I would like to know how to keep the chalk powder weathering on locos or rolling stock from dissolving or whatever it does when sprayed with Dullcote. I remember that there was a product mentioned some time ago in MR that did the same job as Dullcote but left the weathering intact, however, I can’t recall the name of the product. Is there anyway of using Dullcote without it eating the the chalk?
Ken, I want to be more helpful. Here’s a great link with weathering tips http://www.msn.fullfeed.com/~slambo/capcity/tips.htm
Frankly, in my opinion, there’s no way of using Dullcote without it making most of your weathering disappear. It’s part of how Dullcote works - try experimenting on how heavy you make the chalk or how many coats of Dullcote you use. I recall a product in the MicroMark catalog that was more a weathering system. Have to look it up for you.
The name of the product in the article is Workable
Fixatif by Krylon product #1306. I have used it and it does’t work either. You have to apply many,
many, coats of chalk before you get even the slightest results.
The web sight that Doug suggested does have an article on weathering with chalk but it is very difficult to access. Plus their webmaster doesn’t respond. Are there any other ideas for permanently fixing chalk weathering?
I’ve never tried this before, but I just finished reading an article in a Kalmbach project book, “Building and HO Model Railroad with Personality” by John Olson and he says he likes using chalk and dullcote, but does acknowledge you may have to do it a couple times to get the effect you want. He also suggests using a product called Microcoat Flat by MicroScale. The plus with this is it stays tacky for awhile after sealing and you can scrub chalk right into the tacky surface. "The chalk won’t rub off, yet retains its dry, flaky oxidized look.
My personal preference is to use washes and dry brushing for weathering, aging, and highlighting “stuff”. I’m very much the novice at weathering (model railroading, period) and it seems to work for me everytime I try it. Good Luck with your project!!
Like Larrynva, I too weather with dry brushing and washes (with excellent results) and have never tried chalk for weathering. I find Dullcote goes well over dry brushed paints and washes.
When applying weathering over Dullcote though, there is one exception: RustAll! If it is to look like the rust its name implies, it must be applied before the Dullcote! Otherwise it turns white. I have had to re-paint some things to remove this effect.
Although I may not be the best example because I don’t handle my equipment much, I’ve never really found chalk weathering to be that fragile. I don’t use Dullcote on my equipment at all. I rely on the chalk to kill any shine. If the weathering does become damaged or marked, it is very easy to touch up. The only proviso is that you have to make sure there is no dampness at all on your fingers before you handle the equipment.
I’ve found that a makeup brush works well for applying the chalks that I use for weathering. The key for me was to spray Dullcote on what I was weathering. Then while the Dullcote is still tacky, I apply the chalks. It helps to have scraped the chalks into small piles with the edge of my Exacto knife before spraying. This way the chalks are on the surface of the Dullcote, and held in place by it, overcoming the color muting Dullcote causes. I also wear medical exam gloves when handling. This keeps the oils and moistures off your models.