My weathered models

[Ed-farms]

My new years resolution for this year is to learn the art of weathering and after spending 3 months or so reading books, looking at photos of other people's models on here and a load of other stuff I decided this was really getting me nowhere as I still had to do any practical work to support the theory. So with this in mind I went out and bought an AB-130 from everything airbrush and got down to business. Below is some pics of some of the models I weathered in the last week or so.

 

My method is based on Tim Shackleton's namely a mixture of Matt Black, Matt Leater, Metalcote Gunmetal (not used on these yet but I intend to do some of the axleboxes with this soon) and matt white.I found it easier to do a job lot of wagons in one sitting starting with the underframes and then adding a substantial portion of black to the mix and spraying this over the top of the model.So far I have only done wagons and 1 grounded coach body but I will be tackling a couple of rakes of suburban mark 1's when I get the transfers to change the numbers (and when the weather improves as I do all mine outdoors).

 

Please let me know what you think, I still consider myself to be learning and would like to develop my skills here further.

 

 

These 2 box vans were part of my first 4 done, 2 planked and 2 plywood versions were done. The plywood versions were sprayed with the black/leather mix getting into the ribbed framework on the sides and a small splattering on the sides in general whereas the planked versions were sprayed more generally and washed down with thinners vertically to get it into the grooves and to create a wainwashed effect.

 

 

As before 2 of 4 wagons done otgether, this time 4 Dapol grain wagons, these had a good coating of black - it took a while to make sure all the bracing was weathered and the holes round the body were attacked. It really did help me notice how much detail these wagons have.

 

 

One of a large selection of Brake vans taken on during an afternoon session. As with the plywood box van the blaack mix was washed down with thiinners to help the paint settle into the grooves.

 

 

 

2 shots of the cattle wagons I tackled, these simply got a good squirt with the 2 mixes to represent wagons that have not been shopped in a good while (none of the wagons done seemed to have been actually maybe I should do some cleaner?)

 

 

Another brake van, I am not sure how that cleaner section ended up on the side but it does look interesting so I willl leave it.

 

 

 

A couple of china clay wagons now, these were given a quick spray with a grey mix inside to represent a mix of clay and soot left in the wagons from previous use.

 

 

 

2 of the 9 coal wagons weathered for use on Weeklyn Hill, these were originally done with a £10 revell airbrush and pheonx precision paint's but I did not like the effect they gave off so I redid them to match the rest of the fleet.

 

 

More Weeklyn Hill stock, this time 2 of the 6 tankers used on fuel deliveries. As bbefore these were done with a £10 airbrush and pheonix precision paints originally but redone with the new paint mix. These were Fina models renumbered as BR wagons for their use - not sure if it happened but I like the idea of using them to bring out diesel in.

 

 

 

2 more brake vans (we have a lot of freight trains). I tried to get some subtle variation into the weathering whilst keeping them almost the same and hopefully I have achieved that effect.

 

 

 

 

Just to show it ain't all steam I tackled my 3 Sealions and shark ballast brake van. Theese have the exact same mixes as before but I also put a grey mix on the cute's, lower parts of the side, in the hoppers and on the plough's of the brake to represent the dust from the baallast, I think I may take these back out and add a touch more pint to some as I think they need a bit more.

 

 

Finally the Weeklyn Hill MIC Hut, supposed to represent a coach taken out of service and moved straight to the shed for grounding, it still carries LMS Crimson under the dirt and grime - no doubt not cleaned since she arrived.

[burgundy]

Ed-farms

That looks like a pretty good start.

Are you using enamels or acrylics? It seems to be a matter of personal preference and both seem to do the job but I have been moving more in favour of acrylics as the smell and vapour from airbrushing are less of a problem.

How many coats have you been giving each wagon? I find that I need to build the colour up slowly with a number of applications, so that I can see how the overall effect is developing (and if you are doing a batch, you can give some vehicles more or fewer coats than others). I tend to apply the first coat very thin as an overall wash so that it soaks into the nooks and crannies and can be wiped off the flat surfaces - I am not sure if it is an effect of the photo, but the airbrush seems to have left a noticeable "track" on the grain wagons where the dark colouring contrasts rather strongly.

The other technique that you might like to try (which I think comes from wargaming) is to add highlights to raised features on the vehicle by drybrushing. You use a slightly lighter shade of the original colour and drybrush it across strapping, axleboxes etc, so that it just catches the edges with a very fine hint of colour - very effective for bringing out detail.

Keep up the good work

Best wishes

Eric

[Ed-farms]

Hi Eric

 

Thanks for your comments, in answer to your questions I use Humbrol Enamel's for no other reason then I have always used them when painting anything, that and my local Boyes store seems to only stock enamel's.

 

Each wagon so far has only had 1 coat but I may add more based on your suggesion - perhaps in between the oil leakages on the axleboxes.

 

I do intend to learn dry brushing as well, along with using weathering powders to create different effects. Good job I have plenty of wagons to practice on .

[llanben]

I am very impressed by your first attempts. I have tried weathering some wagons but have no air brush and my early attempts were a little 'heavy handed'. I've used some of the cans of weathering spray and that has worked reasonably well but, once again, you need to be fairly gentle to avoid over doing it.I'm told that weathering powders work well - have you tried these? I've yet to pluck up the courage to weather any of my locos as there's always the risk of making an expensive mistake!

 

I remember reading an article in RM Magazine about the weathering of cattle trucks that suggested that the bottom of these would have been stained with white from some sort of lime wash that was used to clean the floors of these vehicles after use - you might want to try this out on your versions of these vehicles.

[Ed-farms]

Thanks llanben. The airbrush I use is an AB-130 from everything airbrush - if you search "AB 130 airbrush" on ebay they are selling a few now, some come with a free hose so you would only need a compressor or cans of air (much better to get the compressor). I paid £19.99 + P&P for mine so I think I got a real bargain there. I have not tried powders yet, I have a few packs at home awaiting there turn for experiements.

 

I might just try the white mix on the bottom of the cattle wagons - I need to redo the insides of 2 of my Sealions so I can do them all toghether. Just need the weather to warm up as we have snow on the ground here, too cold for outdoors work. Will have to do my renumbering jobs instead for now.

[burgundy]

I remember reading an article in RM Magazine about the weathering of cattle trucks that suggested that the bottom of these would have been stained with white from some sort of lime wash that was used to clean the floors of these vehicles after use - you might want to try this out on your versions of these vehicles.

I think lime wash, as a disinfectant, went out of fashion in the 1920s. For anything more recent I don't think it is appropriate.

Hope this helps

Eric

[michaelp]

Great work.

[Ed-farms]

Sadly a mixture of the weather and lack of time has meant that I have not managed to do much on the weathering front but I did manage to get one of the sealions back out to experiment with powders

 

 

I used a mix of DCC Concepts mid grey and dry rust and just "splattered" them around with the brush as supplied with the powders. I certainly feel these powders can create some useful effects.

[Ed-farms]

It has been way too long since I updated this thread but I did manage to get some more weathering done over the last year. Apart from a Bachmann Coaling Tower and Ash Plant (no pics of these at present as they are boxed up until the next show) I have weathered a Bachmann 3F 0-6-0 and O4 2-8-0.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 3F has been done with the classic mix of matt leather, matt black and Gunmetal with DCC Concepts powders around the safety valves, smokebox and footplate. After spraying the paint on I wiped it off over the number to replicate the limited cleaning locos would have received to allow signalmen to read the number.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The O4 was done in the same way, I used some gloss varnish in the tender to replicate water overflow. Even though both locos were weathered together I feel the O4 is the better of the 2.

 

These two locos are not finished yet, I want to add some more subtle toning on the boiler side. Hopefully the weather will improve soon so I can get back outside and finish the job off.

[micklner]

The O4 would look better with real coal. You need to blend the lighter colours in more especially on the O4 Tender underframe. IMHO

[Ed-farms]

The O4 would look better with real coal. You need to blend the lighter colours in more especially on the O4 Tender underframe. IMHO

 

Thanks micklner. Both locos have only really had 1 pass with the airbrush so far so there is a lot more work to do on both these locos before I consider them finished - just need the sunshine to let me finish them.

[class"66"]

Very impressed!! well done buddy,great weathering....

[Sasquatch]

Great job!

I`m wondering if you will tackle those gresley teak coaches in the background though?

[Ed-farms]

Very impressed!! well done buddy,great weathering....

 

Thanks 66, hopefully future models will get better.

 

Great job!

I`m wondering if you will tackle those gresley teak coaches in the background though?

 

I will someday Sasquatch but not to the same extent, the 2 locos currently weathered are for my exhibition layout, Leeds Weeklyn Hill (set in the 1950's and 60's) and as such would be weathered. The coaches in the background are part of my home layout which will be 1980's with a preserved line of which these coaches will be part of the fleet. They will get some weathering mainly on the bogies and solebars and some of the roofs but the sides will be kept in decent condition (as you would expect from a preserved rake of coaches) - think I will tackle my Airfix LMS stock first though, much cheaper.

[69843]

Lovely Weathering jobs Ed-farms, particuarly on the 04, although it's still cleaner than two of the 'Down-Under trio' of RODs:

 

 

Bit bad quality, as they were taken on a phone camera (the proper one being left over 600km away...oops didn't quite cover it!). And, yes, those are paint cans over the safety valves.

 

Anyway, back to your excellent weathering.

[Ed-farms]

Thanks 69843, I like those pics of the ROD's, can't quite see the colour of them properly in the poor office lighting here but you can make out some nice dis-colouring on them. Would make a good prototype for people to weather from.

[69843]

They're covered over with black oil to protect the paintwork, but they are pretty grungy. I actually just found this shot, which shows the 'paintwork' better: