Weathered Locos & Stock

[steve50]

Hi Steve,
Re the fading I use greys/white in oils and work that over the body surfaces; you can do the same on coaches and wagons. It’s all about how much you leave on the surfaces that creates the level of fade.

Thank you, I did try that on a wagon or two but the factory finish was so smooth it was difficult to get the paint to stay on and when it did wiped off after I'd thought it dried.
I'll try a light coat of Matt varnish as a key next time.

This is something I’ve shared here before, but probably the simplest method of replicating faded paintwork is to spray the surface with thinned white paint, acrylic being the best as you can dry each coat with a hairdryer as you go to speed up the process.

Pelle Soeburg, a European modeller modelling in American HO, is an exponent of the art and uses it to attain the chosen weathered result in the shortest space of time, hence the title of one of his books on the subject: Done in a Day.

Here’s a photo from the cover of his book that shows a representation of a BNSF, formerly red in the main, diesel that’s been exposed to the harsh Californian sunshine, to give you an idea:

View attachment 197104

I recall he fades the uppermost surfaces more than the others to achieve the most realistic effect before progressing to other techniques.

Of course, it’s not as detailed as Neil’s work, however, it’s aimed at the modeller short on time or skill and I think is worth a go just to familiarise yourself with the technique and to judge whether it’s for you, as I mentioned, in a very short space of time.

jonte

Thank you, I have actually got that book somewhere on my shelves! I will certainly dig it out!

Steve.

 

[Ianfh]

Hi, New member! - me that is. First time I have looked at this thread, and particularly the photographs. Don't they just take your breath away!
Especially the 9F's, my current build. I am into final details, and MOK certainly provide enough detail 'bits'. These close ups will be good reference.

I purchased some elementary weathering materials at Guildex just. Also a six wheel oil tank wagon kit for £15 (including brass wheels and all necessary 'bits'). The rolled tank sheet was carefully wrapped in newspaper dated 1979! Ha! What a buy!

In wonder and amazement at this thread, I am now minded to paint it and have a first attempt at weathering. Certainly plenty of info herewith.

Thanks all, Ian

 

[adrian]

In wonder and amazement at this thread, I am now minded to paint it and have a first attempt at weathering.

Thanks for the feedback, I know this thread isn't my effort but I think that the best any of us posting hope for is that it encourages others to have a go.

 

[Podartist79]

Pelle’s work was an early inspiration to me, both weathering and scenery-wise.
One of my favourite extracts from the book shown is him weathering an ex-works fuel tank wagon(?) to make it appear ex-works but real, not an out of the box model.
Just my opinion - I believe that modellers think that an item of stock ‘out of the box’ represents ex-works condition - I really don’t think it does.

 

[Dog Star]

I believe that modellers think that an item of stock ‘out of the box’ represents ex-works condition - I really don’t think it does.

In your opinion, how does a RTR out-of-box model fail to represent an ex-works / new wagon?

 

[3 LINK]

In your opinion, how does a RTR out-of-box model fail to represent an ex-works / new wagon?

No grease on the buffers

 

[jonte]

‘Tis indeed a fabulous tome, Neil

My copy, unfortunately, is boxed up in the loft with countless other model railway paraphernalia where it will remain until I get the loft professionally cleaned, the result of having a new roof fitted last year

That will be the next job to address following building work to extend the rear ground floor commencing in the New Year.

Getting back to the book, although the examples are not surprisingly American, the techniques are equally applicable to British - or should I more fittingly say, U.K. - models, and I’d highly recommend it if not just for its speed of completion.

Jon

 

[simond]

In your opinion, how does a RTR out-of-box model fail to represent an ex-works / new wagon?

Graham

I recently discussed models with MissD who is an observant undergraduate Mech Eng, but not a modeller. We compared a Vulcan 57xx that I built some 20 years back with new Minerva ones. She preferred my hand-built one with its faults and said of the Minerva "they look plastic". They are similar colours, similar lettering, geometrically similar (happily!) but different surface finish, highlights, texture, I don't know what.

She commented on the Minerva siphon that I recently had a go at (see my workbench) and asked what the original was made from. I said "wood" of course, she said, "it's not right, it's too glossy". Again, I think it is not just the gloss, but somehow the texture, or perhaps the way that the gloss is distributed over the surface that makes the difference.

I wish I knew, in short and simple response to your question!

Simon

 

[michael080]

I have been thinking about that effect many times.
I believe that the difference is that plastic is dyed in its volume. The undyed raw material is translucent and hence the result colour is not coming from the surface, but also from the volume of the material. Some kind of 3-dimensional refletion and scattering.
In comparison, a painted model has a opaque surface that only reflects and scatters in 2 dimensions.

Or I am completely wrong...

Michael

 

[Podartist79]

In your opinion, how does a RTR out-of-box model fail to represent an ex-works / new wagon?

Hi Graham,
Simon and Michael have kindly and much more thoughtfully than I, explained the reasons I feel RTR ‘out of the box’ does not look like an ex-works loco, coach, wagon, etc.
Thank you both for that.
I believe - mainly through the teachings of others, Gordon Gravett being one - that colour and effects scale. Therefore, in my opinion, and in nearly all cases, RTR is too bright, and/or too stark.
Also, real things, however new, have texture(s) to some degree; wood grain, or the way the paint has been applied, or the number of layers of paint etc, but due to the manufacturing processes (I assume?) RTR doesn’t have those either.
Hope this explains a little more my view on this subject. I must reiterate, it’s only my view.
Best wishes,
Neil.

 

[Podartist79]

Hi, New member! - me that is. First time I have looked at this thread, and particularly the photographs. Don't they just take your breath away!
Especially the 9F's, my current build. I am into final details, and MOK certainly provide enough detail 'bits'. These close ups will be good reference.

I purchased some elementary weathering materials at Guildex just. Also a six wheel oil tank wagon kit for £15 (including brass wheels and all necessary 'bits'). The rolled tank sheet was carefully wrapped in newspaper dated 1979! Ha! What a buy!

In wonder and amazement at this thread, I am now minded to paint it and have a first attempt at weathering. Certainly plenty of info herewith.

Thanks all, Ian

Evening Ian,
Welcome.
Thank you for the very kind comments, they are very much appreciated.
Great work on the MOK 9F build; well above my abilities to undertake that - building anything in truth!
Look forward to seeing the results of your painting and weathering.
Best wishes,
Neil.

 

[Podartist79]

Weathering work recently completed.
The first is a Masterpiece pannier tank in WWII livery (what it states on the Masterpiece Models box). Certainly an interesting model and very nice she is too!
I’m told the red lamps - even at this stage - could be prototypical as it took a while for them to go from red to white (nice to have had a mix).
I spent an awful lot of time on texture as the client wanted the loco to look careworn. I kept the tank sides cleanish to suggest someone had given them a wipe over at some point. In so doing, I think it adds to/enhances the dirtier textured areas.

 

[Podartist79]

The next loco to come off the ‘weathering line’ is a Lee Marsh 9F with the Consett ‘gubbins’.
The brief was for her to be considerably careworn and I thrilled in undertaking this. I spent a lot of time working on the upward facing surfaces trying to add the many layers there inevitably are when a loco is this filthy.
Another stunning model from the Lee Marsh stable. I’m very lucky to get to work on such models.
*Main view courtesy of David Thomas
**Photos taken on Kevin Wilson’s Bucks Hill Model Railway

 

[NHY 581]

There's a lovely 'warmth' about the hue of that 9F.

Stunning.

Rob

 

[spikey faz]

They look stunning! Are you still using the same oil paints as in your previous weathering projects?

In some of the prototype pictures of the 9fs I notice the accumulated grime has completely obliterated the BR emblems on the tenders. If I was to try to emulate this on my own model, I'm wondering if it's even worth applying the emblems in the first place. I'd be interested to know your thoughts.

Cheers
Mike

 

[Paul Tomlinson]

They look stunning! Are you still using the same oil paints as in your previous weathering projects?

In some of the prototype pictures of the 9fs I notice the accumulated grime has completely obliterated the BR emblems on the tenders. If I was to try to emulate this on my own model, I'm wondering if it's even worth applying the emblems in the first place. I'd be interested to know your thoughts.

Cheers
Mike

These are both stunning jobs, so hats off to Neil. I'd just like to flag up that Steve at Railtec does "faded" crests (I've just bought some of the early versions) which seem to me a good starting point for a weathered model.

Railtec Transfers - waterslide model railway transfers (decals) for 4mm/OO gauge, 2mm/N gauge, 7mm/O gauge and all other gauges and hobbies

Model railway waterslide transfers (decals) for all scales, including custom transfer service.

www.railtec-models.com

 

[freelance7]

Outstanding and Lovely work Neil.

Paul

 

[Nigel Smith]

The next loco to come off the ‘weathering line’ is a Lee Marsh 9F with the Consett ‘gubbins’.
The brief was for her to be considerably careworn and I thrilled in undertaking this. I spent a lot of time working on the upward facing surfaces trying to add the many layers there inevitably are when a loco is this filthy.
Another stunning model from the Lee Marsh stable. I’m very lucky to get to work on such models.
*Main view courtesy of David Thomas
**Photos taken on Kevin Wilson’s Bucks Hill Model Railway
View attachment 199323View attachment 199324View attachment 199325View attachment 199326View attachment 199327View attachment 199328

You're getting there Podders

 

[John57sharp]

Two stunning locos. Very well done indeed.

John

 

[John57sharp]

I just wanted to add a line to the discussion upstream regarding texture. My own observations relate to the fact that RTR tends to be perfect, there is very little In the way of panel variation, this is especially true of diesels where you just don’t get that indication that these things are made of sheets of metal, not moulded out of one piece. Very hard to reproduce I know.

Just my ha’penny worth

John