Weathering black Private Owner wagons

[justin1985]

The vast majority of private owner mineral wagons were actually black with white lettering, despite the fact most models seem to be of the more elaborate liveries and brighter colours. Even books on weathering seem to focus on the brighter liveries, where I guess the weathering is easier to reproduce in print, or on PO wagons in the BR era with very heavy weathering and replaced planks etc.

 

I'm modelling a rake of wagons for 1920s condition - I'm really pleased with the results from varied dark washes on grey, red and brown wagons, over black they just seem to result in them getting too dark (especially in 2mm scale). I'm tempted to try gently fading the sides with a grey - or lighter weathering shades. Has anyone tried this? Or any other tips for weathering black painted "wood" ?

[Torr Giffard LSWR 1951-71]

....I'd be mixing a range of matt near to black shades in an artists dimple pallette....expecting that any deposits e.g. coal dust would pale the original black shade...along with any weathering/deterioration of the wood. Subtle blending of various dark tones should recreate this well and avoid the biggest mistake of all which is a uniform all over black. If there are any surface details such as plank gaps on the model then I'd be looking to darken those first and then apply the slightly lighter shades after to give the impression of depth. I brush apply many well thinned coats of enamel rather than few thicker layers as the paint thickness will be crucial to the end result.

 

Dave 

[Siberian Snooper]

A dusting of brake dust around the wagons nether regions and a bit of rust on the door bangs and possibly on some of the metal work. Some oily highlights around the axleboxes and thats about it.