Hudson with dirt and grime - and it actually it is a very interesting look because it shows the contrast of the two aspects - what the creator/designer envisioned vs. what actually happens in real life. Its very apropos.

very true.  I also feel like sometimes it can accentuate details (at least on a model) that would otherwise get lost in the paint scheme.   

Milepost48 posted:

my weathered streamlined locomotive

very nice loco!  thats similar to what I was going to do.

I went and did it the other day.  I still have some stuff to work on as far as super-detailing goes but I am more or less done with the weathering itself.  I may touch up the wheels a little bit.  

Before

After

what do you think?  Have I committed a grave crime against model trains by attempting to depict the effects of contact with mother nature?

Nice work.  In my opinion, you got the running gear just right.

Number 90 posted:

Nice work.  In my opinion, you got the running gear just right.

Thank you!

Here is a great example...

Krieglok posted:

Here is a great example...

very cool!

perfect  nice work

Having washed several real steam locomotives, I can attest that it is a lot of work. While streamlined engines would be the pride of the fleet, it is certainly possible that they might have missed a few washes. Additionally, the worst part about washing a steam engine is seeing it the next day after running 100 miles and nobody can tell you just worked really hard making it look good.

Your weathering of the rods looks good. I would try to get a little more soot along the top of the engine.

a couple of my other weathered streamlined locos

Milepost48 posted:

a couple of my other weathered streamlined locos

those are absolutely amazing!

Looks run but not filthy... I like the job you did on her!!