I just recived my dec issue of garden railways. I have been waiting to see and read the article on weathering.After reading the article i was very disapointed.There was no mention of the use of powders or any other method. Since i’am new to g scale and model trains i want to find out as much on the weathering prosses before i start so i don’t find myself in a mess if you know what i mean.
You are not going to like what I say -but to put it simply -don’t! the degree of weathering that I have seen on several locomotives is simply stupifying. Having grown up with large steam locomotives and coaling plants -I can tell you that most of them were very shiny and kids were told by the crew to keep their dirty hands off of them!!! This is because there was a prize at the end of a weeks work for the best turned out engine. This is because a clean, and polished locomotive requires less costly maintenance than rusty and grimy soot covered one. All of the locomotives on Rhodesia Railways were washed daily in the sheds. Rust and soot were never a part of the locomotives of my childhood -because if they were found that way the train crew were sent back to wash their engine and thus lost the time (pay) that this involved. If you want to follow modern fashion and cover your loco with soot and chains and mud etc -then go ahead. But it never was “real”. regards ralph
Who said: A Clean Locomotive Is The Sure Sign Of A Sick Mind ? [;)]
Ralph I can tell you never seen late locomotive here in the US and yes, at the end of steam most were in bad shape, not a lot money spent on something heading for the scrapyard or running on struggling poorly funded shortlines, even today the Loco’s on the Cumbres & Toltec are still grimy, but I think thats intentional as it what the fans want to see[;)]
The truth is weathering is entirely up to the modeler and should be determined by a few guidelines, namely:
What era are you modeling?
How well funded is your RR?
Are you modeling a mainline Class 1 or a struggling branchline?
Is your equipment shiny new and well maintained or broken down and barely running?
Get the idea? My RR is a poor backwater mining tram that runs an odd assortment of whatever leftovers managment can scrounge up, so most of the engines on my line will be decrepid, rusty, and grimey, much to Ralph’s horror, because when I study RRs like mine, thats the way they were.
Now thats not saying I wont wont have any polish on my line, but most of the workaday lokies and stock WILL show very evident signs of use, shall we say.
I’ve never liked chalks, always seem to get finger prints on it or the stuff runs when I spray the dullcoat on it, So I use a drybrush technique with ink washes, works for me. Alan Olsen sells a DVD of weathering with chalks, I hear its the best source on the subject.
Good luck, Vic
Ralph–contrary as always, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. 
Sadly the American experience didn’t follow the British example. Clean, shiny trains faded from the American landscape before the turn of the 20th century, once the book-keepers discovered that a dirty locomotive pulls as much freight as a clean one, and they didn’t have to pay someone to clean the locos, either. (The notable exception being many railroads’ passenger equipment, which tended to get frequent trips to the wash.) Some crews did take pride in their locos–especially on the smaller lines–but they typically did so on their own time, arriving early to give the loco a quick polishing up before heading out. I will agree that most locos weren’t quite as dirty or neglected as some modelers tend to replicate, but US locomotives from about 1900 on were never “shiny” unless they just came out of the shops for major service. And they didn’t stay shiny for long. As for chalk weathering techniques, what works in the smaller scales also works well in large scale, so any article that appears in Model Railroader or other modeling magazine will help demonstrate the techniques. You’ll just need a lot more chalk. Also, there’s a good video produced by Digital Video Images Inc. on weathering with chalks. It’s done by Alan Olson, whose work has graced the pages of GR on many occasions. www.modelrailroadvideos.com Later, K
Hi
Newto Gscale
The artical was ONE aspect of weathering out door trains.
It was to encourage folks who know nothing about it . It was to share the simple way that I personally do it.
If you would like to wrtie an artical on how you weather and tell how it holds up over the years of out door use that would be great. I’m always open to learn things.
There are alot more challenges with out door model railroading than in doors. Thats why I changed.
Thanks for sharing, i am hoping for feed back and imput.
Marty Cozad
Heres a few more photos.
Hi there,
A couple of summers ago I had the pleasure of watching Marty weather a boxcar at the Mid-West Large Scale show that Aristo put on. Prior to that I had always been fearful of weathering…did’nt want to ruin an expensive piece. Marty made it look very easy as well as realistic. He brought up a lot of valid points, such as how and where the wheels throw the grime. To this day I only very lightly weather my equipment. I love the new look with a smudge here and there from maintenance. I would encourage anyone who has never given weathering a try to do so. Yes you WILL make some mistakes, it’s OK. I recently built a new tunnel for my line with Cedar. Weathering that was fun. All it took was highlighting the woodgrain with a propane torch. Now it sits outdoors for mother nature to do the rest! Later eh…Brian.
There are many ways of weathering your rolling stock . I thought Marty’s was a cool way of weathering that I haven’t tried yet and am going to give it a try . You can’t argue with the results that he gets . Some like to use airbrushes , some chalks and some will use a combination of different methods . If you go back in this forum to 10 - 8 - 06 K. Strong and I described the way we do it . It’s kind of a personal preference to which you feel the most comfortable with . But dont feel that you can’t try anything new . Most of all have fun and give it a try .
Mr Dorsch
BTY
Congrats on the 1st place photo in the Dec issue. very nice.
I love those dirty old diesels.
Thanks Marty , it was a real honor for me and my family to win that . So many great railroads out there , your being one of the best . Love to visit it some day .
Thanks for the reply and for the web site for the dvd’s.I have just ordered three dvd’s on the subject of weathering.Now all i need to do is practice and hope that the cars turn out looking like they have been in service for thirty years or so. THANKS AGAIN FOR THE REPLY [tup]
Marty,
Enjoyed your GRR article. Those are the paints I also use for weathering. I’ve got an airbrush but don’t like to set it all up when cans are quicker
One funny man told me the loco never looked like that so I produced a old photo and stop his BS at the start. I try to go back to the late days of locos (A.T. & S.F.) and use them as a goal. And now days we see modern ones with paint falling off, big chips, etc…anything is almost possiable.
I use a air brush and drag. I have not only done trains but motorcycle helmets, 1/2 flame, full flame and others like black jack helmet.
Your RR and drop the paint like you like it!!!
William
Marty - did you not say anything about the trucks and wheels for a reason?
William
now you made me stop and think.
Photo #2 address the issue.
Thought maybe I did miss something.