Today I decided to add the sophisticated finishes rust paint to my bottle car. I got a little impatient and applied the flat finish before the rusting agent had fully evaporated. I didn’t realize it until later when grey splotches began appearing on the car. Apparently a chemical reaction occured between the dulcote and rust agent. It actually led to a great finish on my bottle car though. Here’s some pics of the finished car.
Thanks for looking and a special thanks to jktrains for giving me ideas and suggestions along the way.
It looks real good. While it may not be an exact weathering match of a specific car, it has that realistic look of a well used bottle car. I like the texture that’s on it now. I think you’ll agree that the texture is an important part of giving it that weathered look. I also like the hand lettered number on the car which is very prototypical.
Some last suggestions, the trucks really needed to be weathered and try to tone down the yellow… They really stand out now from the rest of the car.
That’s one of the neat aspects of this hobby. Sometimes you get excellent results from making a “boo-boo”!
Impressive work!
Suggestion: Take this outside in the sunlight, prop it up on table or stand and take a couple of photos with a “looking upwards” view angle with buildings or trees in the distant background. You’ll really have people scratching their heads wondering if this is the prototype [;)]
So far the trucks haven’t gotten anything besides some paint so they will be weathered soon. The yellow brake gear came from a prototype car in Dean Freytags book ,The History Making and Modelling of steel. The pic was of a car that the brake gear had been replaced. In the pic the brake gear was white but I’m out of white paint so I used yellow. I’ll add a wash of tarnished black to tone that down a little, but I want it to stand out from the rest of the car some. One other detail I’ll most likely add is the brake pipe along the bottom of the car.
That’s probably the closest-to-prototype example I’ve ever seen of a torpedo - nice job! I’ll eventually redo my fleet as well, using that self-rusting powder stuff.
Thanks for the compliments. Ken, your layout has been a great inspiration for me. I found your old website when I had just started modelling steel and it has given me lots of ideas. So far this is my only bottle car. I need to get more but for now the only building on the layout that will have anything to do with them is the ingot mold foundry, so one’s enough until the layout grows.
BTW Ken, the sophisticted finishes rust set isn’t a powder, its a set including an acrylic(I pretty sure. I’ve mixed it with pollyscale paint before and it worked.) paint with iron filings in it and a rusting agent. You apply the base and when it’s dry apply the rusting agent and let it rust. On this car I didn’t let it completely rust and I sealed it with floquil flat finish when I thought the color looked right. Anyway I picked up a set at the local Michaels for about 10 bucks after hearing about the stuff on the forums.
Here’s the roster shot for CA&S #37 taken next to the ingot mold foundry.
This pic shows the brake pipe added under the car as per prototype pics and it shows the truck weathering. (It also shows how bad I am at photoshopping in the sky…[sigh])
Also, does anyone have any ideas for making removeable hot metal loads?
Outstanding work !!! I’ve been experimenting with a zip-lock bag full of automobile brake drum shavings. I’m letting it naturally rust with the help of vinegar. So far it looks very cool…looks like rust. I’m going to add this to the top the torpedo cars.
I’ll share the out come with you steelies. Once again great work,looks just like the real thing.