How do YOU weather a Diesel road switcher?

[3rdrail]

Let's be a little different this time and look at how y'all weather locomotives. Since many on here are modern era modelers, let's start with the most common current locomotive the Diesel road switcher. I know some of y'all have done some knockout models, so LET'S SEE 'EM!.

Here's my PRR RS-3, weathered using Floquil Instant Weathering "bounced" off a sheet of newspaper under the model:


And my PRR SD-7, using the same technique:


Finally, my PRR RS-11, again same technique (not much of an experimenter, was I?):


OK, now it's YOUR turn. 

[Chris333]

Hard to get a good photo showing weathering.

This is a switcher that has mild dry brushing of dirt colors:


FA1 with the same treatment, I did light airbrush the top nose area to give that yellow some soot:

[3rdrail]

Hmm, I can't believe no one has weathered any Diesel ROAD SWITCHERS? Or, does no one want to share techniques? Where are they, folks??

[wm3798]

Usually just a couple of washes of grimy colors does the trick for me.


Sometimes I'll try spraying a mist of "instant weathering", but I'm not always 100% happy with the results.


I try to get a good coating of road dust on the underframe and trucks, but the carbodies stay relatively clean, afterall, the WM had a wash rack, and they weren't afraid to use it...


Although, some engines worked a little harder than others between scrubbings.


Road dirt and grime here applied with acrylic washes.  No vodka, though!

Lee

[SAH]

The only road switcher I've ever weathered.  Come to think of it, the only one I've ever finished, period.  Who needs locomotives if you don't have a layout?    That will change when the NKP SD9 is finished.

Hard to tell there's any weathering at all but it's lightly airbrushed with dust, dirt and grime at truck and sill level.  Exhaust / intake grills were blackened using a paintbrush.  Road grime sprayed on the ends through a template that has slots spaced at rail gauge.  These would have been nearly new for the time period I had intended to model so I went easy on the grunge.

[railspike55]

OK dumb question....

Is it better to dis-assemble the loco and trucks before spraying and using washes ....or not.
I ask this because I know this thread is about diesals; but....
I've been thinking about steam as well.

Cant have spankin new paint on our locos unless your modeling a museum.

And you all seem to have fun doing this.
I have tried chalk, powers and drybrushing to some extent, and while it was a start.
Tom Mann has done some realistic effects, cant wait to see more.

Question, where do you start on a black NKP GP 7 or 9.  Besides haveing a good picture to follow,

1 what setting to use for spraying .. I will guess more air than paint? (single action brush)

2 what colors for road grime and rust, oil and fuel spills.

3 the need to lighten up the black and show some details off. Can black be washed in a certain
color to bring out the details.

When I needed to paint my diesals black I used a lighter color black to start with.
I need to work on factory black models this time around.

Any help here is greatly appreciated.

Ron N.


spelling corrected.

[3rdrail]

Ron N. for spraying, I used small pieces of index card cut and folded into a "U" shape to protect the wheels from the paint. These were inserted between the sideframe and the wheels. If you are  applying washes or chalks by hand I see no need to protect the wheels.

[railspike55]

Wow never thought to use index cards on painting trucks, used for ground foam though.

thanks for quick responce,

Ron

[SAH]

OK dumb question....

Question, where do you start on a black NKP GP 7 or 9.  Besides haveing a good picture to follow,

Ron

Not a dumb question.  Black locos are tough to weather well.  Most important - have LOTS of good pictures for reference.  Two schools of thought out there (at least two):  Start with a weathered black base and darken areas as necessary (air intakes and exhausts primarily) or start with an engine black base and lighten with washes or spray.  I decide which way to go based on how old the paint job is on the prototype I'm modeling.  (Same rational for tank cars which I have more experience weathering than black locos.)

I spray mud, dirt, dust, earth, whatever.  Polly S (or whatever the acrylic line is called now) with VERY light applications in multiple passes.  You almost should not be able to see each pass as you lay it down.  When I get back to the SD9 project I'll have a chance to (re)learn first hand.  Crazy busy with work right now - Will be on the road more often than at home 'til likely mid June.  Not much modeling will get done I'm afraid.

Try some black tank cars before you do the loco to get a feel for it. 

Steve

[nscalesteve]

...just with some black color and some chalk, and a very, very light rusty wash

[Iain]

Steve, that FM is a BEAUT!

How about a side shot?

[nscalesteve]

How about a side shot?

...can you wait till SNFF ?  ;D ;D

[Ntrainz1]

Chalk powder and dullcoat.




Bob.

[txronharris]

How about a side shot?

...can you wait till SNFF ?  ;D ;D

NOPE! ;D

[Erik W]

For this D&RGW SD-7 I first lightly airbrushed the lower portion with Polly Scale Dirt, including the trucks, which were sprayed separately.  I then airbrushed Polly Scale Grimy Black directly down from above.  I used washes of rust on the couplers as well as on a spot or two on the body.  I then sprayed the entire thing with Polly Scale Flat Finish.  I used soot colored Bragdon Weathering Powder on the roof, ends and a few spots on the sides.  Lastly I used Polly Scale Engine Black for fuel tank spills on the sides.

Erik