The trials of various methods

pugwash

pugwash

impecunious pirate
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Right then, time to reveal all
:eek:
. As I said there was a delivery from Amazon yesterday and part of it was some Vallejo weathering powders, the Rust & Corrosion set with 4 colours, iron oxide (the precursor to rust), dark rust, rust and new rust. Guess what I will be doing a lot of? Anyway I bought these to try out before buying more, although not cheap at € 17 for 4 x 35ml the amount of powder compared to how much is used means that one jar should outlast me. A sacrificial old wagon was selected for execution - of painting techniques I hasten to add - and the fun began. I was using four techniques on the wagon of which two are new to me, the processes were: airbrush, paint, washes and powders in that order. It is the washes and powders that are new to me, as far as the washes go I had previously painted then put thinner on a brush to create streaks. The airbrushing was very basic, a light coat of black to soften the overall colour of the wagon, a coat of dirt to the chassis and running gear then a very pale brown for the roof. Next up was the paint where I used a dark brown and black to deepen shadows and prepare for the rust powder. Next up was the washes, black and brown which were applied with a brush then all the streaks done by using the brush and a cotton bud dipped in Vallejo airbrush thinner along with putting black into panel lines like the door. Finally came the powders, which as I say are new to me. At first I was unimpressed with the result but then realised I was trying to apply it in strokes just as a paint. I changed to stippling and everything looked like I was expecting. Then came the problem, after I sprayed the finished model with matt varnish from an aerosol I found it had blown the powders off most of the spring / axlebox areas. A quick look at the pamphlet that came with the powders and it said brush the area to be powdered with Vallejo airbrush medium then apply the powders on top. I tried that and it worked a treat. The only thing I forgot was the wheels which I have done since the photo was taken. Now you may look and think I have somewhat overdone the weathering and you would be right, the whole point of the exercise was to try the new techniques and see what I could or should do or not before going on to decent stock. Just wait until I get to the locos.

Before and after:

IAN_3005.JPGIAN_3009.JPG

As this was a wagon I had no intention of running I was going to bin it once finished but SWMBO came up with a bright idea for once, it is now going to sit forgotten and forlorn at the end of an overgrown siding.
 
THAT LOOKS RUBBISH and a right messy old wagon now !!!...........(which is a complement ! ) Great work and great idea from Swmbo. look forward to seeing more of this and the wagon in its abandoned location.
 
pugwash said:
Right then, time to reveal all
:eek:
. As I said there was a delivery from Amazon yesterday and part of it was some Vallejo weathering powders, the Rust & Corrosion set with 4 colours, iron oxide (the precursor to rust), dark rust, rust and new rust. Guess what I will be doing a lot of? Anyway I bought these to try out before buying more, although not cheap at € 17 for 4 x 35ml the amount of powder compared to how much is used means that one jar should outlast me. A sacrificial old wagon was selected for execution - of painting techniques I hasten to add - and the fun began. I was using four techniques on the wagon of which two are new to me, the processes were: airbrush, paint, washes and powders in that order. It is the washes and powders that are new to me, as far as the washes go I had previously painted then put thinner on a brush to create streaks. The airbrushing was very basic, a light coat of black to soften the overall colour of the wagon, a coat of dirt to the chassis and running gear then a very pale brown for the roof. Next up was the paint where I used a dark brown and black to deepen shadows and prepare for the rust powder. Next up was the washes, black and brown which were applied with a brush then all the streaks done by using the brush and a cotton bud dipped in Vallejo airbrush thinner along with putting black into panel lines like the door. Finally came the powders, which as I say are new to me. At first I was unimpressed with the result but then realised I was trying to apply it in strokes just as a paint. I changed to stippling and everything looked like I was expecting. Then came the problem, after I sprayed the finished model with matt varnish from an aerosol I found it had blown the powders off most of the spring / axlebox areas. A quick look at the pamphlet that came with the powders and it said brush the area to be powdered with Vallejo airbrush medium then apply the powders on top. I tried that and it worked a treat. The only thing I forgot was the wheels which I have done since the photo was taken. Now you may look and think I have somewhat overdone the weathering and you would be right, the whole point of the exercise was to try the new techniques and see what I could or should do or not before going on to decent stock. Just wait until I get to the locos.

Before and after:

View attachment 330734View attachment 330735

As this was a wagon I had no intention of running I was going to bin it once finished but SWMBO came up with a bright idea for once, it is now going to sit forgotten and forlorn at the end of an overgrown siding.
Click to expand...
Wow that is superb, a real effect of running long term with no cleaning. That has inspired me to do some more weathering along the lines you have done. I have some wash sprays that end up being quite sticky after spraying. Must try dabbing powders on whilst still sticky to se how it works. Weathering can use all sorts of methods, dry brushing being a particular favourite of mine.
 
DickyC said:
look forward to seeing more of this and the wagon in its abandoned location.
Click to expand...
I think the wagon has suffered enough but don't worry, the ideas are already forming in my head. One of these ideas is to put a tree partly over the wagon then apply spots of white on the roof under the tree. :happy:
 
Back to the serious stuff, I was looking through all my old pictures of railways visited where I invariably shoot old, dirty and generally decrepit stuff, that's enough about the gricers. I also take pixies of wagons, tracks, general clutter etc for reference later on and I just happened to come across this. Recognise it? It is obviously cared for and cleaned unlike my piece of tat. Maastricht 2008.

DSC_1267.jpg
 
Thanks for this post, your got my creative juices going to try a really quick experiment myself, been thinking of having a go at "vinyl" wrapping and someone asked about it on an LGB facebook page today also. so in a spare 5mins after works this little test went on using a sample wrap sheet I was given by a supplier at the NEC a couple of months ago. have to make sure theres lots of wiggle room and nice cutting but for a 5min test piece I was quite surprised by how well the vinyl wrap too took to the plastic wagon I had lying around (My Christmas tree train set in some odd scale)

Original Wagon

20240723_193417.jpg

Quick wrap with heat shrink cast vinyl (aka car wrap)

20240723_193427.jpg

need to play with the heat setings on the gun

20240723_193647.jpg

might pass for a bit of European Graffiti also this test vinyl !
 
DickyC said:
in a spare 5mins after works this little test went on using a sample wrap sheet I was given by a supplier at the NEC a couple of months ago. have to make sure theres lots of wiggle room and nice cutting but for a 5min test piece I was quite surprised by how well the vinyl wrap too took to the plastic wagon I had lying around (My Christmas tree train set in some odd scale)
Click to expand...
Wow! That is something, I think it looks fantastic and is certainly different. Okay what little detailing there was has disappeared but the effect is well worth it. The only glaring spoiler in my opinion is the walk board on the roof, that wants toning down but otherwise I think the idea is original and it works.
 
pugwash said:
Right then, time to reveal all
:eek:
. As I said there was a delivery from Amazon yesterday and part of it was some Vallejo weathering powders, the Rust & Corrosion set with 4 colours, iron oxide (the precursor to rust), dark rust, rust and new rust. Guess what I will be doing a lot of? Anyway I bought these to try out before buying more, although not cheap at € 17 for 4 x 35ml the amount of powder compared to how much is used means that one jar should outlast me. A sacrificial old wagon was selected for execution - of painting techniques I hasten to add - and the fun began. I was using four techniques on the wagon of which two are new to me, the processes were: airbrush, paint, washes and powders in that order. It is the washes and powders that are new to me, as far as the washes go I had previously painted then put thinner on a brush to create streaks. The airbrushing was very basic, a light coat of black to soften the overall colour of the wagon, a coat of dirt to the chassis and running gear then a very pale brown for the roof. Next up was the paint where I used a dark brown and black to deepen shadows and prepare for the rust powder. Next up was the washes, black and brown which were applied with a brush then all the streaks done by using the brush and a cotton bud dipped in Vallejo airbrush thinner along with putting black into panel lines like the door. Finally came the powders, which as I say are new to me. At first I was unimpressed with the result but then realised I was trying to apply it in strokes just as a paint. I changed to stippling and everything looked like I was expecting. Then came the problem, after I sprayed the finished model with matt varnish from an aerosol I found it had blown the powders off most of the spring / axlebox areas. A quick look at the pamphlet that came with the powders and it said brush the area to be powdered with Vallejo airbrush medium then apply the powders on top. I tried that and it worked a treat. The only thing I forgot was the wheels which I have done since the photo was taken. Now you may look and think I have somewhat overdone the weathering and you would be right, the whole point of the exercise was to try the new techniques and see what I could or should do or not before going on to decent stock. Just wait until I get to the locos.

Before and after:

View attachment 330734View attachment 330735

As this was a wagon I had no intention of running I was going to bin it once finished but SWMBO came up with a bright idea for once, it is now going to sit forgotten and forlorn at the end of an overgrown siding.
Click to expand...
That looks just like a couple of old wagons that used to live next to what was a paint factory in Stanstead Abbotts. Both (wagons and factory) long gone now. In fact, I'm pretty sure they were Interfrigo too, and I always wonder what 2 very continental looking wagons were doing there
 
An interesting idea, seam to remember many moins ago Brian at Glendale repainted a loco and lettered it out using Vinyl lettering. Looked superb like an LGB issued item.
 
Xav204 said:
I was wondering where I could find precut letter in same vinyl ?
Click to expand...
Vynil cutters can be had for just over GBP100 so are these days very affordable. A simple cad package is often supplied with the units. I have thought for some time about getting one but being a Mac user it is not quite so simple or cheep.
 
Now then, where was I? Ah yes, that wagon. Well SWMBO took a look and said the wagon looks okay but the roof is too perfect and she was right (for a change) and I had sprayed it an even brown tone. Out with the airbrush and put things to rights:

6.jpg

Now you may think I sprayed it grey then put on the green rot but no, the green-brown went first then the grey as I find this gives a better blending. Some experts say light colours first then work down to the darkest. I don't know not being an expert but I think this way looks good.

Next up? Well I need some materials to start with:

1.jpg

and some tools:

2.jpg

I ended up using more, much more. Scenic products were Vallejo paints and powders, Woodland Scenics and Noch for the main greenery and some unknown el-cheapo Amazon supplier for the tufts. You will see all these come together below.

Now let the fun begin! First off was the buffer stop, this has four different colours of paint and two different rust powders. The bit below the end of track sign took four goes to get it how I wanted and this isn't it:

3.jpg

Next bit under attack was the section of track, first some distressing using a craft knife then four paints but only one rust powder. It must be Scrooge syndrome:

5.jpg

That tree? Three different paints for the trunk and some matt varnish to stop the :swear: flock falling off.

Next? Gluing things to very thin balsa using some lead liberated from the printers to stop the wood turning into a Swiss roll:

7.jpg

Next a bit of a fast forward. Well a big one really as I forgot to take interim pictures - SWMBO was astonished as there was a bare board and when she next looked up the veggies had taken over. Note the various shades of rust on the bufferstop, to use just one on something this prominent would look monotonous and unrealistic, for the rails and chairs you can get away with it:

8.jpg

9.jpg

10.jpg

11.jpg

12.jpg

13.jpg

Ignore the background clutter, I have to share the workbench balcony table with Sh! You know who. :mask:
That is it. But as I am my own greatest critic there are a couple of things I would have done differently as in use darker clumps of bush as there is not enough contrast to the undergrowth and I am still not happy with the back of the bufferstop (rusty wood?). There again the sleepers under the wagon are also distressed and weathered, the face of the bufferstop is now right and the bird poop, which is streaked down the side of the roof, these are done but no one will ever see but I know they are there etc.
What am I going to do with this? Well the idea was to stick in a corner of the layout but when I looked where it could go I realised there was no space, so now a bit of a conundrum. Ho hum, bin it I suppose.
Remember this is HO, to do the same in 1:22.5 would be a much greater task although I might have had a go.

Now who was paying attention and saw why this wagon wasn't going to be run?
 

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