In this 2nd addition to my quick tricks series, I show a basic weathering trick you can do to many smooth roof covered hoppers, like this NSC car shown.
I have an O gauge layout but it doesn't matter. I'm trying to make a shoving platform from an old SP-styled caboose. Shoving platforms are notoriously weathered and generally trashed with boarded up windows, etc. I'm going to use your techniques and the kinds of paints you use. Hopefully if I can make it look half as good as yours, I'll be happy. Keep up the great work!
I'm glad you have noticed the skid paint, thats one of the most overlooked details for roofs like this. I like your technique, I'm going to borrow that on my next covered hopper. Keep up the good work!
love your weathering guides Dan! Just got some Intermountain Santa Fe 4650 3 bay hoppers (got 3 of em for $135AU....!!!) looking fwd to weathering them one day
Its videos like these that make me wish I went H.0. Scale......you have such a massive blank canvas to work with. I feel like in N and Z scales that I'm getting into outside of airbrushing and powders, its almost impossible to get the multiple color tones of rust like in larger scales. However, I do love your style, so had to sub.
Would love to see videos from start to finish on a boxcar, a covered Hopper, a tank car etc. I know you have done this in the past but I know that you have started using some new materials for your weathering also such as oils and pigments/chalks. Covering couplers, underside and wheels/trucks. Especially interested in how you mix your oils and acrylics to get such great rust and weathering effects. Love your work, you do such a detailed and realistic job on all your cars!
Your weathering methods are Top Notch. Waiting on a model of the Trinity early 5851 and late 6421 capacity plastic pellet hoppers to weather and graffiti. They are out there in mass like the ACF/ARI cars.
Thanks Dan for the tutorial. Can you do a tutorial on other scratch building and or wreathing with just powders. Also I loved your tutorial on the high gondolas I’m creating a ns one right now!
Dan, awesome technique and timely. I have a dozen CMO and UP 5188s to weather. How are you getting your panel lines on the sides done? So many of these cars weather with just the seams on the sides collecting grime, but getting that in N scale is prooving troublesome so far.
I move along fine weathering covered hoppers until I get to doing the end kick up inside the cage. Then I get frustrated and shelve the model and don’t weather for months.
That can be very tedious for sure. I would try starting with the ends on some older less important models so you can get a feel for what needs to be built up first. It's layering. Washes first, then build up your spray pattern, then splatter.
Great work Dan! I do have a question - when you use the acrylics (both for weathering and for graffiti) - do you dullcote the car first or do you put the acrylics on the factory finish? Thanks!
I do NOT use graffiti on any of my models as I model a time period before graffiti was even thought of. I hate to see graffiti on any railroad car or coach. Looks to me like the railroads would prohibit such on their rolling stock. I use my homemade rust on my models. Very effective and realistic. Cheers from eastern TN
