Asking for ideas on weathering modern electric locomotives

[NGT6 1315]

Afternoon all!

 

Been a while that I posted anything in any of the modelling zones on here, but as I indicated on my Spanish themed blog on here, I recently felt confident enough to begin trying my hand at weathering!

 

My current workbench project is this Spanish Series 252 electric:

 

 

…intended to represent one of the final few of this class to have retained the "Grandes Líneas" livery. The base is the Mehano model which, as I guess I should mention up front, tends to be a bit more basic in certain areas. The ventilation grilles in the lateral roof planes do, for example, not have very much structure to them, so highlighting these sections might not be as easy as on models with deeper engravings.

 

As you can see, the model already has had a first pass of weathering. I should also mention up front that the 252s predominantly work passenger services, and thus generally do not appear to collect as much dirt and grot as freight locomotives do.

 

I guess you could say what I am trying to achieve is a just slightly worn appearance as in the following photos, for example:

 

Tren Hotel 252-023 Renfe by Juanjo Rodríguez, auf Flickr

 

Estrella 252-019 Renfe by Juanjo Rodríguez, auf Flickr

 

252-042-7 Alvia HYA_BIO-VGO_CRÑ Pancorbo (9) jcs by ppcharly, auf Flickr

 

 

As you should be able to tell from these photos, dirt seems to collect mainly around the solebar, underfloor transformer fairing and bufferbeam valances, with the usual layer of dirt – streaked by a combination of moisture and aerodynamic effects – on the cab faces. Furthermore, you can see an area of a greyish tan on the cab rooftops, caused by abrasion from the pantograph heads and overhead wires.

 

I obtained a couple of MIG pigments – powders and pre-mixed washes – for light and older rust, gun metal, grease, rain marks, dried mud and general industrial city dirt, and have, so far, been working with these. I also obtained a "filter" solution for toning down bright white.

 

For dilution, I tried both enamel thinner and isopropyl alcohol, but at this point cannot really say one of the two were really better than the other.

 

As you can see in the above model photo, I also tried to make a point of leaving the running number marking on the solebars "unweathered", because I frequently see just this and possibly a few other key items of technical lettering wiped clean on real locomotives.

 

 

Anyway, what I would like to ask for is any kind of advice as to which other weathering materials have worked well for you – especially if you have any experience with weathering "modern image" stock. Or, more generally, how you usually go about weathering modern railway stock.

 

I'm always willing to learn and I am, of course, aware that there may not be the one exclusive solution even for experienced modellers.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Glorious NSE]

I would recommend the Tamiya powders, you can build up a really nice subtle effect with them and they should work well on that big smooth bodyshell.