Weathering model railroad cars

Jim’s been in touch – he’s shared his latest vid on weathering model railroad cars:

“Greetings, Al.

I’m still weathering freight cars but it’s heating up here in the desert and so is my garage. So it’s time to scale back.

This video highlights a flat car converted to a wheel carrier using I beams and plastic bolsters from shade brackets and cafe tables with the legs cut off for anchoring bolts. And of course, old plastic wheel sets, painted and weathered with powders.

The cars were weathered with dull cote, layers of powders, light washes of white paint and more powders.

Weathering is a much like trial and error process. And how heavy or light you want the cars to look. Your time period for your layout is key. So some cars can actually look relatively new. Photos of the cars you want to weather helps too.

Hope you all enjoy and looking forward to more of your posts.

Jim AZ”

weathering model railroad cars

weathering model railroad cars

weathered gondola model train

weathering model railroad cars

model train freight

weathering model railroad cars



Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

Now on to Eon:

“Hey Al i`ve attatched some pics of my 00 gaugemodel railway 4 track bridges that i made from scrap.

It has worked out a lot cheaper than buying the plastic single track bridges sold in shops.

My layout is outdoor so there is good weathering on them but no signs of fading colour.

All you need is lots of time and an idea (drawing) of what you want your bridge to look like and some materials…

Hammer, small pins, wood glue, outdoor gloss paint, wood preserver, small saw and the bits of wood.

Best Regards,

Eon”

scratch built model train bridge

scratch built model train bridge

scratch built model train bridge

scratch built model train bridge

model railroad bridge

A huge thanks to Jim for sharing his weathering model railroad cars vid – I do enjoy his videos.

That’s all for today folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.

PPS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.





24 Responses to Weathering model railroad cars

  1. Robert Brady says:

    Great photog wish u panned out and made it longer,Captured my attention.Great layout from what I could see!

  2. Cary B says:

    Very nice looking weathered cars, Loved the video

    Cary B

  3. Frank Cortese says:

    I like the realistic touch . You did a great job! Just wondering, why aren’t weathered cars available from the manufacturers???
    Frank, Florida near Micky Mouse.

  4. Webster Morton says:

    They look like real ones, the car with the wheels is very real.
    Web

  5. This is the best weathering I have seen. Thanks for sharing it with us. I’d like a more detailed description of exactly how you did it.

  6. Warren Ferguson says:

    Really fine work! Could you do a demo of how you do it? Thank you for sharing.

  7. Tom says:

    The weathering is great!

  8. steve joyce says:

    I have to concur. Great job but would like a video on how you did it. I model tanks so I have skill there but it is twice as big and one can easlily “over weather”

  9. Kevin McArdle says:

    Makes all the difference in the world, takes the cars from toys to craftsman models. Beautiful work. Get an air conditioner for the garage.

  10. christine says:

    That was cool, looked very real.

  11. Thomas Murphy says:

    Now this really got me thinking ~ what have I missed with my weathering project?

  12. Peter Evangel says:

    Very very nice. Your work rivals the things on seen at the weatheringshop!!!! Love the old rust looking stuff. Makes it real. OK, now for your next video. A “how to”!!!! Would love to know how you do it.

    Pete
    Sunny Silicon Valley.

  13. tom in az says:

    Well Jim great work! I don`t know where in AZ you are but today in Phx. temp will be 107. I left valley to live in Payson. Still warm but not as bad. Love your layout. I have two a large N scale and a HO that goes in 2 buildings via a glass bridge.I wish I could weather as well as you, great job. Tom in Payson AZ

  14. Arthur Rago says:

    Great job! How about doing a couple of “live” demo’s actually creating the weathering?

  15. James Groseclose says:

    Great job !! Look really good !! Now for some graffiti

  16. dave says:

    Very nice done vid and the cars Yes get AC out there !!

  17. Cary Price says:

    Hey Jim, some of the best weathering I’ve seen, especially love the mix of both new and old cars, very realistic. Wish I could get results like that but much of my weathering always seems to be overdone and looks like a bad paint job. Kudos on mastering the technique! Cary in KY

  18. Steven Schaeffer says:

    Weathered Freight Cars video was fantastic. The music towards the end was wonderful, but credit should be given to the band or musician!

    “Doc” Schaeffer

  19. Ian McDonald says:

    great video very good weathering. thanks for sharing.

  20. Bill Roberts says:

    I thought it was a full size train until I saw the bolt heads on the sides of the table. Simply the best I have ever seen. I thought that nothing rusts in Arizona!

  21. Jim says:

    Perhaps a video of my process is in the future and down the line.

    Again, great thanks for comments.

    Jim AZ

  22. Jim Donovan says:

    Rust is a Must

  23. BruCE H. says:

    Jim
    Thinking your next weathering focus and expertise could be on layout; ie weathered rails and ties, even your buildings, and other structures.

  24. Will in NM says:

    Eon,
    Nice set of bridges! You have more patience for that kind of work than I do. One observation: I think real bridges like those would have a lot more cross bracing.

    Jim,
    Another nice video! Your weathering is spot on. Maybe when it gets too hot in the garage you could do a “weathering tutorial” video in the cool of your house. Also, there are air conditioners called “split mini’s” that can be added to a single room and work like a heat pump. I added one to my wife’s 15 x 20 art studio for under $4,000 installed. Adding 300 sq ft of air-conditioned space also improves the home value when you get ready to sell.

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