MTL's pre-weathering getting better!

[Dave V]

I hadn't been over to Micro Trains' website in a while; this morning I happened by and saw this:

http://www.micro-trains.com/wc-FEC_NYC0905.php

Comparing the first MTL pre-weathered cars to these shows that not only is MTL getting much better at it, it sounds like Joe took some of our suggestions to heart.  The NYC boxcar in particular looks good.  I would love to see a clean ACI label and new COTS for a car that dirty (looks like it made it to the Penn Central era).

I still prefer to weather my own cars, but if they keep getting better and better I might be tempted.

[CoalPorter]

I kind of like the gon, now all they  need to do is simulate dents and damage to the sides.

The box car misses by a mile imho.
It looks like it was fog coated with white and then air brushed with gloss black. It looks like how  HO guys weathered back in the 60's and 70's- just fog it gloss black spray paint.

[Caleb Austin]

Much improved indeed! Still nothing I would buy though.

[wm3798]

I guess the panels with the lettering on the gon have been cleaned up with a Sham Wow!...

The box car is a fair start, but needs some brush work to look "right"...

Lee

[Ryan87]

I guess the panels with the lettering on the gon have been cleaned up with a Sham Wow!...

or repainted... looks pretty much bang on it just needs a little more work to finish it off/make it unique...


http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=43194


Compared to the first ones this is night and day, can't wait to see where this goes...

[Bob Bufkin]

They look good to me.  They are getting better doing weathering.  Must be doing something right, most places are already sold out.

[Dave V]

Now that I've seen the prototype gon, I'm even more impressed by the model.

Again, I enjoy the weathering process probably more than any other aspect of the hobby, so I'm not running out to pre-order these.  But if they keep this up I just might in the future.

[tom mann]

I've congratulated MT on getting better with their weathering over the last few releases.  The cars are looking more and more like they could be used as the basis of really great weathering projects.

[Robbman]

Here's what they looked like before renumbering:
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=14675

[Bob Bufkin]

They added a 3rd car.  A weathered AT&SF covered hopper.

[JoeD]

Doing these weathered cars has been a project I wanted to do for a long time.  I agree with the points that some brush work would add to them(I've been tempted), but right now it's just me doing them all by hand, one at a time when the Decorating Department has finished for the day. (my airbrush finger is numb 5 days a week!)  MTL actually allowed me to adjust my schedule so I have a few hours after the plant shuts down to spread out and make a mess every night!  I'm starting to experiment with some laser cut masking that I think will help add even more dimension and layering.  My next goal is to start tackling fallen flags...there's some amazing color combinations and weathering examples. 

Joe
MTL

[tom mann]

Joe,

Could you also the lower the cars for us? ;D

[JoeD]

I'll get right on that!

[GaryHinshaw]

Here's what they looked like before renumbering:
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=14675

That weathering doesn't look very prototypical.     But seriously, what is causing the exterior rust to cutoff at floor level like that?  (Joe's rendition captures the essence of it pretty nicely, especially for a mass production effort.)

Joe - how about offering some pre-faded cars, especially schemes like Golden West which are notoriously faded?  And if you varied the fade level in sub-runs the collectors would go wild.   

Cheers,
Gary

P.S. Maybe you could let some of us in the back door after hours and we can help you weather the Christmas cars.   ;D

[wm3798]

The rust would form where stuff thrown into the car dents the side and causes the paint to blister on the outside.  Below the floor, the side wouldn't get dented (as much)...

Lee