Weather (or not) Your trains

I don't weather, but as recently mentioned on another thread, I have naturally weathered trains that I like, including this oil tanker car that I purchased with rust on it for very little money:

Weathering looks great, but IMHO you're either "all-in" or not. Some weathered cars look worse to me than none. I'm staying with non-weathered (for now) only because I'm not up for weathering everything I have.

Only if it comes from the factory that way.

I like the look, but don't know if I can do a good enough job at weathering them myself.

What do you folks think about weathering with chalk dust that can be easily removed?

I like weathering if the entire layout is weathered.  If the entire layout isn't weathered they just look out of place to me.

My layouts won't be weathered because I don't have the time to do so.

-Greg

A few of our weathered cars, a few actual cars.  John in Lansing, ILL

I use Dullcote, pastel chalks, and some spray paint.  I first spray the entire loco with Dullcoat before applying chalks and other paints.  The paints I use are a flat black spray and/or Floquil  Grimmy Black which I just ran out of. Once all the chalks and paint has been applied I then seal everything with a coat of Dullcote. Here  are the two steam locos that I have weathered this year ... a Docksider and a Pennsy A5.  These are the first two locos I have ever weathered.   For the A5 I splashed coal all over the tender deck to give added realism.  

Docksider, I sprayed drivers/ side rods with Floquil Grimmy Black spray paint to get rid of the shine. 

Dockside sitting in the yard.

Dockside in natural morning light as it shines through a window ( out of photo ) on left.

Side view.  Camera is hand held.  Loco is actually on level track

The  K line A5 brand new just out of the box.  The little fella there is giving the A5  the once over inspection.

A5 after the weathering process.

I splashed extra coal on the tender deck all around the coal bunker.

Front tender apron with spilled coal.

Another view of the tender's top side.   I've weathered many of my freight cars before I attempted weathering these two locos.  I applied the same weathering process to these locos.   I find the weathering process most relaxing/therapeutic.  

I'm slowly weathering practically my entire fleet.  It's a long process but I currently have enough weathered freight cars, and locomotives to run at the same time on my layout if I so desire.  My layout has a weathered look to it so the weathered trains fit right into the overall scenic context. 

I will leave some of my locomotives, such as my scale Lionel J N&W J class , Aerotrain, scale GG1's  unweathered.    I want those locos to gleam as they pull the varnish around my layout.  I will weather a few passenger cars at some time in the future, however, most of my passenger car fleet will reflect well maintained varnish.  

Mostly yes. I like use an Artist oil paints, Pan pastels with a turpentine.

I like the realism of lightly weathered scale/semi-scale trains on a detailed layout.

That said, I like Warrenville's postwar Lionel's to be clean and bright and would never weather them.

Learning about and sharing our different preferences is a good part of what makes visiting the layouts and collections of others, and reading the postings on this forum, most enjoyable.

Eventually, I intend to weather all my equipment but building the layout is my priority right now.  I do enjoy weathering though. I've done a few cars and hope to get a few more done when I get the chance.

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

Mostly yes. I like use an Artist oil paints, Pan pastels with a turpentine.

Nicely done!

Of course...:

...but only the modern stuff, never the prewar or postwar.

richtrow posted:

Eventually, I intend to weather all my equipment but building the layout is my priority right now.  I do enjoy weathering though. I've done a few cars and hope to get a few more done when I get the chance.

Looking a really good. 👏

Johan

Greg Houser posted:

I like weathering if the entire layout is weathered.  If the entire layout isn't weathered they just look out of place to me.

My layouts won't be weathered because I don't have the time to do so.

-Greg

My layout is weathered only because it is a mess. LOL. So my trains should be weathered but they're not, except for those that are also a mess. LOL, Arnold

It doesn't have to be all or nothing. After watching quite a few train videos and watching cars go by while sitting at crossings, I've noticed that much of the weathering severity depends on the age of the car. Not unusual to see some shiny, graffitee-less cars show up among the well-worn. 

Terry

trumptrain posted:

I'm slowly weathering practically my entire fleet.  It's a long process but I currently have enough weathered freight cars, and locomotives to run at the same time on my layout if I so desire.  My layout has a weathered look to it so the weathered trains fit right into the overall scenic context. 

I will leave some of my locomotives, such as my scale Lionel J N&W J class , Aerotrain, scale GG1's  unweathered.    I want those locos to gleam as they pull the varnish around my layout.  I will weather a few passenger cars at some time in the future, however, most of my passenger car fleet will reflect well maintained varnish.  

Patrick, the extra coal is a very nice touch. It adds realism. Good job'..

I  very much appreciate the fine artistry exemplified on this and other threads, but it is not my "cup of tea". I do own a number of LGB locos and rolling stock that have factory minimal roof  weathering, and that is OK.

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

Mostly yes. I like use an Artist oil paints, Pan pastels with a turpentine.

You never mentioned how large you printed your background image of the lakes of Maine??

Nice weathering'..  

How about this as an alternative?  The railroads keep all their equipment in like new condition so we would not have to mess up our equipment to match theirs.

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

Mostly yes. I like use an Artist oil paints, Pan pastels with a turpentine.

You never mentioned how large you printed your background image of the lakes of Maine??

Nice weathering'..  

 

Ted. Thanks. The Maine background size is a 30cm x 60cm. 

Johan

My preference would be to lightly weather most of my stuff.  If I ever get around to doing it someday. 

Thank goodness for 3-rail.  No big deal if it never happens. 

Gilly@N&W posted:

Weathering looks great, but IMHO you're either "all-in" or not. Some weathered cars look worse to me than none. I'm staying with non-weathered (for now) only because I'm not up for weathering everything I have.

Tom

Not necessarily so. I have about 65% of my collection weathered. There are a few pieces and my passenger trains that are not weathered. I dont mix, but thats my preference.

Steve

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

Mostly yes. I like use an Artist oil paints, Pan pastels with a turpentine.

You never mentioned how large you printed your background image of the lakes of Maine??

Nice weathering'..  

 

Ted. Thanks. The Maine background size is a 30cm x 60cm. 

Johan

Approximately 1 foot by 2 feet'.   Thanks Johan'.. 

If dust counts then my layout and trains are VERY weathered!

I don't weather at the moment. Maybe one day. For now its just dust.

I will commend those who do it. Very nice work folks.

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

Mostly yes. I like use an Artist oil paints, Pan pastels with a turpentine.

You never mentioned how large you printed your background image of the lakes of Maine??

Nice weathering'..  

 

Ted. Thanks. The Maine background size is a 30cm x 60cm. 

Johan

Approximately 1 foot by 2 feet'.   Thanks Johan'.. 

Ted. You're welcome.

Johan

This is a very controversial subject to say the least.  Weathering depends on a variety of many factors.  It is probably the most personal of any topic or discipline in the hobby.  To many it is difficult to deface a $500 or $600 or more locomotive.  It took me several years in the hobby to start weathering motive equipment.  I starred  first with my scratch built structures.  Moved on to box cars, then locos.  The problem I saw, was either too much, or not enough weathering.  Getting it just right was the key.

Studying real trains in all types of situations was the key, and studying work done by the pros, like the "Weathering Shop" and others was helpful.

However, a certain artistic flair/skill is required. If an individual never painted a picture, or drew or dabbled in any type of serious art, it is difficult to obtain perfect results in a realistic looking weathered unit.  It requires more than just dabbing on A/I and powders.  However, I found once I started and each one I did, the results were better, and better. Practice makes perfect.  I went back and re-weathered  my originals.

Now it is second nature.  But it was not in the beginning .  Another point is even in a yard, not everything is filthy dirty, but everything will have some weathering from natural resources.  In the mean time, the modeling suppliers have made a fortune on weathering product$ .  The bottom line on this is, how much self confidence and how much prototypical does one have, and want to be.  If you start, you'll most likely find it hard to stop... But what ever you do', remember rule # 1.   You only have to please yourself. Your railroad, do it your way and have fun'.........

I enjoy age appropriate weathering. I have done some and try to make sure the built dates match how the cars look over time. Not all trains need it nore all buildings but it definitely ads realism when done correctly.

Weathering seems like the politics of Trains. I like it dirty. It seems there are more "weathered" people out there than admit. I never have lost money on a weathered car. Just a few to show and love this thread.

Ray

 Ray, Nice examples of  subtle weathering you have provided'..

Myself I apply dry and wet and combined techniques (not to forget tinplate coating) with varying results...

Quarter Gauger 48 posted:

This is a very controversial subject to say the least.  Weathering depends on a variety of many factors.  It is probably the most personal of any topic or discipline in the hobby.  To many it is difficult to deface a $500 or $600 or more locomotive.  It took me several years in the hobby to start weathering motive equipment.  I starred  first with my scratch built structures.  Moved on to box cars, then locos.  The problem I saw, was either too much, or not enough weathering.  Getting it just right was the key.

Studying real trains in all types of situations was the key, and studying work done by the pros, like the "Weathering Shop" and others was helpful.

However, a certain artistic flair/skill is required. If an individual never painted a picture, or drew or dabbled in any type of serious art, it is difficult to obtain perfect results in a realistic looking weathered unit.  It requires more than just dabbing on A/I and powders.  However, I found once I started and each one I did, the results were better, and better. Practice makes perfect.  I went back and re-weathered  my originals.

Now it is second nature.  But it was not in the beginning .  Another point is even in a yard, not everything is filthy dirty, but everything will have some weathering from natural resources.  In the mean time, the modeling suppliers have made a fortune on weathering product$ .  The bottom line on this is, how much self confidence and how much prototypical does one have, and want to be.  If you start, you'll most likely find it hard to stop... But what ever you do', remember rule # 1.   You only have to please yourself. Your railroad, do it your way and have fun'.........

Ted, well said.  I admire the results of weathering, however, I've not attempted to do that for a number reasons but primarily, as you stated, I could not "deface" an expensive loco. Although I admire and at times marvel at the skill of those that do,  I truly like the clean out of the factory look of my collection.  Bottom line for me is as you say, "Your railroad, do it your way." 

BetaNuSigmaPhi posted:

Myself I apply dry and wet and combined techniques (not to forget tinplate coating) with varying results...

What is the car in your last picture? It is very cool. Nice job on the weathering.

Real is my deal ,it for me is trains that become art and capture life on the prototype. And I take it one more step and add loads to half of my.rolling stock. To date between Steve Phetterplace and myself I have 900 weathered pieces of art each unique and one of a kind on my Bellevue and Schenectady RR.  I rotate rolling stock on my RR once a month.

Ray Marion posted:

Love the results on this UP aislide hopper, Ray. The grime layer has depth to it and your rust texture is spot on.

rattler21 posted:

I have seen that boxcar (and the others that are parked there with it), at the East Broad Top in Orbisonia, PA.  If I recall correctly, they were parked on a siding in 1956 and never moved again.  I wish someone with more available cash than me would restore at least one of them, as they are pretty unique.

As for weathering my own trains, no, I don't.  I like everything to look as though it just came out of the shop.

Weathered trains can definitely look realistic, but I think unweathered trains can look realistic too.

If unweathered, then your railroad does a great job thoroughly cleaning the trains after their runs. Arnold 

Guitarmike posted:

BetaNuSigmaPhi posted:

Myself I apply dry and wet and combined techniques (not to forget tinplate coating) with varying results...

What is the car in your last picture? It is very cool. Nice job on the weathering.

This is just designed computer graphics (by using suitable rust texture galleries on the web ) printed on vinyl adhesive (or paper adhesive) and then coated on flat tinplate surface before bending and folding the shape of the car's bodyshell. This is an efficient quick-n-dirty method for lazy and busy people like myself.

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Weathered trains can definitely look realistic, but I think unweathered trains can look realistic too.

If unweathered, then your railroad does a great job thoroughly cleaning the trains after their runs. Arnold 

Arnold, Well put. Also at some point a freight car come off the assembly line and make its maiden voyage. Sometime after that Mother Nature has a say in the matter.

Great comment and pictures. thanks all for sharing and your participation:-)

NYC 428 posted:

Only if it comes from the factory that way.

I like the look, but don't know if I can do a good enough job at weathering them myself.

 

Ditto for me, NYC 428, my sentiments exactly!!! 

Could do some weathered and some "shop sourced" which has dents and dings with a new coat of paint.

I like the new "just out of the shop" look, but some new engines look too glossy, so a good dulling spray helps

I did weathering when I was into HO. To me, weathering is more appropriate to prototypical setups. Now, I leave stuff just like it rolled off the assembly line. 

For me I prefer the nice, shiny new appearance of trains out of the box.  If you are modeling the real world, then shiny is out.

When we go to watch trains I am still more drawn to the newer painted cars and engines.  

But that's just me.

My trains eventually get "weathered" by dirty fingerprints and train wrecks.  Just not with rust, grime and dirt.

Here are two weathered boxcars ( Weaver models ) and a dust weathered Chevy pick up.

rattler21 posted:

Repainted and weathered truck on a two rail layout(not mine).  John in Lansing, ILL

Rattler 21 -  Your truck looks fabulous!!  Very well done weathering job!!

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

richtrow posted:

Eventually, I intend to weather all my equipment but building the layout is my priority right now.  I do enjoy weathering though. I've done a few cars and hope to get a few more done when I get the chance.

Looking a really good. 👏

Johan

Johan, 

Great work! It would be great if you gave us the steps to your technique. You and Sirt are second to none.

Dave

luvindemtrains posted:

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

richtrow posted:

Eventually, I intend to weather all my equipment but building the layout is my priority right now.  I do enjoy weathering though. I've done a few cars and hope to get a few more done when I get the chance.

Looking a really good. 👏

Johan

Johan, 

Great work! It would be great if you gave us the steps to your technique. You and Sirt are second to none.

Dave

Dave. Thank you. I really a much appreciate your kind words. I remember when i see a first time a SIRT weathering pics, i said WOW. He is still a mine role model. 

Johan

Yes for me....

Just a question -- where did you find the beer kegs in your cars??

I'm starting to weather my freight cars. Since I'm modelling a 1950's Era steel mill, I prefer that those cars and locomotives have some degree of rust  and dirt on them. They make the layout more realistic. 

Here's a few examples.  If I had some truly collectible cars and locomotives,  then I would leave them alone. It's all a matter of preference. 

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

luvindemtrains posted:

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

richtrow posted:

Eventually, I intend to weather all my equipment but building the layout is my priority right now.  I do enjoy weathering though. I've done a few cars and hope to get a few more done when I get the chance.

Looking a really good. 👏

Johan

Johan, 

Great work! It would be great if you gave us the steps to your technique. You and Sirt are second to none.

Dave

Dave. Thank you. I really a much appreciate your kind words. I remember when i see a first time a SIRT weathering pics, i said WOW. He is still a mine role model. 

Johan

Johan

you are one of the best on here and your so modest that’s what makes a good Modeler of any kind. Love your work 

I mostly like to keep rolling stock and locomotives stock right out of the box. But in this case the decks on the Lionel PS-4 Piggyback Flat Cars are just to loud so I just had to weather them 

Good thread, Steve!  I haven’t posted much here for quite a while, but following this thread has motivated me to chime in.

10 years ago I never even thought about weathering, and even if I did, there’s no way I could imagine myself actually finding the courage to “ruin” my pristine equipment!

But then in 2010 I joined this Forum and I started to notice the incredible, realistic work posted here by true artists (in my opinion at least), and started to think, “WOW, this weathering thing is pretty cool”.

Fast forward another year or two, and I finally convinced myself to give in to the temptation.  I sent off two brand new cabooses to be weathered by two different regular contributing “weathermen” here on the Forum.  Upon receiving them back, I was hooked!

I studied these guys’ great work and thought to myself, “You can do this”.  Yes, I knew there would be a LONG learning curve, and that my first work would not be very good (that was an understatement for sure!!)...but I always had a bit of an artistic side, so I figured what the heck, let’s give this a try.

I started with rather inexpensive Weaver and “old” Atlas rolling stock, and eventually felt I was ready to try a locomotive.  The rest is history.  In my mind now, nothing in my collection is so valuable that it can’t be weathered.

I’m still not GREAT at it, and I accept the fact that I may never be as good as guys like Steve P. (SIRT).  (On a side note, and like Johan stated above, SIRT has been/still is a true inspiration for me.)  However, I continue to learn more and more with each piece I complete, and I'd like to think my work will continue to improve over time.  All I know is that it’s fun...and it’s addicting!

Thanks for starting this thread!

Back when I was into HO it was the thing to do...everything was weathered.  Now just a couple prewar engines with a lot of natural play wear.

Fendermain

third rail posted:

I'm starting to weather my freight cars. Since I'm modelling a 1950's Era steel mill, I prefer that those cars and locomotives have some degree of rust  and dirt on them. They make the layout more realistic. 

Here's a few examples.  If I had some truly collectible cars and locomotives,  then I would leave them alone. It's all a matter of preference. 

Third rail.

The slag car looks good! No, better than good... Great! The skull on the Hot metal car looks the part as well you should do a small description of how you do that I know I would be interested. Thanks. Roo.

Havent done a whole lot, but here are a couple I have done.

Jesse   TCA

lee drennen posted:

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

luvindemtrains posted:

BAR GP7 #63 posted:

richtrow posted:

Eventually, I intend to weather all my equipment but building the layout is my priority right now.  I do enjoy weathering though. I've done a few cars and hope to get a few more done when I get the chance.

Looking a really good. 👏

Johan

Johan, 

Great work! It would be great if you gave us the steps to your technique. You and Sirt are second to none.

Dave

Dave. Thank you. I really a much appreciate your kind words. I remember when i see a first time a SIRT weathering pics, i said WOW. He is still a mine role model. 

Johan

Johan

you are one of the best on here and your so modest that’s what makes a good Modeler of any kind. Love your work 

Lee. Thanks. I am glad you like it. 🤝

Johan

I'm spending real money to have Harry Heike weather some of my engines.  I have one weathered by Weaver and another by Dave_C so I would say yes.  I also think weathering increases it's value not decrease it.

While I love the look of weathered engines and rolling stock, and applaud those who have gone that route, it's not for me. I made a decision long ago on weathering , when I started my collection, either to go all in or not at all, and chose the latter course. I thought that it would also look very odd to have a layout mixing and matching weathered and non-weathered equipment, so that was not a viable option for me. Now, having accumulated in my collection hundreds of freight and passenger cars, and approximately 75 engines, it is far too late to reverse course, even if I were so inclined. 

As far as whether weathered or non-weathered equipment is more valuable, I am not certain. One would think that because of the additional time and expense that goes into weathering, that weathered equipment would be more valuable. Value, however, is not the only issue. Marketability is the other. One would also think that there is a greater market for non-weathered equipment, as I suspect most collectors/operators go the non-weathered route. Additionally, if I were a person who likes weathered equipment, I could always weather whatever equipment I bought. Of course, the converse is not the case. Finally, some collectors/operators are also very picky in the way they weather their equipment, and might not buy weathered equipment that fails to meet their standards.

Pat 

Roo posted:

third rail posted:

I'm starting to weather my freight cars. Since I'm modelling a 1950's Era steel mill, I prefer that those cars and locomotives have some degree of rust  and dirt on them. They make the layout more realistic. 

Here's a few examples.  If I had some truly collectible cars and locomotives,  then I would leave them alone. It's all a matter of preference. 

Third rail.

The slag car looks good! No, better than good... Great! The skull on the Hot metal car looks the part as well you should do a small description of how you do that I know I would be interested. Thanks. Roo.

Thanks for the compliment Neville.  I have admired your work for many years,  since the first O Scale Trains magazine came out. Your work on your steel mill layout is is truly art. I've been following it over on the 2 rail side.

The skull on the bottle car is simply decorative black sand that I bought at the local craft store.  I first apply a layer of hot melt glue to the car in the shape I want then after the glue hardened,  I coat it with some CA then spread the sand on it. A little more CA to set the sand in place and then I give the whole car a spray of dullcoat to tone down the shine.

A color slide, from Library of Congress, Jack Delano, ca.1942.  If you're modeling steam era, you can weather away. Diesel era, not so much. I'm not a fan of weathering to decrepitude, even though the results shown are spectacular.

rex desilets posted:

A color slide, from Library of Congress, Jack Delano, ca.1942.  If you're modeling steam era, you can weather away. Diesel era, not so much. I'm not a fan of weathering to decrepitude, even though the results shown are spectacular.

"Decrepitude", say what?