My first attempt at weathering

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

This is a Bowser covered hopper I weathered yesterday. I wanted to ask what you thought of it. I used thin washes of Pollyscale rust, grimy black, and tie brown. I’m also looking for comments, criticism and suggestions to improve my technique.

2

Doesn’t look bad although from the photo the weathering looks kind of faint. That’s OK because there is no right amount of weathering. A car can look fairly new or as if it is ready for the scrap heap. The nice thing about weathering is you can always add more to get the look you want. That’s easier than taking it off if you over do it.

Washes are one way of doing it. Powdered chalks and paints are another method. I’ll apply them with a paint brush and then apply a layer of mist. To get a streaky effect I’ll light stroke downward with the tip of the brush. The best advice I could give is to be creative in the different effects you are trying to achieve. Rust, road grime, decaying paint, etc.

3

Thanks the weatering looks faint because I was trying not to overweather the car. I’ll probably ad a mist of grime and some pastels later. For the streaks on this car I put a rusty wash at the top of a post on the car and tilted the car so it ran down the side.

4

Rry shooting the car in the shade, as the bright sun washes out the coloring on the light car.

5

Good looking car. I have yet to attempt weathering, it’s still on my “to do list” though.

6

Must be contagious, I weathered my first car today too. Yours looks good, not overweathered at all.

Rick

7

You appear to be tking the pic with flash… with a very light coloured car and short range you are getting most of the light bouncing straight back into the lens and burning out that part of the image. (this compares to the trees absorbing masses of light and the really heavy shadows).

You have four solutions

  • average out the car colour and background colour - oaky you want some contrast but not so much.
  • provide another source of light in addition to the flash - but watch out for shadows you don’t want.
  • if the flash can be directed bounce it off the ceiling or a piece of white card.
  • if the flash can’t be directed dilute it through a piece of tissue held between the flash and the subject… but avoid setting fire to the tissue… a flash is HOT.
8

I think you did a good light weathering job on that hopper. You certainly did better than me on my first try.

Possible tips:

You could try spraying down the whole thing with a grungier color first to dark down that brillant white. Dull coat also helps tremendously! Color streaks/runs on identification & load labels are also very common

I think you’ll really like Rust All & Doc OBrians Weathering Powders @ micromark

http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Department&ID=46

OR

AIMs weathering powders available @ Walthers.

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?quick=AIM+weathering+powder

Just use a good stiff pig bristle brush. If you don’t like the effects, just wash it off with water!

[:D]

This is my 2rd attempt @ weathering with powders and you can see the tracks down my ramp and stained concrete:

9

I took a picture in the shade. It made the weathering more visible but the picture was blurrier. Here it is.

10

Don I like the weatering job on you building, which powders did you use for it?

11

Doc Obrians.

You can use your finger tip or a good stiff brush with them. The rust color goes on real easy with just a brush.

12

If you find that the weathering powders don’t stick as you like, coat the model with dullcoat. Some factory finishes can be too slick for the chalks to bite into and stay.

13

Check out Modeltrainsweathered.com There you will be shown the art of weathering by dozens of masters and artists that have redefined the hobby.

14

Thanks for the Help!