Having established on my other thread that I now have ‘all the gear and no idea’, it’s time to start experimenting and learning. And as usual, I will share my experiences, good, bad and ugly, as I go along.
Some time ago I picked up a few very coarse and basic static locos that were ‘free’ with a magazine so I will use those for my live trials.
I started by giving this Pannier a wash of dirty black, then wiped most of it off to create a streaky effect.
Once dry, a light coat of a darkish brown misted over the lower part of the loco. I think it’s a bit too heavy and a bit too dark. 20181020_135927 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr
Finally, at this stage, a lighter brown to tone it down a bit.
(I went off at a tangent slightly to give interesting detail which could be useful regarding railway operations).
A very nice job there but I will point out a small feature. The heavily weathered locos were only left to get in such a state during the last few years of steam. Under GWR ownership the company was quite strict and engine crew wouldn't have been allowed to keep their jobs if their loco looked like the loco in the third photo. Back in those days, especially in regards to shunting engines, the crew would most likely to be responsible for a single engine. The traincrew that were driving express passenger engines and the like would often drive different locos. This did change in later years of steam under B.R.
True, trains do get dirty fairly quick so the middle photo was a GWR possibility, though it wouldn't have looked like that for long. The first photo weathering is more like how they would look during most if their lives under GWR ownership.
One thing regarding weathering to remember, that due to the need of traincrew to identify individual locos, even when they were let to go very grimy in the last few years of steam, they would clean the loco number plates so they could clearly see them. This was important for the traincrew and especially so for the signalmen. A signalman would have stopped a loco if they could not identify it as all workings were logged in precise detail. When I worked if a traincrew had forgotten to change over the lights so they were displaying red at front and white at the rear, or were not displaying lights at all, one would be stopped at the next signal. No lights displayed indicated the train formation had split, so the signalman would have to stop the train to ensure the train was complete. If the lights were not functioning, both the guards and conductors could slot their handlamps on to use as a light for the journey.
There is a circumstance in modern days where trains do get very dirty and that is where there is something blocking a line or some sort of issue like a broken bridge where one could have a train trapped on its own little piece of railway. The trapped train (Or trains, which these days are mostly DMU's) would be run as an independent service which could be for weeks or even months before the line connection is restored. Such trapped trains would still be in operation as far as passenger services are concerned as a shuttle service and road transport would be arranged to bridge the gap between the trapped train and the rest of the service. Such trapped trains would get very dirty indeed where one is only likely to get a good view through the drivers window where the wiper would clear the dirt. While diesel would normally last a while and they would arranged for a refil via a road tanker if necessary, toilets on the train would quickly run out of water so would be locked out of use.
Last edited by Mountain Goat on Sat Oct 20, 2018 3:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
All good points MG, but as I indicated, this is an exercise in learning what the airbrush will do, what the different shades look like and what my skills are. The results are not too important at the moment but this thread gives me a chance to record my attempts and if something works then I have a reference point for the future.
I like the results. The grime looks very convincing. I like the first picture where you've done a slight amount of weathering because it looks like a well used loco that has been looked after. You have brought it to life!
Just noticed something. The locos con rods look upsidown. I once had a static loco that had upsidown con rods. No idea why! Maybe whoever assembled them made the mistake... Could be the same person who assembled the one I had.
I like the second picture the most, the first looks like it could almost a flaw in the plastic as its a bit too even a layer, while the third is a bit too light and a bit too covering. while the second looks dirty but also still shows some of the con rod colour. I think weathering is very much down to personal taste and also what setting the items are then placed in.
Enjoy learning and more importantly sharing the results
I also like the second picture. I appreciate this is a training session, but the second picture only needs the cabside number cleaned up a bit and it's ready to go. I recall filthy dirty loco's that someone had taken a rag to and cleaned up the numbers - probably to help trainspotters!
Matching colours/shades was always going to be an issue for me and looking at this first effort I think I need to go lighter - both in shade and in application. I’m also going to try reducing the air presure in stages to see if that affects the paint flow.
First cleanup worked well with the pot cleaner so I’m quite happy with that.
One gripe I do have is the lack of decent ‘how to’ guides online. If anyone knows of any please let me know.
Steve M wrote: ↑Sat Oct 20, 2018 6:29 pm
Matching colours/shades was always going to be an issue for me and looking at this first effort I think I need to go lighter - both in shade and in application. I’m also going to try reducing the air presure in stages to see if that affects the paint flow.
First cleanup worked well with the pot cleaner so I’m quite happy with that.
One gripe I do have is the lack of decent ‘how to’ guides online. If anyone knows of any please let me know.
I believe I saw a leaflet about weathering in one of the magazines not so long ago. I can't remember when or which magazine.
20181020_135340 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr
20181020_135927 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr
20181020_140657 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr
You have brought it to life!
I once had a static loco that had upsidown con rods. No idea why! Maybe whoever assembled them made the mistake... Could be the same person who assembled the one I had. 
