What to use ?

[eja]

Some time ago, I removed the conspicuousiy strips and weathered a Tranworx gon.   I am pleased with the results. But, I really don't like the look of the shiny metal (?) wheels. 

What would you experts use to give them a more realistic look?

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=41789


Sorry for the link  ... I've forgotten how to get the image to appear in the post.




 

[garethashenden]

Paint the faces of the wheels. Pick some rusty brown color, not bright new rust, and go at it with a small paintbrush. Look at some color pictures of freight cars for reference on the color. There's variety so it doesn't need to be exact. It will be easier if you remove the wheels from the truck, but try to avoid getting paint on the point of the axle as that will affect how it rolls.

[Curtis Kyger]

I use cheap craft paints whenever possible.  Burnt Umber is a nice brown color I use on wheel faces, the back side of the wheels and on axles for cars equipped with roller bearings. On cars with "friction bearings", I use either Woodland Scenics Asphalt or a craft paint color very close to it.  I usually paint the wheels while they're still on the cars.  'Never have a problem with paint on the tips of the axles that way however, I do occasionally need to rotate the wheels while using an Exacto blade to peel paint off of the wheel treads.  Sure is fast and effective this way.

[GaryHinshaw]

Here is my preferred method:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=52296.msg714764#msg714764

An example:

[CNR5529]

Shameless plug, I designed a 3d printed wheelset holder so you can hold and spray 24 wheelset at a time, for either 33 or 36" wheels. They are available at Shapeways. It makes very quick work of this task. Ive painted well over 3000 axles at this point using my original 4 33" wheelset holders. See the link below.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=51557.msg700520#msg700520

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ok, and now, if you want to get extra nerdy... if you're modeling cars that were likely freshly humped, you should then scrape the paint off the rim of the wheel where the retarders would've grabbed it.

[amato1969]

Ok, and now, if you want to get extra nerdy... if you're modeling cars that were likely freshly humped, you should then scrape the paint off the rim of the wheel where the retarders would've grabbed it.

Modern metal wheelsets make this a breeze!

  Frank