your portal to more fun in scale model railroading
your portal to more fun in scale model railroading
by Eric Hansmann
Weathering railroad rolling stock is a subtle way of adding a bit of realism to your model trains. When you are trackside, do you see any freight cars that are truly clean? Unless you are beside the tracks at a factory which makes freight cars, the answer is 'no'. All cars have some form of weathering that has accumulated on the sides, ends and underbody of the freight car. Mud, dirt, dust, rust, vegetation, spilt cargo, oils, peeling paint, garbage, faded lettering and paint, scrapes, and graffiti are all forms of weathering. I'll cover a few techniques I enjoy using on some of my models that can get you started.
In many cases, our new freight cars are a little too shiny as they come right out of the box. Just killing this plastic shine can make your rolling stock look a little more realistic. Use a spray from a can of Testors brand "Dullcote" (or a similar product that dulls a finish) to lightly cover the car. This can also form a base with a little more "tooth" for some of the techniques mentioned later. If you want to fade or modify some of the lettering on the car, do that first before using Dullcote, as the over spray will fix the lettering as it is. Always work in a well-ventilated area, preferably outside, when using a spray can.
To begin weathering models of rolling stock, get a few cheap cars to play with. You know, the ones that are on sale at two for a dollar, or four for ten dollars. Swap meets and garage sales can garner a few victims. While you are getting some cars ready, take a few photographs of freight cars along your local railroad, or in a nearby freight yard. If you don't have any working rails nearby, check through some issues of Trains, Railfan, Railpace, or any magazine that has features on the real railroads. There are several good sources on the Internet, if you search around. Look closely for photos of rolling stock and collect a variety with different degrees and types of weathering. Use these as references for your efforts.
Here are some other items you may need to begin weathering freight cars:
I'm sure you are beginning to wonder what this is all about. I weather models in layers, kind of like nature. I sometimes use only one or two layers, or I go all out with five or six layers. The nice part is that any one layer of work can be acceptable.
Here are my basic layers:
I also do not use an airbrush for this work. This is all done by hand. Many people do use airbrushes and achieve remarkable results. But, using an airbrush means doing this work under a ventilated hood or working outside. You don't want to weather your entire room, just the model at hand. When using the alcohol, please do so with adequate ventilation. Keep the lids on those jars as much as possible. I try to stay away from more toxic solvents and cleaners because of this. Be smart and work smart.
Let's go over these layers one step at a time.
RUST ON METAL PARTS
What color is rust? This is a trick question, as there is no correct answer. I've seen rust that ranges from bright orange, to auburn, to brown. Find a rust color that makes you happy. Mix up some of the Ochre and Raw Umber and maybe a touch of white.
Take a look at your bargain freight car and determine the metal parts. Of course, an all metal car does have a lot of metal parts, but look at those that protrude out from the car. Grab irons, stirrup steps, roof walks, door hardware, rivets, brake wheels, structural ribs, and those trucks and wheels. Look over those images and see where rust shows up. What you want to do is drybrush the rust color in several of these places. You don't want to coat all of these items, but you want to give many of them a hint of rust.
To drybrush, grab a stiff bristle brush and just dab the end into the rust paint. You only want the paint on the end of the bristles. Whisk the brush over a piece of cardboard a few times until most of the paint is out of it. This technique comes up again in another part, so learn to love it.
Now, go over a few of the metal parts on your freight car. A flick here and there is all you need. Do one side first, then set your model down and compare it to a few photos. If you were a bit heavy handed, dampen some paper toweling and daub off your efforts. Now you know why we got cheap cars to work with, right? Wait 'til the paint dries some before doing the other side. Once the sides are done, do each end.
I also add rust to the truck side frames and to the inside part of the wheels. Try this on one car, then set it beside a plain one. You will notice that the plain trucks look like black holes under the model. The drybrushing not only adds color, but it highlights surfaces to bring out details and depth.
HIGHLIGHTS ON PROTRUDING PARTS
Guess what? If you did the rust part, this is the same, but with different paint. I use white, but an off white or tan can be used to good effect. The drybrushing here establishes edges and other details. I go over as much of the car as possible, but I try not to highlight a continuous edge on longer details such as corners.
This work can be done heavily or with a light touch. Try it both ways to see how you like it. You will also get a better feel for developing your technique.
DIRT AND GRIME WASH
There is nothing like giving a model a good wash. I mix up several weathering solutions of various strengths. I use black or brown shoe leather dye, mixed with Isopropyl alcohol. Pour a glug of the dye into a jar and a few glugs of the alcohol. It's not very scientific, but it works for me. I mix up strong, medium and weak concoctions of brown and black. I also have a dedicated pump bottle with a medium black strength solution in it. This is great to give an overall spray to the models. Sometimes I'll over spray models outside. The sun and air accelerate the drying process, which can give you slightly different results.
I did not invent this technique. I learned it from an article published several years ago by noted modeler Dr. Wayne Wesolowski. I suggest you check it out to learn some more. "Dr. Weso's Weathering Goop" - Railroad Model Craftsman, September 1977, page 38.
To apply this with a brush, just dip the brush into the mix, then carefully dab the brush under the roof line of the car and let gravity pull the solution down the sides. If I want a strong grimy look, I just pull the brush along at the top of the car side and let gravity take over. I do this a few times and carefully soak up the excess along the bottom with a paper towel. Check those photos over and see where grime collects.
One point to remember when you use this alcohol solution on a keeper car. Many cars are lettered with alcohol based inks. If you use a heavy application of an alcohol based weathering solution, you could dissolve the lettering. Now, this can also work in your favor as you weather your models. Sometimes you want to get a faded lettering effect, or you want some lettering to be removed. Soak a Q-tip in alcohol and rub on the lettering you want to alter. If the paint is alcohol based, it won't take long for you to see results.
TOUCH UP THE RUSTED PARTS
Just a second drybrushing of rust color. This step is only needed if the wash or white highlighting has obscured the original rust drybrushing. Sometimes I do this to add 'newer' rust to other surfaces.
ADD SOME DUST
If you were wondering about the dirt mentioned in the menu of things needed, here is where it can come in. I use a small baby spoon or plastic spoon to shovel on a little bit of dirt. Then I whisk it off with the larger soft bristled brush. Sometimes, I'll rub it in with my finger to get some of the dirt into the cracks and crevices, then brush off the excess. I don't use any spray to fix this onto the car. I find the spray just blows most of the dirt right off of the model.
To get different shades of dust, carefully grind up some earth toned pastel chalks and apply them in a similar manner. I found a product called 'Rottenstone' that is an extremely fine gray powder. It is apparently a polishing rouge in the furniture industry and there are other similar products with different shades. Another avenue to explore for more weathering techniques...
Some people fix this dust onto the model using a spray dull finish, such as Testors Dullcote. The chalk and dirt can be fixed on the side of your car using the Dullcote. The spray will tend to wash or blow away some of your weathering. It may take several alternating applications of "dust" and spray to get the effect you are looking for. Be sure the surface you are working on is horizontal and the spray coats should be as light as you can make them. As always, work outdoors or in a very well ventilated area.
CREATE WATER STREAKS
Water affects real buildings and railroad cars more than any other element. Look closely at photographs and observe how water washes off the dirt and grime in some areas, but leaves it in others. Look at the rows of rivets and along supporting ribs. You can do this with a light grimy wash (mostly alcohol) and a pointed brush. Dip the brush into the solution and dab it on the edge of the jar. You may not want a full paintbrush of the wash for this. Then, carefully dab the model and let gravity pull it down the side in a streak. Reapply more wash if you want it to go all the way down the side. Dust and dirt that was applied earlier may run down with the solution and collect along the bottom edge. Now you are getting somewhere!
DOUBLE CHECK THE HIGHLIGHTS
Once you have finished with one or many layers of weathering, let the model dry thoroughly. Come back to it after a few days and check the highlights that were applied early in the process. Much of this may have been washed away or covered in other layers of your work. If you need to, go back over and drybrush on some white to bring these details out. This is optional, as is any step here, of course.
So, what do you have? My first few attempts were embarrassing, and there are still occasional efforts that I am not excited about. Much of my rolling stock is weathered and it all looks great rolling down the tracks. I did a couple of cheap cars that ended up so good that I had to upgrade the underframe, wheels, couplers and trucks so I could run them on the railroad!
These techniques can be used on any model. There are many more avenues to try out and experiment with on future projects. Keep your eyes open for neat articles in the hobby magazines, and don't discount an idea that gets published for a different scale or type of model.
Good luck!
Eric