N scale Weathering Challenge March 2007

[nscalesteve]

Welcome to The N Scale Weathering Challenge for March 2007 !
 
ok, the January N scale Weathering Challenge was a tough one, I got that... 

(I did struggle too and gave up after I did mess around with it for too long - live's too short for such things !)

...let's try something totally different, let's try a Gondola with a scrap metal load for the March 2007 challenge then ! 


 
The Rules:
 
1. The entry must be a Gondola with a scrap metal load and "must attempt to match the protoype", including any graffiti or paint modifications. Additional details may be added, however, they shall not count for the voting.
 
2. The entry must be a N scale model.

3. The 52' Gondola from Athearn/Roundhouse or the Evans Gondola from Atlas are "close enough" for this Weathering Challenge.

4. You can either buy a Gondola scrap metal load or build your own.
   ( http://www.haybrosgarage.com/n_products.htm )
 
5. The entry must be submitted by MIDNIGHT, US EASTERN STANDARD TIME, 1 May 2007 ! Voting will commence on 2 May and continue for 10 days.
 
6. Picture size: max. 800 x 600 ! (bigger pictures turn out to be blurry because the forum software sizes them down !)
 
7. In progress photos are encouraged.

8. It is not alowed to send new and improved photos of previously done projects !
 

...here we go:
 
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures/13486/IMG_0109.jpg
 
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures/14125/IMG_1374.jpg
 

have fun and happy weathering...

EDIT: added a new rule to give extreme clarity !

[bsoplinger]

ok, the January N scale Weathering Challenge was a tough one, I got that... 

I didn't think that, but since there was no discussion of what car would match, I gave up before I started.

Now this time you've specified the model to use. This is very good in my book.  ;D

[nscalesteve]

I didn't think that, but since there was no discussion of what car would match, I gave up before I started.

Now this time you've specified the model to use. This is very good in my book.  ;D

who knows maybe I will (maybe I even have to...) specify the tools and colors which have to be used for the next challenge as well -
 
and the 3rd step will be that I buy 10 weathered cars from Tom, which then can be ordered from me to be entered for the challenge...  ;D

( :-[    :-\ )


Brian, you didn't see my post in the January Weathering Challenge... ?

Guys, please, is it really that difficult ? It's called weathering challenge, right ? As long as you do not use a gondola nor a 60' box car for the January 2007 challenge you should be on the right path. I will use a MicroTrains 3-bay ACF Centerflow Hopper for my contribution, there are also similar cars from Atlas, IM and Bachmann available. It's the coloring and weathering that counts most not the rivets nor the hinges on the hatches. Happy weathering...

[cv_acr]

I didn't think that, but since there was no discussion of what car would match, I gave up before I started.

Now this time you've specified the model to use. This is very good in my book.  ;D

Just to be a huge nit-picker for a moment, the cars he's suggested don't actually match the prototype either. It's really not hard to find SOME sort of stand-in for pretty much ANY prototype. If you want 100% proto-accuracy you've got to select a proto-photo that actually matches a released model so it can be practically done. If you're going for stand-in, it not hard to find something that's at least the right shape.

So, no offense Brian, but I don't really understand your argument.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Here's the thing.

The challenge was started a year ago (or so) to encourage modelers to take a shot at cars that could be somewhat challenging, and to share the experience.

It was never to build a contest quality model, it was never REALLY to try and out-do one another, it was really about bragging rights (and once in a while a prize for the hell of it).

It used to be fun, people used to be proud of what they did, then someone started an arms race with some new stirrups or something, from there is just got out of hand.

Is it better to do a car that better matches the right one? Yeah, is it neccessary? No. It was all about having some communal fun, but sadly, it seems like that spirit has gotten lost. We stopped for a while because nobody was participating, and now Steve has taken the initiative to get it going again, but it doesn't seem like it's sticking.

Why?

I'm thinking because we're stressing out way too much about it, and it doesn't "feel" fun.

[tom mann]

Ed is right...at some point this became less about weathering and more about complaining about weathering.

[John]

Just take any gondola, slap some paint, chalk, grunge and grime on it ..

[Iain]

Seriously, does it matter if I try to match the car in the photos as best as possible but with different reporting marks?  Mind you, I would still decal, just not for IC.

[John]

Seriously, does it matter if I try to match the car in the photos as best as possible but with different reporting marks?  Mind you, I would still decal, just not for IC.

Just take any gondola, slap some paint, chalk, grunge and grime on it ..

[wm3798]

I have a couple previously done projects... Can I submit new and improved photos of old models?? ;D

Clarity! I must have Clarity!

Lee

[3rdrail]

I have a couple previously done projects... Can I submit new and improved photos of old models?? ;D

Clarity! I must have Clarity!

Lee

Who's gonna know unless you tell on yerself. I had a similar idea.

Down with clarity!   ;D ;D

[nscalesteve]

I have a couple previously done projects... Can I submit new and improved photos of old models?? ;D

read the rules Lee, read the rules...   ;D ;D

someone else with lack of clarity ? 

[wm3798]

I don't ask for directions, I don't read assembly instructions, and I don't read rules...  I'm a libertarian!
I see you've legislated specifically to beat me down.  So far all of the weathering challenge cars have been too modern for me to bother with.

Oh well, maybe next month!

Lee

[wm3798]

My entry...


This car has a lot of miles on it. Modifications include lowering the ride height, Lo-Profile wheels, the dents and dings were added with the aid of a soldering iron, and the weathering and rust is applied with acrylic paints. The load is commercially available and represents bailed scrap aluminum.


Compare the ride height of the more or less stock WM hopper on the left with the modified hopper on the right. To get the car down to a prototypical ride height, I filed down the bolsters, and cut the floor out of the plastic shell completely. I'll be adding some v-groove styrene to add a detailed floor. Overall the height is reduced by about 1/8".

For those of you taking notes, I did the weathering and denting some time ago... but I finished the car this morning by lowering it and adding the load.  Ipso facto, I believe this is a qualified entry... ;D

Lee

[nscalesteve]

the start of the How do YOU weather a ........................? thread does not mean the weathering challenge is posponed !!