LV Boxcar Weathering: A Weathering Book Preview

[tom mann]

Years ago, @bbussey asked if I could replicate this type of weathering:



Obviously, what catches your eye here are a ton of circular rust patterns, caused by paint bubbles and the subsequent rust forming underneath. You could replicate these by either a) using a salt-based approach and repainting the entire car to get you close or b) using rust-colored paint on top of the factory finish and painting them individually.

In HO scale, painting them on is totally doable, but in smaller scales it's hard to make the paint look like it's not on the surface - as in, the "rust" protrudes outward in little lumps, instead of just below the paint. 

So the idea that I came up with is to use a small drill bit to lightly remove a little of the car's plastic where I wanted a rust bubble to be. The trick is to drill out a very small amount using a pin vise, and make sure that each impression is smooth and free of shaved plastic.  I used the pin vise and drill bits from Micro Mark:

https://www.micromark.com/Pin-Vise-Drill-Bit-Set



If you compare this with the prototype, you can see that I attempted to closely follow the rust patterns, but early on I realized I would go insane if I tried to copy them perfectly.

After this, I faded the car (using the usual method described here: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/?topic=34388.0 )

Then, a thick oil-based wash fills in the indentations:



That's it - I appreciate any comments or feedback.  It's still a work in progress but I'm almost complete and I'm sure Bryan will be happy after a two year wait  .  Final pictures will be only with Bryan (as this will be for sale as a ESM Sovereign Model Series Car; see http://www.esmc.com/ProdLine5100.html ) and eventually showcased in the Weathering Book.

[bbussey]

Looks great!

[Missaberoad]

Looks amazing!
I have a place reserved for your book, right next to Vol 1 and the NSR with Rich Yourstone's weathering article.

[peteski]

Very clever idea.  Looks just like the 1:1 car (just a bit less faded).

[Santa Fe Guy]

Stunning.
Rod.

[Philip H]

Um yeah. About that basket weaving course.

[MK]

We are not worthy!  We are not worthy!   

[chicken45]

Weathering...book?

[chicken45]

Tell us how you make those streaks.  Nothing big, just a paragraph or so. 

[peteski]

Tell us how you make those streaks.  Nothing big, just a paragraph or so.

I think he is saving that info for his upcoming . . . weathering book. 

[JanesCustomTrain]

In HO scale, painting them on is totally doable, but in smaller scales it's hard to make the paint look like it's not on the surface - as in, the "rust" protrudes outward in little lumps, instead of just below the paint.

Looks good, great idea. So instead to paint on rusty scratches one could use a new #11 xacto knife and scratch fine scratches into the paint first and then rust it ?

Jane

[ednadolski]

So the idea that I came up with is to use a small drill bit to lightly remove a little of the car's plastic where I wanted a rust bubble to be. The trick is to drill out a very small amount using a pin vise, and make sure that each impression is smooth and free of shaved plastic. 

@tom mann  I haven tried it myself but I was just wondering if this might make it any easier/faster:


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UOE1ZI/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A1WNVL2VGLWZ5Y&psc=1


Set the tool speed on low, and have at it. Use a couple different sized bits and vary the time & pressure, so that it doesn't  look too uniform....  <...thinking out loud...>

... a thick oil-based wash fills in the indentations:

Just spitballing:  maybe some powders to help w/texture?   It would be important to avoid going over-scale.

... and eventually showcased in the Weathering Book.

We want the book!      Any timeframe you can give us at this point?


Ed

[ednadolski]

So instead to paint on rusty scratches one could use a new #11 xacto knife and scratch fine scratches into the paint first and then rust it ?

I've found that to be a bit hard to control, but YMMV.... Often, horizontal scratches tend to be so thin that a line of paint is really all you need.

Ed

[tom mann]

Ed, this looks promising. But I wouldn’t put them in a tool. Just a slight indentation is all that’s needed.

[iandrewmartin]

That's a really great idea. Had not thought of drilling out a shallow indentation for the rust spots on the car. Outstanding and it looks perfect.

Andrew Martin