Those look like nice coaches Richard.

I can't see much need for extra weathering to be honest - coaches did get cleaned (at least on the sides) and your chassis colour looks pretty good already.

Regards, Andy

Andy,

 Thanks for the comments,

The sides will be left pretty much as they are, and the colour airbrushed on the u/frame included a fair dollop of humbrol dark earth with the black to 'pre-colour' things, what's needed is a bit of high-lighting to bring it to life.

Jerry,

I was sad to have missed you at St Albans......

The coaches are first scrubbed with Vim (other scouring powders are available!) and rinsed well with hot water. I use an old toothbrush tp work the powder in. They are then power dried on a radiator, in a nest of tissue. When dry, and if possible without toughing with greasy fingers, each body recieves a blast from a grit gun (nothing special, Humbrol air blasting set). Any residual grit washed off with hot water and all is now put to bed on a fresh tissue nest on the radiator.

The next step is a light spray of cellulose red oxide, followed by a slightly denser coat, to ensure an even base. Finally a couple of coats of (cellulose) Damask Red (This is a BLMC colour) are applied to give an even cover. All is left to harden, either overnight on the radiator or in a 'just warm' (50 or so deg C) oven. This last step should not be carried out while the oven is still warm from the sunday roast,   paint and hot grease are not good bed fellows!

Humbrol matt black mixed with a touch of dark earth to lighten the tone very slightly) is applied to the raised beading. Use the edge of your brush, and work in good low angle light to help 'raise' the beading. Take time. Any blotches on the panels can be persuaded away with  the blunted end of a cocktail stick dipped in thinners......any resulting smears on the panels helps add a patina for a slighty weathered effect.

The final 'yellow' lining is in fact a mix of yellow and light brown acrylic ink (Magic clour) applied with a 0.15 nib size Meccanorma draughting pen.

.................Simples!   

( All I need now is some 2mm Scale Midland Railway coach lettering and numeral transfers.. any ideas?)

Richard