Author Topic: Tips for weathering streamlined passenger cars / silver passenger locos?  (Read 5015 times)

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atsf_arizona

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Hi, all,

After weathering a lot of freight cars and locomotives,  I've started experimenting with weathering streamlined passenger cars and silver passenger locos (in particular,  red/silver Santa Fe Warbonnets and the Kato corrugated cars).

I'm finding that the color combinations/methods for chalk or wash, needs to be a little different for the silver stainless steel sides of a streamliner.    Otherwise, the silver streamliner ends up looking overly 'dusty' - and the railroads tried to do a good job of keeping these clean.

Anyone have any good experiences or ideas to share about what alterations to do to capture the right kind of lightly weathered look for these types of streamlined passenger train equipment?

Thx!

John Sing
Venice, FL
http://pbase.com/atsf_arizona
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========
Modeling the Santa Fe's Peavine Line (Ash Fork -> Phoenix, Arizona) during the 50s and 60s

3rdrail

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Re: Tips for weathering streamlined passenger cars / silver passenger locos?
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2007, 06:16:08 PM »
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I would imagine a little "Instant Weathering" sprayed on the trucks and underbody details and ends, and a little Dullcote on the roof would be about all needed. These things went through carwashers at the end of each trip that cleaned the sides pretty thoroughly. I can recall some pretty filthy stainless steel equipment arriving NOUPT, but it did not leave that way. Usually after bad weather along the line.

Sokramiketes

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Re: Tips for weathering streamlined passenger cars / silver passenger locos?
« Reply #2 on: January 05, 2007, 09:53:04 AM »
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Please step away from the instant weathering!

The car ends would be the dirtiest, as they almost never saw the car washer.  Grundge is the key there, and washes and dry brushing will get you there.  Pay attention to the diaphram faces as well, they had some pretty strange wear and rust patterns most of the time.

The underbody gets dirty/dusty as well.  Another area that never really got washed.  ATSF passenger cars tended to get a light tan dust color down there, that would also sneak up the sides during a run.  Floquil Foundation is a good color to start with, and airbrushing it on the car side near the bottom, shooting upwards, will add a lot to the look of the corrugations.  If it goes on too heavy, a wide brush with some Scalecoat II thinner on it will lighten it up as you drag it down the car side, cleaning off the tops and leaving it on the bottoms of the ribs.

Santa Fe did a pretty good job of hitting the trucks with silver paint to keep them clean.  If you're modeling prior to 1968 or so, a light wash of black just to add shadow is all that is needed.  Maybe a little more attention aroung the roller bearings. 

Roofs often times weren't washed by the car washer.  So atleast an even layer of dust is needed up there.  A lot of passenger car weathering is subtle, because of the higher speeds.  So even layers of dust, rather than rust spots and weather damage like freight cars. 

Here's a later ATSF baggage car with some grundge. 


tom mann

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Re: Tips for weathering streamlined passenger cars / silver passenger locos?
« Reply #3 on: January 05, 2007, 09:54:56 AM »
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nice paper towel, skibbe.

Sokramiketes

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Re: Tips for weathering streamlined passenger cars / silver passenger locos?
« Reply #4 on: January 05, 2007, 10:33:23 AM »
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It's interfacing, you ignorant mule.   :D

Oh, and is your keyboard missing something?



atsf_arizona

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Re: Tips for weathering streamlined passenger cars / silver passenger locos?
« Reply #5 on: January 05, 2007, 10:58:37 AM »
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Mike, thx so much for the tips.   You passenger car work has always been stellar;  I appreciate your expert advice very much.  I'll start putting the tips into use.   :-)
« Last Edit: January 05, 2007, 11:05:33 AM by atsf_arizona »
John Sing
Venice, FL
http://pbase.com/atsf_arizona
https://web.archive.org/web/20151002184727/home.comcast.net/~j.sing/
========
Modeling the Santa Fe's Peavine Line (Ash Fork -> Phoenix, Arizona) during the 50s and 60s