How much is too much?
How much weathering to apply depends on several factors,
including the age of the equipment. era, location, railroad
maintenance practices, etc. Personal taste also plays a part in
this, since everyone has their own idea of the right amount of
weathering. Start with a light weathering application. You can
always add more weathering later if it you decide a car doesn’t
have enough weathering.
Look to the prototype
Looking at some color photos of the prototype can give you a
good idea as to how much weathering to apply, and where to
apply it. Try to use photos of the cars in service, not builders’
photos as your guide, since cars in builders’ photos are brand-
new. There are modelers who have developed a “hobby within
the hobby” focused on weathering. These modelers will go to
great lengths to replicate the exact weathering on a car, as seen
in prototype photographs. By these modelers’ definition, any-
thing not weathered to a prototype photo is known as “fantasy
weathering.” While I don’t go that far, I do follow the practice
of looking to the prototype for inspiration.
Into the light
Weather in the same type of light you use on the lay-
out because colors appear differently under different light
sources. If you use incandescent bulbs, use the same light
bulbs at the workbench to do your weathering, to keep the
colors looking right.
Practice, practice, practice…
Work out the bugs in your technique by practicing on cars
from the scrap bin. Keep at it until you can get reliable results.
Always practice any new techniques on junk cars before tack-
ling nice models.
Batch-building freight cars - 1
MRH-Mar 2013
