HO Scale Grit n' Grime Weathered Series from Micro-Trains Line Co.

[DirtyD79]

Those are some great looking cars and I look forward to them.   

[Freight Train]

At first reading the initial posting I thought this was some kind of joke ? A company that produces a line of N scale cars bringing a competitors product in to make highly detailed HO weathered freight cars and not do their own tooling to make this product themselves ? But knowing the history of the Edward brothers who once had both businesses under one roof but split as they couldn't get along business wise it makes me wonder if this is based in brother rivalry with one brother wanting to take a dig at the other ? So the brother who runs the N scale line does highly detailed HO freight weathered freight cars using products from another company at a cheaper cost puts him in direct competition with the other brother who makes highly detailed HO freight cars at a higher cost. Is this a win for the HO market or just more head butting between brothers ? 🤔

[Missaberoad]

I wouldn't call Accurail and Micro-Trains competitors, and since this is happening what 32 (edit 34) years after the MT/Kadee split, I doubt that enters into it either...

Not a joke just two respected manufacturers working together on a project... Happens all the time, model railroading is a big family.

[JoeD]

At first reading the initial posting I thought this was some kind of joke ? A company that produces a line of N scale cars bringing a competitors product in to make highly detailed HO weathered freight cars and not do their own tooling to make this product themselves ? But knowing the history of the Edward brothers who once had both businesses under one roof but split as they couldn't get along business wise it makes me wonder if this is based in brother rivalry with one brother wanting to take a dig at the other ? So the brother who runs the N scale line does highly detailed HO freight weathered freight cars using products from another company at a cheaper cost puts him in direct competition with the other brother who makes highly detailed HO freight cars at a higher cost. Is this a win for the HO market or just more head butting between brothers ? 🤔

Sadly the Edward brothers are no longer with us so I'm not getting this line of thought.  MTL produced a line of HON3 cars several years ago, no one complained about that.  Other companies do all scales.  Color me confused.

[MTL_Brandon]

At first reading the initial posting I thought this was some kind of joke ? A company that produces a line of N scale cars bringing a competitors product in to make highly detailed HO weathered freight cars and not do their own tooling to make this product themselves ? But knowing the history of the Edward brothers who once had both businesses under one roof but split as they couldn't get along business wise it makes me wonder if this is based in brother rivalry with one brother wanting to take a dig at the other ? So the brother who runs the N scale line does highly detailed HO freight weathered freight cars using products from another company at a cheaper cost puts him in direct competition with the other brother who makes highly detailed HO freight cars at a higher cost. Is this a win for the HO market or just more head butting between brothers ? 🤔

While your theory is certainly creative, I assure you it could not be further from the truth. There is no 'family rivalry.' In reality, Kadee and MTL are entirely separate entities and have been for decades, since the split in 1990.  In our decision to develop our Grit N' Grime series, Kadee and what they do wasn't even a consideration. We chose this line to fill an often-requested and much needed void of weathered cars in HO scale, and we chose Accurail for a number of factors that we've previously stated in this thread. https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=57309.msg788843#msg788843

Brandon
Lead Graphic Artist
Micro-Trains Line Co.

[John]

Brandon -- are you the mastermind behind the weathering masks?  Excellent work by whomever is doing it

[MTL_Brandon]

Hey John - I developed the current process (2018-present) for weathering, but there are several very talented people in our art department who also share the workload and help create the weathering and graffiti artwork for each month's releases. It's truly a team effort!

[Jbub]

Hey John - I developed the current process (2018-present) for weathering, but there are several very talented people in our art department who also share the workload and help create the weathering and graffiti artwork for each month's releases. It's truly a team effort!

Well you guys do a great job and I'm happy you're doing TBOX graffiti now. Keep up the good work!

[Sokramiketes]

This is a great way for MTL to leverage what is still a proprietary process to them... something that separates their factory from the rest.  We've been watching the improvements in the direct to substrate printing technique over the years here, and it only makes sense to apply that knowledge to a wider customer base. 

[peteski]

Brandon -- are you the mastermind behind the weathering masks?  Excellent work by whomever is doing it

Those aren't really masks - the graffiti and weathering artwork is printed directly on the car sides using an ink-jet type of printer.  Pretty amazing stuff, and the realism is unmatched.  They still sometimes apply (airbrushed?) light layer of grime. They sure have the technique perfected.

[mu26aeh]

Well you guys do a great job and I'm happy you're doing TBOX graffiti now. Keep up the good work!

As am I, although at the same time I'm not bc ill be opening the wallet more often letting moths fly out digging deep for loose change and dollar bills 

[MTL_Brandon]

Thanks for the great feedback, everyone!

Those aren't really masks - the graffiti and weathering artwork is printed directly on the car sides using an ink-jet type of printer.  Pretty amazing stuff, and the realism is unmatched.  They still sometimes apply (airbrushed?) light layer of grime. They sure have the technique perfected.

This is correct - we use prototype reference photos to recreate the weathering digitally, layer by layer. Complex weathering that has old schemes bleeding through the paint, or graffiti, can have dozens or hundreds of layers. This finished artwork is then applied to the plastic car surfaces, and blended with airbrush.

Brandon
Lead Graphic Artist
Micro-Trains Line Co.

[Sokramiketes]

Thanks for the great feedback, everyone!

This is correct - we use prototype reference photos to recreate the weathering digitally, layer by layer. Complex weathering that has old schemes bleeding through the paint, or graffiti, can have dozens or hundreds of layers. This finished artwork is then applied to the plastic car surfaces, and blended with airbrush.

Brandon
Lead Graphic Artist
Micro-Trains Line Co.

Have you guys had to work with the printer manufacturer to tweak their equipment much?  Or it just that good to start with?  I'm sure this wasn't their initial design use short of the odd golf ball or mug.

[MTL_Brandon]

Have you guys had to work with the printer manufacturer to tweak their equipment much?  Or it just that good to start with?  I'm sure this wasn't their initial design use short of the odd golf ball or mug.

Obviously I cannot go into specifics, but let's just say that we're doing things with the machines that the manufacturer never thought possible.

[DeltaBravo]

I know I am late to this thread, but I really like what you guys are doing here. Good news for the HO folks who will get a sip of the weathering magic from MTL and a new way to generate cash flow from a larger market. Looking forward to some new weathered N Scale models. Keep em coming guys.