To Weather Or Not, That's The Question?

I've been thinking of weathering some of my SD80macs and was wondering how many of you actually weather your engines and cars?

If so, what's the best way? Paint, chalk, etc?

I'm a newbie so I need some suggestions that are easy.

Thanks

 

You can use a combination of paint and chalk to weather your loco's and cars.

Bragdon Enterprises make a great chalk weathering system.




Weathering Chalk system

 

I have not ever gotten around to weathering my cars and locomotives, although it is on the "to do" list for someday. Most model railroads seem to leave that for the end, and it really seems okay not to weather the trains...until you see a train which has been weathered, that is. Someday I will get to it.

 

Hey power, thanks for that bit of info. Once you apply to chalk do you add some kind of "spray" to fix the effects so it doesn't rub off?

 

Ilovetrains:


The Bragdon chalks adhere very well to the car. It adheres very well to most car surfaces. Burnishing the chalk in, increases the bond to the surface.

The 12 powder kit runs about $21 plus S&H.

BTW, a little of this chalk goes a long way!!

Have fun..

 

I would avoid chalks. Your best bet is to invest in a good air brush. You can get better results, and you can weather areas that the chalks won't touch, like the trucks and underbody. Here is a pic of a lightly weathered NS unit.


There are several other tricks, like rust running down the side of the loco. This was done with an air brush and an index card.

Here are two custom painted KATO SD40's that were weathered via air brush.


You will probably find air brushing a lot easier and more useful.

 

On rolling stock, I use chalk. I have not done engines, yet. For buildings, it is your choice. I have posted a few pictures at rail images. Please look at the last 10 or so. I am sure you will decide to weather.

 

Fotheringill,

What scale do you model and do you have a track plan?

 

ilovetrains:

Here are some photo's of some weathered cars using chalks and acrylic paint. BTW, it is N scale, which really doesn't matter in the weathering process:

 

I weather both cars and diesels in varying degrees just like the prototype.
Out of around 160 diesels, I have weather 84 of them, rest still waiting. Out of over 1000 cars, about 800 are weathered.

I use chalk, I use acrylic washes, I use air brush, sometimes combining both on the same piece of equipment.

Bob

 

The question of weathering is about how close you want your models to look like the real thing.

My way of weathering is cars and diesels I like to use mostly chalk. For steam my best results are with an airbrush.

 

yea, but airbrushing, don't you take a big risk of messing up and not being able to fix it? I'll have to look into the two suggestions above and see what works best. Alot of pictures from above that are done with chalk look pretty darn good.

 

Well said Jerry!

 

Colonel, can't wait to see your topic! I want details, details.

The weathing shots you all posted are great! I think I'll have to weather most of my stuff once I get a layout.

 

No. Paint with confidence and it will always turn out right. You are only limited by your imagination.

 

ilovetrains:

I do think that you take a little chance of "messing" up, but Bob is right about painting with confidence. I never met a weathering job I didn't like or couldn't fix. It is sort of like trees: the good ones go in front; the not-so-good-ones go in back. But all are used somewhere. If you can weather in chalk, the other mediums are not too hard, either.

 

I like to use a combination of methods when I weather. Airbrush applied wash, Brush applied washes and chalks. I always apply washes with the air brush in light coats(letting dry between coats) So I can see how it will look, more can always be put on.