I know it’s up to the individual to weather MR trains and buildings, I prefer to weather as it looks more realistic, but those that do not, can they explain why they do not weather, I know ! I know ! it is an individual thing, but can you explain why you do not, there must be a reason (or not)
I’m aware you can do anything you want on your layout (as long as it is legal)
If I had to guess, and I can only look to myself as a typical example (?), I was afraid of botching a perfectly good paint job. Let’s face it, the factory paint and decaling are amazing…about the only thing that is decent across the board in terms of QA these days. So, if you wouldn’t attempt to paint your own backdrop with its tolerance for crappy brush strokes and stuff, and if you aren’t good with, or don’t have an airbrush, and if dollars are tight, etc…yeah, most of us…then flubbing a nice expensive engine, especially the pricier and newer ones, is too much for some of us to bear.
At one point I just held my nose, squeezed my eyes shut, and began to dust up a P2K Heritage 0-6-0, and although I overdid it, I learned a lot and knew that it was just a matter of determination and a willingness to make some boo boos. Besides, overdone or botched weathering can be largely overcome by a couple of coats of black wash or some slightly thinned black paint.
Crandell
tatans,
I agree with you that weathering can and does make things look more realistic. I’ve done some minor weathering to buildings and structures but not to any of my locomotives and I’ll give you three reasons why:
Once I get around to learning more weather techniques, I may give it shot. In the meantime, I’m quite content to spend my time on other more pressing projects.
So…those are my reasons. [:D]
Tom
I agree that weathering can make one’s layout appear more realistic as well.
The problem arises when people take the scenario that a realistic layout of, say, the 1930’s to 1950’s is to be dilapidated to the point of caricature. Even from some of the photos I’ve seen and have collected over the years I’ve seen very little of that going on…maybe in some of the mining districts but…
I totally agree with Crandell, there is a fear when first attempting a nice locomotive! However, I tried overcoming that by detailing other models (mostly 1/24 cars, semi’s) by doing engines & chassis. I would suggest the same, -do some vehicles & some non-important rolling stock or something that can be easily paint stripped, to build up your skills. If you jump in with both feet & go for it, you’ll surprise yourself. I sure did (positively!) & had wondered why I had not tried weathering sooner. I personally think that I over-do it sometimes, but then, I watch a prototype DVD, & think I need even more applications. For those who don’t weather, hey, experiment a bit, it won’t send you to jail or anything… Hey, Have fun, thats what it is all about!
“Whether to weather” is an ongoing question among modelers and, as you point out, is left up to the individual modeler. I can only tell you that in my case, I have chosen to concentrate on weathering the buildings on my layout and to only slightly weather the rolling stock.
Since the majority of a layout consists of structures and the surrounding landscape, in order to create a reasonably real-world illusion, it is necessary to apply the effects of wind, rain and sunlight to everything that is visible. With that in mind, I simulate rust, mud, fading, soot, road wear, etc.
On the other hand, other than applying Dullcote to knock down the plastic sheen of a new model, I only lightly weather the trucks and undersides of the freight cars and locomotives. It’s a personal preference and does not detract from my own perception of realism.
I have seen many photos of very convincing weathering on rolling stock on this and other discussion forums. I admire the workmanship. It’s just not my bag.
John Timm
I still consider myself a newbie modeler. And when I saw some of the weathering used on both buildings and the trains. I thought wow! that makes it look so real.
But I was afaid, I can’t do that to a perfectly good $200 locomotive! So I started with some cheap rolling stock. And now I’m weathering locos! It’s really not that hard, just take your time.
I don’t create rustbuckets, and try to keep it looking like it’s been used, but not abused.
TATANS again: Great answers, now I’m beginning to understand the reasons, as a few mentioned many weatherer’s (?) tend to overdo it, as to the point of neglected locomotives and cars, I was told the KEY word is moderation, and it truly is the right method again thanks for the answers.
And it is really not very hard to weather, try it (in moderation)
My trains look realistic for a railroad that has a regular cleaning program for both the rolling stock and loco’s. Most weathered pics I see posted are actually over done. I drive by railroads every day and rarely see the major rust buckets posted. Most are lightly weathered with the dirt extendign just over the trucks. The heavily weathered car is the exception.
I’ve been weathering for years, and my stuff vary’s from a rust bucket to a nicely used car. I know some people say some cars are over done, but I’ve seen some cars (real ones…I have some pics, and seen some) that were VERY rust. They do exist.
A example.
A rusty one:
Nice used look:
Except, railroads do not have a “regular cleaning program for freight cars.” Feight car may get cleaned if they go in for a full repaint, that’s if they just don’t paint over much of the grime, but generally speaking, they get painted once and then that’s about it for 20 odd years or more.
I’m in the same camp as Crandell: I’ll weather everything but haven’t touched a locomotive. Their paint jobs and decals are so well done that I’m afraid to ruin it. Once I get a locomotive running well I’m reluctant to do anything to it other than clean the wheels.
I must admit that I’ve seen some great weathering jobs on these forums and they do indeed add to the overall realism we’re all trying to achieve. Maybe one of these days…
Wayne
It’s simple. I don’t like dirt in my world.
When I first started, I weathered a few cars. Later I participated in a couple of hands on weathering clinics, so it’s not that I don’t know how. I just don’t like it.
My layout is more of a painting than a photograph.
I model the early 50’s as I remember them.
Enjoy
Paul
I do not weather my rolling stock or any of my locos. The question you are asking is why don’t you weather your trains? Well,
The only reason I don’t weather any rolling stock or locos is, because I am spending just about all my model railroad time working on the layout. Building craft-man kits and weathering them, weathering the track & ballast, dealing with all the electrical work, making trees, building stone & rock walls adding fine details, building bridges over water ways and roads, adding power lines on all the telephone poles. Trying to build most of the structures with interiors & lighting, and everything else that has to do with scenery.
I just feel, I can weather all my trains when the layout is close to completion.
Sam
Remember if you do decide to weather, that you weather your layout relative to the lighting set. If it is darker (fall, evening, night, etc), you have to almost over-weather to get a nice effect. If it is bright lighting (spring, afternoon, whatever), less is more. My $.02.
No weathering on this man’s layout.
Two reasons:
One, I have never done it, so I am not going to learn now. Some say it looks more realistic to weather rolling stock, engines and structures. Maybe so, but when I visualize railroading in my mind, it always seems to unweathered so when I look at my layout, unweathered, it looks perfectly realistic to me.
Two, I have too many structures and locos and rolling stock. It would take me forever and a day to accomplish the task. Plus, then I would have to paint the rails on my track. Then, I would have to light the interiors of my structures and furnish them. The I have to decal windows and sides of the buildings. Then, I would have to install seating in the passenger cars, put people in the seats, stock my waterways with fish, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.
Rich
Factory painted trains (locos and cars), are not decaled. The stripes, logos and data are printed directly on the model, mostly by a method called “pad printing”. Decals are a separetly applied media used by modelers.
Thanks Jay,
Learned something new as I’ve never heard of ‘pad printing’ before and, after a little research, it sounds like a very interesting process.
Wayne
Similarly, if you have “newer” rolling stock and engines on your railroad the effects of time aren’t going to be as great as on something that your railroad has owned and used for 5,10, or 20 years. Fading, rust, grime etc will all be heavier (in general) than on something older than something that just rolled out of the shops within the last year or few.
I agree with Sam. When first building a layout the time demands just for the basics to get running and to have the scenery look like something don’t allow for more time consuming matters like weathering. If I did just one or two they would look out of place relative to the rest of my stock. So, sometime down the road I may decide to dive in to weathering. One other thing: what is the resale value of a weathered locomotive vs. one in pristine out of the box new condition? My children may be selling all of this one day and I would like them to have maximum value when they do.