Bachmann Boxcar before/after photo

[tom mann]

This car is probably the reason why I'm into On30 scale right now.  It's only $15, has nice detail (and a lot of wire grabs), comes with nickel silver finescale wheels, and was just retooled to sit lower.  Heck, what more do you want?!  You could start a whole discussion on TTAT on why this car was retooled after only a few years in production when MT cars from the Reagan years still aren't.  I like On30 because it allows me to feel like I'm starting the hobby fresh, without any reason to complain (yet).

Out of the box, the car looks plasticy.  There is no wood grain on anything, but as Chris333 pointed out, that's not necessarily a bad thing.  I use that little MicroMark wire brush to create grain.  I then follow Harold's directions to make the plastic look like aged wood.



I sprinkle on some sea salt and gently spray the car Boxcar Red.  I copied a photo that I found of one of SP's narrow gauge boxcars in that the lettering appeared fresh, but some of the wood was showing through.  The decaling isn't exactly like the prototype, but in the spirit of On30, it's close enough. ;D



Hope you like it, it's taken me 5 weeks to get to this point.

[Chris333]

Looks 100% better.

I have a feeling my On30 will just sit on a shelf. Oh well wouldn't be the first time I got bit by the bug  :

[tom mann]

Looks 100% better.

Thanks ;D

I have a feeling my On30 will just sit on a shelf. Oh well wouldn't be the first time I got bit by the bug  :

Oh, come on man!  I can't wait to see what you can do!

[Mark5]

I like it! 

[Chris333]

What ever I would do to them, it wouldn't have a Tom Mann (R) paint-job.  

I think the reason I like On30 (the size) is the same reason I don't like it so much. I was stretching the roof ends of the combine so it would reach over the end railings and it felt more like I was doing actual 1:1 construction.

I haven't given up yet though.

[sd80mac]

Tom,

As usual, you have done an amazing job with weathering! You make it look so easy, but I have yet to even try...maybe one day soon! I have two HOn3 cabooses under construction right now.

Donnell

[diezmon]

whao.. wha? 

Sea salt?  I must have missed something...

Can you post the original thread/tips/site on how this is done?? 

[tom mann]

whao.. wha? 

Sea salt?  I must have missed something...

Can you post the original thread/tips/site on how this is done?? 

Sea salt is used as a mask.  Wet the surface, sprinkle on the salt and let it dry.  When you paint, go easy with the pressure and cover the surface and salt.  When the paint dries, brush the salt off and whatever you painted over becomes visible.  It's a nice way to model chipped/peeling paint.

Use sea salt instead of table salt.  Sea salt is random in shape, whereas table salt is all little cubes.

[sd80mac]

Is there any salt residue left over or does it come off pretty clean?

Donnell

Sea salt is used as a mask.  Wet the surface, sprinkle on the salt and let it dry.  When you paint, go easy with the pressure and cover the surface and salt.  When the paint dries, brush the salt off and whatever you painted over becomes visible.  It's a nice way to model chipped/peeling paint.

Use sea salt instead of table salt.  Sea salt is random in shape, whereas table salt is all little cubes.

[tom mann]

Is there any salt residue left over or does it come off pretty clean?

Donnell

Sea salt is used as a mask.  Wet the surface, sprinkle on the salt and let it dry.  When you paint, go easy with the pressure and cover the surface and salt.  When the paint dries, brush the salt off and whatever you painted over becomes visible.  It's a nice way to model chipped/peeling paint.

Use sea salt instead of table salt.  Sea salt is random in shape, whereas table salt is all little cubes.

Well, you can use soap and water too.

[diezmon]

Sea salt is used as a mask.  Wet the surface, sprinkle on the salt and let it dry.  When you paint, go easy with the pressure and cover the surface and salt.  When the paint dries, brush the salt off and whatever you painted over becomes visible.  It's a nice way to model chipped/peeling paint.

Use sea salt instead of table salt.  Sea salt is random in shape, whereas table salt is all little cubes.

Ah ha.. I was WONdering what you were doing on that beach..

[tom mann]

Now, that picture is funny.