On Track models NHEF Hopper - weathering tips

Hi all, 

I have another weathering "how too" guide. This time, it's for the NHEF coal hopper RTR by On Track models. I have weathered one and posted it on my facebook page as I was asked by a few people to do another "how too" guide. So...lets get started!

Please Note: All photos are taken under a desk lamp so the pics may be off in colour. However, no PC screen is the same so I believe it will be good enough for this posting. I will add a better (outdoor) shot of the finished model on facebook as soon as I can.
 

The above photo shows the model with some other projects painted in Dullcoat and with the bogies removed for painting in plastic primer. Plastic primer is available from auto parts stores and contains "flex aid" and is also specifically formulated to adhere to plastic surfaces! It is about your best shot for painting Acetal polymers like Delrin bogies.

As you can see above, I have dusted the model with a light gray pigment and painted all the parts that are to look rusted, with brown paint.

Now I have added some brown pigments to the gray, and blended them by adding more gray or brown as I needed it. I also coated the brown painted parts with a rust pigment.

Now I gloss coat the model, and as you can see it has lost some of the weathering, but that's okay; we need a gloss surface for the decals. Note: If your not adding Graffiti you may skip this gloss coat step.

In this photo you can see the finished model. I reapplied dullcoat on the graffiti covered model, and repeated the pigment steps listed above. I also added some rust pigment to a thinned flat clear (50/50 mix) and painted all the steel parts again.  I then painted the plastic primed bogies with flat white and weathered the same way I did the model, only this time using black and dark brown pigments.   


Cheers, Dean

SDS Bogie Cattle Wagon

Hi all,

Just thought I would do a short post on the SDS Cattle wagons.

I used some of the SDS models for demonstrations in weathering at the Sydney Model railway exhibition and I was impressed by the detail of the models.

However the roof was more suited to freshly "out shopped" wagons being a neat and smooth roof. It did not suit the 1970/80's all that well. So, I thought I would make a replacement roof in polyurethane (which will be released In a few weeks), with all the wear and tear of a well used wagon.

The roof has all the detail cast in place like the weathered timber, with what is left of the "Malthoid" or "Duroid" bituminous paper strips used to seal the timber planks.

So I will start with a few pics showing the weathering stages, and don't forget, I have older posts of weathering livestock wagons, so take a look! I will announce the roof release on Facebook

In the above photo, I have used a sharp hobby knife to score the surface to give an impression of aged wood.

I have then added some livestock, and gave the model a dry brush to highlight the metal bracing.

Now I have weathered the model using the same techniques listed on my older blogs.

The last photo shows the new roof in place, with weathering, by colouring in the Malthoid with a black marker pen.

Cheers Dean