Sam’s been in touch with some wonderful advice on weathering model trains – and the layout in general:
“I can’t believe how much time my layout takes – I love experimenting with different techniques – keep them coming please!
The Old B12 rusty loco was just an old bodyshell minus the front door – I glue gunned 3 wheels onto the body and applied rust effects (The Vallejo Rust and Chipping effects is a great set – comes with instructions and actually quick to apply with a brush and sponge)
Apologies for the Jurassic park going on in the background – my son does like to put some life into my layout!!!!
Vandals!!!!! A burnt out BR mail van – really easy – just attacked it with Dremell, stuck all the bits in the bottom with poly cement, liberally added some matt black paint and a few rust spots. The couplings were removed for realism (I actually used these to repair an old loco!). Took a couple of hours.
The rail carrier is the chassis of an old Lima coach with lengths of the old steel Hornby track – nicely rusted after leaving them in the garden for a couple of days – and held on with jewellery chain – rusted with the afore mentioned paint set.
I’m still analogue!!! but have isolation rails to allow several loco’s to ‘park’ in sidings.
If anyone spots the slightly strange road way, it’s actually an old Minic Roadways set from my late father. Scale OO. I have a rail crossing so we can set two trains going and race, trying to beat the trains to the crossing.
Home made pallets from thin veneer, sliced and glued – I measured a real pallet and divided by 76. Not sure if it’s worth the effort as they’re very fiddly to make!!!
Sam”
A big thanks to Sam. There’s quite a bit on weathering on the blog now – here are a few more:
Weathered HO scale locomotives.
Weathering model railroad cars.
Weathering model railroad rolling stock tutorial.
Next up, Mark:
“Hi Al. To add interest to a still water pond you can add small lines of plaster to the pond bottom, then paint the bottom green and finish off with clear resin or Woodland Scenics water.
I added the BN red engine to better highlight the reflection.
Now if I can just get control of those pesky HO scale mosquitos…… 😉
Mark”
A big thanks to Mark and to Sam for sharing his take on weathering model trains.
Sam proves you should really never throw anything away – and I love how he’s given his layout so much character.
Mark’s pic is stunning – as always. And a superb tip too.
That’s all for today folks.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if today is the big day when you spring into action, 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.
And there’s the Silly Discount bundle too.
Super detailed layout. I like the idea with the rusting locomotive and the burnt out carriage. Good work.
Great work,,,and yes the pallets were worth your time,,fantastic
The dinosours are a great touch! I have o gauge cows and fence on my ho layout because my five year old thinks the empty space in the intermodal yard should be used for farming. Gotta keep t I ose kids involved! They add a lot of fun to the effort.
I am preparing to begin my Northwest logging railroad. These are great ideas and I love the track car.
Sam, I still have items from Tri-ang Minic Roadways, bought in the 1960s. I had to look twice to make sure I saw that in your pictures. If only they had DCC back in those days! Great photos and a great layout you have there!
I like the idea of not throwing out stuff. Just went to a swap meet with dad and bought a real rough looking gondola. He wanted the trucks and couplers, not the body. Told him dont toss out the body, we’re going to make some kind of distressed looking pile of junk out of it. Cost $5 (U.S.). Heck, new trucks are $10 each! (He works in “O-27” scale, since he’s 86 it’s hard to use smaller). I like the burned out mail car!! That’s giving me some ideas. -Pete, Calif.
details…details…details…
that’s what makes the layout sooo realistic
good jobs fellas
keep it runnin!!
great detail like the carriage effect. the rusty loco looks like its getting reborn.nice effect on the loco shed.nice hint on the pond what a great effect.
I like it Sam. All you need is 2 workers with a gas scrap torch cutting up the old loco.
Paul Otway
Luv your imagination and will to work with what you have readily available. Your tips will be utilized as I too have kept too much stuff [the wife says]. Thx for sharing all the tricks of the layout modelling trade. Good Luck………..Harold Jr. GPTx,USA
Sam.
Brilliant. Its obvious that you’re not only learning from experimenting but also having fun. Yes, railways do take time, but its fun! Keep going. BobT
very nice, I wish i could do scenery like that
Nice. Mark, terrific detail with that water scene. And Sam, some unique effects with rolling stock. Great modeling to you both.
Jim AZ
Two very posts Al, great looking layout and the pond/Burlington diesel pic was Awesome
Cary B
Love the ripple effect, will have to try it on a creek I am doing.
Great layout Sam with some very interesting details. Mark your still water is spot on and I love that red Burlington GP 30 too. Rob McCrain – Farland Howe
Good to see the Minic Roadway – has the Lledo bus been converted to run on it, or is it just sat on the road?
Good workmanship; I going to have to do some that to my layout too. I like the track car and burnout car.
From Sam to Sam….
Fantastic work, I wish I had your layout!
All the best,
Sam
Nice original ideas.
Sam, those pallets are fantastic. Only thing not quite right is that pallets are made with wood that has a dirty look before they’re even assembled.
Hi Sam,
Did Dell Boy crash by the loco shed or is he offering a deal on the rusty loco?
Andrew in Oz
I love the water in the pond, nice work. The ripples look real!!!!!!!!!! KUDOS
Great layout Sam, FYI The Last photo was not BN red it is the CB&Q RR (Burlington Route) Chinese Red.
very nice. i have seen the railroad track on a car before, nice.
That burned out mail car reminds me of my old Penn Central days when we made a bar car out of a mail car. It too burnt up.
i like the details very nice.