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About this blog

A record of weathering work, intended to show both good and bad results, including explanations of what is used and how.

Entries in this blog

Bachmann COV AB / VDA van. Introduction.

The subject has been chosen and a colour photograph found to work from. Bachmann produced several livery versions of the 29 ton sliding door box van (COV AB, later VDA )and this one (38-141) is in Railfreight livery, numbered 200077. Paul Bartlett has many photographs of these on his website, and has given his permission for this photograph to be used in this blog.     The challenges are: Fade the reddish shade of brown to show age and wear Highlight areas of
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

6

A Land Rover Series 1 109" (According to Oxford Diecast). Introduction.

Ever since failing my driving test for the second time, in a Land Rover in Cyprus (exotic lifestyle!), I have had a soft spot for the machines. When at Railex in 2017 I found an Oxford Diecast 1/43rd version and decided to use it for a minimum cost weathering exercise.   The idea was to spend as little as possible to weather this model, but end up with the wherewithal to continue weathering as many more models as possible with the materials purchased. My purchases were:   Tes
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

6

Sunbeam Talbot 90 - Rather Rusty. Step 5 - Windows.

Even though the car is pretty grotty, I thought that the driver might make an effort to keep the windows clean. Clean white spirit has been used to remove the Dullcote layer. Soaking a cocktail stick (wooden variety) in the white spirit will allow a gentle rubbing action to gradually remove the dried Dullcote a little at a time, and if you don't go right into the corners it can leave an accumulation of 'dirt' there. The tiny flakes that will be left adhering to the plastic windows through static
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

9

Peckett W4 No. 883. Step 9.

Final step. Some Mig Productions Dark Mud has been added to the firebox sides that show through the frames under the cab to represent the rusty state of that area, but it's difficult to see in photographs. The whole locomotive has been subjected to cleaning up and running tests to make sure that all pickup surfaces are clear of paint. This is achieved by wiping the surfaces with a Tamiya cotton swab dipped into isopropyl alcohol, which will remove even hardened enamel paint. Wheels were turned w
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

4

Peckett W4 No. 883. Introduction.

A casual enquiry at Scaleforum this weekend has brought forward the idea of working on one of Hornby's Peckett W4 models. What do you think should be tackled? Looked after or neglected?  
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

6

Peckett W4 No. 883. Step 7.

Areas like the chimney, cab roof, firebox door, pipes and running plate will be dirty to some degree, even on a well-maintained locomotive. For this subject I have prepared these surfaces with some brush-on AMMO by mig Panel Line Wash (PLW) Black Night. This fluid is a very thin enamel paint, basically, and has a very small content of pigment compared with carrier. I have used it here to introduce a small build-up of dirt around the chimney top and base, the cab roof, the pipework and the runnin
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

0

Hornby Peckett 0-6-0ST NCB Ryhope Colliery

While waiting for the Great Electric Train Show to open on Sunday morning, I visited Tony's Trains stand and relieved him of a Hornby Peckett. I went back 20 minutes later and complained about the condition of the box contents . . . . . . .    
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

4

A Land Rover Series 1 of indeterminate length. Step 2. Wash.

The first thing done with high gloss diecast models is to add the wash, if dirty areas are to be depicted. It's done at this stage because enamel washes work very well on a high gloss surface. Using the rigger brush and my trusty Mig Productions Dark Wash (because I can't find the one I bought to do the original Land Rover!) I've added fluid to all the corners, edges, lumps and bumps to highlight detail and prepare for dirty areas. Note that there are many blobs and runs that look a right mess.
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

5

Peckett W4 No. 883. Step 1.

In much the same way as D3721 was started, the loco is upside down in a foam cradle and has been airbrushed with Railmatch Sleeper Grime, the enamel version. The wheels were rotated 1/4 turn after each light spray so that there were no shadow areas behind wheels or motion. This process also helps the pickup wipers to clear the wet paint from the rear of the wheels if any strays that far.   The airbrush in use this time is an Iwata HP-SB Plus, one of my two favourites, which allows me t
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

5

Peckett W4 No. 883. Temporary Diversion.

Before starting work on this locomotive I decided to remove the rather large supplied couplings. My original intention was to simply have no couplings at all, but then I noticed that there is a coupling hook on both buffer beams, albeit grossly over scale. A delve into a box labelled 'Couplings', that hasn't been opened for years (because it contains, mainly, supplied couplings from RTR rolling stock) revealed the presence of a couple of packets of Roger Smith unassembled 3-link couplings. A qui
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

6

Oxford Diecast Fowler Ploughing Engine. Photograph Only.

Another little test for those of you who wonder what this weathering lark is all about. This Oxford Diecast Fowler Ploughing Engine was chosen as a weathering subject after I was inspired by seeing the real thing at the Bloxham Steam Rally last month.   What was used to create the weathering effects?
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

19

A Land Rover Series 1 of indeterminate length. Step 7. Windows.

The glazing is currently covered in a coat of Dullcote, so the driver and any passengers who might be present will have difficulty seeing where they are going. Not to worry, the trusty cocktail stick is close by. A wooden cocktail stick will absorb white spirit, and white spirit can be used to remove even hardened Dullcote from glazing without doing any damage. As long as the cocktail stick is gently rubbed against the glazing using the side of the tip rather than the point of the tip, a clear p
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

3

Peckett W4 No. 883. Step 2.

Now to remove some of the paint applied to the motion and wheels. Remembering the intended clean state of this loco, the coupling and connecting rods will be portrayed as 'wiped clean'. The sleeper grime thus needs to be removed from the areas where that wiping would have taken place, so some clean white spirit was applied with a small brush and rubbed gently to remove some paint. I have also removed some from the slide bars and whatever else might have been kept clean or wiped clean in normal u
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

4

D3721. Step 1.

How it all began.   Out of the box, couplings removed but no hoses yet added to the buffer beam.  
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

0

Set 732. Introduction.

Set 732 is to be depicted as a BR(S) liveried pull-push pair fairly late in the life of its green livery. An example of similar stock was found in a Michael Welch book containing many images of the southern region at the end of steam.   The plan, such as it is, is to produce a weathered pair of coaches that shows a build-up of dirt around panel and window edges, a very dirty underframe and roof, but cleanly maintained sides.   The dirt build-up will be achieved using MIG Prod
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

2

A Land Rover Series 1 of indeterminate length. Step 9. Summary.

That's all I plan to do with this subject, remembering that it was an exercise in weathering for as little cost as possible/practical.   I have attempted to clear an area of windscreen where the wiper would have cleaned, but on reflection (!) that was not such a good idea. The wheels were only made muddy on one side.     Just for comparison, the topic started here:   http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/2349/entry-21469-a-land-rover-seri
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

5

D3721. Step 2.

High-tech cradle in use to support upside down model while underparts are dirtied. The battery is used to turn the wheels during airbrushing, to avoid paintless shadows from the connecting rods and to get to those parts of the wheels hidden behind the frames.  
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

3

Sunbeam Talbot 90 - Rather Rusty. Step 2 - Rust Spots.

For some time now I have been meaning to have a go with a microbrush. I'm sure they've been on sale for years, and been used by thousands of modellers for all sorts of useful things, but I've never had a go. Until now. By applying a very small amount of wash from the tip of the rigger brush, I was able to just about colour the tiny bristles of the microbrush. The tip was then poked carefully at areas of the car where I thought rust would form. I have no photograph of a rusty SunbeamTalbot 90 to
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

6

Hornby Peckett 0-6-0ST 'Westminster'. Step 12 - Final.

To finish off the dusty look I have continued to use the MIG Productions Industrial City Dirt. Small amounts have been taken from the inside of the lid of the pot and placed in areas where dust.would have built up in normal use. Where is that? Reference to photographs will provide the answer and I have been using Gordon Edgar's photographic books about industrial railways to help me in this task.   Study the photograph below and see where the differences are between the original model
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

7

A Land Rover Series 1 of indeterminate length. Step 8. Wheels again.

The front wheel and wheel arch have been further treated to show the effects of recently collected mud. In the case of the wheel hub, a dry brush was used to pick off some of the white spirit-infused pigment before the mixture had dried. This excess was wiped off on a paper towel, and the remaining trace of pigment on the brush tip just gently touched onto the wing surface, leaving a trace of discolouration thereon. The rubbed appearance on the tyre sidewall was done by rubbing the thin layer of
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

2

Peckett W4 No. 883. Step 6.

The paint finish on this model as supplied is very good, but satin. The idea with the weathering to be done is to present a well looked after locomotive, so the satin finish needs to be altered to a shiny one, but not uniformly so. The cab sides and bunker have been polished with a gentle application of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) on a Tamiya cotton swab. These swabs are very tightly bound and shaped, the ones that I normally use being pointed at the tip. This shape allows me to be quite precise wit
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

9

Sunbeam Talbot 90 - Rather Rusty. The Beginning and The End.

Another 1/43rd model, by Oxford Diecast.   Back in the days when cars were cars and boys were boys, I spent my time car spotting. Trains had no interest for me, where I lived they were all green and electric. One of the cars I drooled over was the Sunbeam Talbot 90, and when Oxford Diecast brought out their model of it in 7mm scale, I just had to have one.   This is what it looks like out of the box:     This is what it will look like at the end:  
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

1

Peckett W4 No. 883. Preparation.

The whistle on the cab roof is very fragile and particularly vulnerable. There will be a lot of work to be done with the locomotive upside down, so some sort of protection is going to be needed. I just happened to have some blue coloured sticky stuff available, so I've used that to provide some protection.     Something that must be done before any weathering is started is to remove all excess grease and oil from the motor and drive mechanism. If this is not done then at som
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

2

A Land Rover Series 1 of indeterminate length. Step 6. Muddy wheels.

In 7mm scale and larger, it is quite reasonable to use pigments to add texture without the look achieved being overdone. In the case of our Land Rover, pigment can be used to replicate accumulated mud on the wheels. A generous (for a change) amount of pigment is collected from the pot and deposited on the wheel hub, having supported the model on its side (hence the strange viewing angle).     When happy with the general arrangement of the pigment pile, a drop of white spirit
Mick Bonwick

Mick Bonwick

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