i want to weather some freight cars and loco’s- what is the simplest / cheapest way -i thought about using dirt colored spray paint and hold the can some distance away so the paint would settle in low spots where dirt might accumulate -what do you think- it’s gotta be real easy and inexpensive
Chalks is what you are looking for. The cheapest way is to buy sticks of pastel chalks in dirt and rust colors along with black and white. Then you grind them up into fine powder, apply them to the model and seal it all up with dullcote.
If you’ve an airbrush, mix a very thin amount of earthy tone. Spray lightly, in a narrow pattern. Several lighter coats will give you whatever look you’re after…
The lower on the body, the darker the color. Add a drop or twoof color to the mix as you progress.
They easiest way is the chalks. I would suggest something like this
For around $10.00 you can get 28 different colors. Spraying Dullcoat will remove most or even all of the chalks you rub onto the cars. If the cars are not going to be handled a lot then skip the dullcoat. If they are then it might take a few tries at rubbing, spraying to get a good effect. Really anyhow you do it will be easy. If you want to spray there is several good types of weathering you can use, like MUD, SAND, ect. that you can buy in a small can that will let you do a fleet of cars. Just spray it from a distance along the bottom of the cars, engines, ect. Make sure you try it on a junk car first.
could you direct me somewhere where i could get spray weathering-- i’ve go a TYCO engine shell i could practice on
If your local hobbie shop doesn’t have them, then you will have to order them from somewhere like WWW.WALTHERS.COM. Any one of then below will do fine.
FLOQUIL (3oz AEROSOL CAN)
- INSTANT WEATHERING
- EARTH
- CONCRETE
TESTOR’S
- SAND
- EARTH
POLLY SCALE
-SAME AS ABOVE.
thanks, i looked at WALTHERS.com and saw some weathering liquids- i take it i use my own spray botttle and pour some weathering in it and spray it on whatever i’m weathering.
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/tls/tls808.htm would this work- has anyone used this?
Pastel chalks with a soft brush is easy and easy to change if you want…Cox 47
I strongly suggest against weathering with paint. Because, it looks like, well… paint! Rust looks dry and flaky. Dirt has a dusty look and you just cant make those textures with paint. I really like alchohol washes that leave behind a layer of chalk, such as those available from AIM. I have a pretty expensive set of chalks that works very well, but a cheap set of either powder or sticks will get you started. If you end up liking weathering you can drop the cash for a better set.
i still don’t like the idea of using chalk- okay then, how do you weather something w/ chalk- maybe if i know how to do it i’d like it better
you brush it on then dullcote it. Basically thats it, although as you expiriment you will find different effects you can create by different placement and application. You will need to do it a few times on a car due to the dullcote but its worth it. It is more time consuming than a quick spray with an airbrush but it yields much better results. For example, the best chalk-weathered models sell on ebay for upwards of $300 for a single frieght car. Truthfully, the best cars are not just chalks, it is paint mixed with chalk and sometimes diluted paints to make streaks. But the best place to start in my opinion is just simple chalk dusting and work from there. Pretty soon I will have pictures of a steamer I am weathering to become a flatcar load, all rusted up. I used chalks and paints and washes like I described, Its not at the $300 level but hopefully someday I will get there.
so i’d brush it on where i want the weathering and then spray dullcote to seal it-where can i get everything i need for this project?
Your LHS will be the best source for weathering materials. There are many ways to weather. Normally, the first step is to simply dull down the shiny part of a car or locomotive. Take a good look at a car that seldom gets washed. Watch where the dirt, dust & oil accumulates. Metal parts get rusty. Hoppers & gons have dents & dings from abuse. Older cars may have a sheet metal “patch” over areas of the car prone to rust.
Paints have the advantage of being more permanent. Make up various shades of “washes” or drybrush other parts of the car. Using lighter shades of the car color makes it look faded. Getting rust or dirt into carsides helps pop the details that may be hidden. The dullcoat helps preserve the weathering a bit longer. Use a water based paint, and you can try to wash it off if you don’t like the result. You may create a “streaky” effect to show where the rain washes the car. There’s no “garage” for the cars to be placed to protect them from the elements. The cars are simply out workin for the RR.
Have fun weathering! You get to do what You think looks good! Then you can post pictures to tall us how you did it!
i still might try spray paint just to se how it looks
My favorite method of “quick aging” and usually the first thing I do is to cover the car in light coat of grimy black chalk. Then get a brush with water and use downward strokes all over the car. This streaks the black chalk so it looks like dirt running in the rain. It also collects in nooks, crannies, doors, around rivets and ribs and especially at the bottom. It takes practically 5 minutes to do and is a great first step.
Beginer’s weathering set:
-can of Dullcote
-12 color pack of Bragdon Enterprise powders
-10/0 point brush
-burnt umber, burnt sienna, raw umber, charcoal black, and dust color arylic paints
- large round sable brush
-small flat camel hair brush
-small round camel hair brush
-little jar of india ink
-70% rubbing alcohol
[2c]
[#ditto]
Bragdon’s powders usually don’t need dullcoat. The washes and acrylics probably will.
in “Like-Like basics for beginers” one tip says to use dirt or mud colored paint and brush it on the trucks, underbody, ect.
Hmm, I am going to ask if anyone has tips on splotches and points of rust - I have seen many good articles on overall weathering, including streaking and soot, but having blotches of rust (common on steel panels, walls, sign posts, dumpsters, and so on) - the only hints I have read are mixes of rust-red and brown applied by dabbing with fine bru***ip or the end of a wire - doesn’t look right to me.
Also, another one that eludes me - horizontal scratches, such as along a forklift side, with rust in the scratches
http://www.southfloridaauction.com/120200/images/Cat%20Forklift.jpg.
