Weathering Steam Engines

Shiny wheels and rods: you can use ne-lube to darken the shiny wheels and metal.  It makes a big impression on how the loco looks, lubes it nicely but doesn't interfere with function or electrical conductivity, and its bengn all the way around. 

You can google images of big boys and steam locos to find lots of photos of steamers that were weathered (whose loco, in the real workd, wasn't).

Part of the problem in deciding what to model as to weathering is that"the look" varied a lot depending on the quality of water, coal,track envoronment,  and run the locos made.  You can find pictures of steamers that have heaqvy tendrils of whiteish crud steaming down the sides of their boilers- a sign of really dirty, hard water.  Others much less so, etc.  Others have a lot of dust down low, etc.  It all depends . . .     and point:  did you ever see a photo of a real locomotive cab interior that was prsitine and picture perfect?  Weathering in there contributes to the look, too.

Personally, I like a weathered paint, well-cared for otherwise look, just a slight amount of dust,   no hard-water corrosion, and the barest trace of rust anywhere.  It admit, though, that I have gone overboard on a couple of low end locos (WBB Baldwin ten-wheelers) jsut to have fun.  And I have not been able to bring myself to weather any of my Vision or high-end Legacy scale locos yet - not sure I could live with myself if I made a msitake. 

 Look at the work this guys does. It looks great to me:

http://www.weatheringstation.com/Steam.htm

I think he's forum member "corsair" __?

Hi Lee and Joe,

Lee thanks for the info and Joe  - that website.....WOW

MIKE

This J1a is weathered just using powders.  Not real heavy, just enough to remove the shine.  The challenger is also lightly weathered. 

www.toytrainsontracks.com

Rich, I'm glad to see you post those pics- yours are the best steam engines I've seen- not too much, no real rust jobs and it looks real- nice job!!

I like weathered locomotives and rolling stock but I think some people go way overboard on the weathering.  These big mainline steam locomotives where dirty, but not super rusty.  They were maintained but not left to rust away while still running.  Maybe at the end of steam the maintenance was left to go and the locomotives were very rarely washed but I do not think they were super rusty.

LAST OF THE GIANTS and BIG BOY COLLECTION (both in color) by Pentrex have scene after scene of Big Boys in service and in the shop. Lots of ideas there. A close look at a shop scene in LAST OF THE GIANTS reveals that one set of drivers is marked 4012 in chalk. That is the Big Boy at Steamtown.

A book by William H. Kratville - BIG BOY - has lots of black-and-white photos. They show contrasts between black, gray and white. They can be compared to the builder's photo of 4002 as a centerfold.

An EXCELLENT observation! What a lot of modelers and "custom painters" do not realize about weathering steam locomotives is, there was VERY LITTLE rust. Just think about how much lubrication is flung off of the running gear while operating at high speed. There would be valve oil, machine oil, pin grease, and soft grease spread all over the entire running gear and lower boiler jacketing. What with such constant coatings of lubricants, there isn't going to be much rust. 

Jeff,

  Thanks.  I've been learning and getting better as I go.  The only rust I use now is on the coupler, maybe a little at the bottom of the ash pan.  I appreciate what Hot Water said.  The black die and powders on my y6b mixed with the real oil I used to lube the drivers and wheels making it look like grease.  Everything is dark and no rust.   I only use black powders now.  Even these show up lighter than you would expect like on the J1a.  My main goal is to get rid of the shine, and make the metal look corroded not rusted with a light layer of grime or soot.   

Rich

When I saw the post title...I was going to suggest Rich's DVD.....good stuff.

Shiny wheels and rods: you can use ne-lube to darken the shiny wheels and metal.

Lee...can you give more info??? I googled it and only got oil change places in Nebraska!!!  Sounds interesting!!

Shiny wheels and rods: you can use ne-lube to darken the shiny wheels and metal.

Contact micro Mart for this stuff.

It's Neolube that's being mentioned above.  Micro-Mark has it at $17.95 for 2 ounces.  Their stock number is 83181.  They are currently having a sale of 20% off any order.