I’ve selected my season for my layout, And i’m wondering how to weather engines in the snow. I’m currently modelling higher speed operations on the NEC. Any tips?
As far as the engine goes, grunge is good and that can run the gamut. Start looking at photos online of rail-ops in winter. Winter can also have you seeing clean equipment doing its job, however, it won’t stay clean for long.
How you weather the equipment is a matter of choice, paint, powders…?
As far as snow goes, this is something you should think about. Even in the cleanest environments modelled snow will show dirt early and will look like crap in short order. The often suggested route to go with snow is to use something that can be vacuumed up and replaced every so often, rather than trying to keep it clean.
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If you google “snow locomotives” you will see that running locos don’t look much different between seasons with respect to grime, but no dust in winter. I see some snow on the front of the engines, and some on top of parked engines.
Simon
My experience is similar–most of the snow rarely stays on the loco.
I don’t know how it looks outside of Southwestern North Dakota, but here real snow–especially in industrial/urban (or as urban as it gets here!)–tends to become quite dirty in and of itself. Even in a field near a roadway (or the railroad) it starts to look a little less clean and white.
How’s this for an example?
C&NW-515-E8A-CRYSTAL-LAKE-IL-MAR79-4000-1 by John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
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Like grayish colored grime all over except were the wipers would clear the windshields. Also if you’re modeling sub freezing temps maybe some icicles hanging off some overhangs. As for the snow dirty gray to near black where it’s been plowed up. Maybe a light gray dusting overall.