Here’s the weathering process I went with for my Lionel blowout Challenger. Most of my steam is done in a similar fashion.
This first step is probably the most important. I throughly clean the locomotive. Almost to the point like I’m going to paint an undec shell. I remove all finger prints, dust, and oils using a soft long bristle brush and 70% rubbing alcohol cut with a little water to decrease the chance of screwing up the factory paint.
Once dry, I drybrushed locomotive and tender details–pipes, jiggers, valves, rivits–with Polly S grimey black + aged white to highlight them. Most of the UP Challengers I observed were ashy gray with lots of light dust. Not too much original black shows through.
Then I brush painted the drivers Polly S grimey black + mud. Took the beast outside and hit her with Lusterless.
Since the Lionel Challenger’s rods are way too light for what I was going for, I Neo-lubed them up. This kills 2 birds with one stone. The rods get grimey looking and the joints are lubed. Next, I “wet-brushed” mud along side the bottom edges of the tender, loco trailing, and lower pilot area.
(What I call “wet-brushing” is like dry brushing but instead of wiping paint off on a dry paper, I use a 91% alcohol soaked paper towel to remove paint from the brush. This causes a different effect.)
After the Lusterless totally dries, I work Bragdon Enterprise weathering powders on it. A lot light rust, dust bowl brown, and dark rust in various areas. This creates beautiful under tones that can’t be made by sticking to just black, gray, and white powders. Then I Lusterless it more. And when that cures, a total ashifying coat of light gray powder is added every where except the smoke box area. That recieves a huge dose of soot. Then a final coat of Lusterless.
That ain’t then end. I run a heavy wash of grimey black + aged white over the cylinders. Then I come in with Poll
Im highly impressed, if i were you, i would never touch that piece of art, for fear of ruining something! see if an art museum will accept it!(that would make me want to go to one)
You are one brave (confident) individual. I would never have the nerve to attempt
that on my Allegheny… well, maybe one day, but not right now. Nice work Aggro! Dave
I am planning to weather everything in my layout. However, if I stay true to prototype, if there really is such a thing with a Hogwart’s line, all Hogwart’s steam engines are magically pristine.
However, I brought my brand new Atlas Master GP-39 B&P home from tthe club this week and I’m going to muck it up good.
VERY VERY NICE WORK!
YOU RULE AGGRO!
the pics are indeed a reason for SHOUTING,
I wish one day my UP steamer fleet is going to look like that!
thanks for the inspiration!
[:D]
Man I wish I had half the skills of some of you. I would gladly give some of my computer-geeky techno know how for some artistic skills like that.
You know MRR every once in a while has a contest where they give away a ton of prizes. Personally I wouldn’t mind a contest where they took you to MRR headquarters to learn from the masters for a day or two.
Egad–a UP steamer with CHARACTER!! Didn’t know it could be done! Really nice work as usual, Aggro–and I think I speak for all of us when I say Thank You for documenting your techniques. Gives me some great ideas for my overworked WWII steamer roster. Swear to God, everything you touch turns into a work of Art!
Tom[:D][bow]
Wow! Amazing job. It sure changes the whole character of the model. Makes it look like it really is a hard working Loco! Museum quality work, keep it up.
I’ve been experimenting with weathering on my IHC 4-8-2 with chalks, trying different looks. Haven’t had the nerve to do anything permanent to it yet, but yours shows me what can be done.
My Riv challenger is very mildly weathered, haven’t gotten back to weathering it more yet. But after seeing yours, maybe the time is near.
One important detail is lacking, witewash on the drivers and frame. UP used a chalk to check for cracks and other defects, this was was never removed prior to placing the locomotive in service after storage or inspections . Great job overall. Congradulations.
Wow! Absolutely gorgeous work AggroJones! One of these days, as soon as I get around to making logos for the Seneca Lake, Ontario and Western, I will start weathering my fleet. Hope it comes out near as good as your challenger! You have a real knack for detail.
