Weathering an N Scale Cement Hopper 

I do not like handling my cars while painting and weathering. I use a scrape 1x3 I use a drill bit after measuring the distance of the car bolsters. I drill holes to install pop rivets ( some times you have to file down the tip of the rivets that will secure the car) . Built a few for 40, 50, and larger covered hoppers. Have you ever used a fish tank filter to add rust or chips? The other thing I like to do is take 1000 or 1500 sand paper and work the logo before I dull the car down. I do like your way of teaching guys the technics you use. Thanks for sharing!

Hi C Mastracci , awesome how to video. I do have a concrete plant on my layout. Looks like I’m going to be doing some weathering. But most of my cars will be light to medium. I may do a few heavy just depends on the age of the car. Thanks for sharing. Have a good week. 😎😎 👍

If the bottle says Indian Red, then I'm going to say it and show it saying Indian Red! PC IS BS!

It looks great, nice work!

Great video 👍🏻

A good way to describe this technique could be called “leopard spotting “ And until you get the hang of it “less is more.”

Sounds like you're offended by other people being offended...😂 Great weathering job, though...

Have you tried using makeup blending sponges? They will give you a smaller texture to the layers of paint. You can buy one pack of them, and have a lifetime supply.

Handle the car! If you got gloves, cool. If not its ok. If someone is getting close enough to your work to see if you handled it by hand or a jig, then they need to leave! I have a small block of wood with about 20 holes drilled in it and two wooden skewers to move as needed for different car lengths. The only time i find myself using it is for fading or weathering that I use the airbrush for. Other than that, I typically hold the car by hand just like this. Real N scalers like us live on the edge 😎😎 As long as you matte the car before hand, fisheye will be a non issue. Maybe a finger print in the oil once in a while.... I cut a 6" hole in my work bench and have a hair/blow dryer sitting in it at the ready right beside my booth. Regardless of method be it water soluble oils diluted with terpenoid, or acrylics ( i dilute all acrylics with ammonia free windex), i can get them dry enough within a few minutes to seal it for the next step. I typically seal a car 5 to 6 times during my processes. With it being a Conrail car, and severely old for modern times, take some of the dark rust, and basically write over the letters and the logo. Hit it with a dryer for a couple minutes, then lightly drag a damp brush of terpenoid downward from the very bottom edge of all the letters. You really show the cars age. Even with all the work you already done to it, you'll love the after effect of it. I really need to get a camera and video some of my work, and make some weathering videos myself. Eventually, one day maybe

Those old wheels with large flange are called pizza cutters !

great work on those atlas hoppers. One thing you could try to have the ladders and steps look thinner is this : paint the ladder and steps solid black, then when the paint is drying gently rub of the paint on the outside, not the sides. That way you will only see a flat and thin ladder and steps. It works well.

Nice job my good friend 👍