Over Weathering

[trainsdownunder]

I have included this under General Discussion as it affects all scales.

An interesting discussion on the use of weathering as to - do we weather to much these days.

I do agree it is a fine line between too much and about right but what do others feel. May be a poll could be taken if enough interest.

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/19784

[scotsoft]

The article makes an interesting read Colin and I applaud the member who dissected the video to get the statistics he collated 

I have very few weathered rolling stock as I like to run them clean and the ones that are weathered were bought that way. 

I fully understand why some people take great care when weathering their stock and the end results are generally extremely good, just not for me.

cheers John.

[Papyrus]

I applaud the member who dissected the video to get the statistics he collated

Seven minutes to cross a road!!

I'm glad I wasn't waiting one side in an ambulance...

Chris

[Ditape]

  I am personally in favor of light weathering (although I have not got up the nerve to do it my self) as that is the way I remember seeing things in the past and would fit with the current operations where trains go through the wash fairly regularly. I find that some people seem to get carried away with the muck and grime.

[port perran]

I think it's very much horses for courses.
I run a variety of pristine, factory weathered and weathered by me (badly in most cases).
My period is (roughly) 59-66 ish and I remember that some vans and coaching stock (let alone the locos) were in appalling condition (and filthy).

[talisman56]

I think it's very much horses for courses.
I run a variety of pristine, factory weathered and weathered by me (badly in most cases).
My period is (roughly) 59-66 ish and I remember that some vans and coaching stock (let alone the locos) were in appalling condition (and filthy).

Particularly the NPCS (GUV/CCT/PMV et al) - some of them in the 70s were still in Maroon or Green under all the grime...

[d-a-n]

I honestly don't think any of the more professional outfits over-weather things - they can heavily weather but they know when it's not prototypical and heavy weathering by the likes of CJM/TMC is a joy to behold.
Amateurish weathering can be over done but is usually because they've used unnatural shades in the wrong places and lack airbrush/brush/powdering technique. However, as long as the owner is satisfied and had fun doing it, that's all that matters.

I love a bit of heavy weathering and all railway stock spends more time grubby than ex-works pristine. If anything, a colour photo of an ex works loco looks almost unnatural to my eye (despite none of my own locos being weathered!)

It adds so much fun to the hobby for so many reasons, be it, time spent honing your skills, to make your models even more enjoyable to own or even to make your layout more prototypical. Keep at it!

[BobB]

My chosen period to model is Middle to Late 1976, corporate blue because it gives the chance for four character head-codes and  TOPS numbering. A byproduct of this is that I can heave weathering from pristine to downright dirty running side by side. Manufacturers weathering is a start but generally I find it not only to light but also gravitating towards track colour at the expense of falling dirt.

It comes down to what you remember or how many photographs you study.

Some rolling stock was so dirty during this (wonderful, hottest on record) summer that I'm sure the dirt was a significant contribution to vehicle weight !

[mk1gtstu]

I prefer weathered locos & stock, to me they look much more realistic. As said if you look through photos of the real thing some of it is in absolutely filthy condition!

cheers, Stu.

[mk1gtstu]

Hows this one for a weathering project.....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/63308252@N06/5967568719/in/photolist-a6kmgR-f7cJSP-edZ8vS-9KSkVK-9H6wKw-fkxtTL-nEVjWY-8cZs8w-e34DBC-8cW98V-eWsh6i-cFMsJC-8XArVk-aB3Qyh-8gTSDc-82fWkn-8A9cuu-7zxQRg-9QRNwM-8A66i6-9rF42h-a6ocQW-a6p3uJ-a6ACVk-8cMwDw-djihAg-9MbVKg-9MbVrt-9Qh9xS-8yraH9-c8p6tm-nRtuAV-9NxDDZ-bdbx3R-bHnja8-e7KSnz-f95DPg-cmPUQQ-aRvip6-auFaSw-ejGmBB-9c9Egp-8cZscy-m9EWnB-aD4cDo-9bPpgi-fJci3d-gzEGts-ddHhvE-9KVaXh-9Hd7a7


cheers, Stu.

[njee20]

I'm very much modern image, and whilst there's a prototype for everything, and plenty of current freight stock is absolutely filthy, most passenger stock is pretty clean - dirt generally collecting on under frames and roofs.

Less is often more I think.

[trainsdownunder]

Hows this one for a weathering project.....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/63308252@N06/5967568719/in/photolist-a6kmgR-f7cJSP-edZ8vS-9KSkVK-9H6wKw-fkxtTL-nEVjWY-8cZs8w-e34DBC-8cW98V-eWsh6i-cFMsJC-8XArVk-aB3Qyh-8gTSDc-82fWkn-8A9cuu-7zxQRg-9QRNwM-8A66i6-9rF42h-a6ocQW-a6p3uJ-a6ACVk-8cMwDw-djihAg-9MbVKg-9MbVrt-9Qh9xS-8yraH9-c8p6tm-nRtuAV-9NxDDZ-bdbx3R-bHnja8-e7KSnz-f95DPg-cmPUQQ-aRvip6-auFaSw-ejGmBB-9c9Egp-8cZscy-m9EWnB-aD4cDo-9bPpgi-fJci3d-gzEGts-ddHhvE-9KVaXh-9Hd7a7


cheers, Stu.

Looks a bit like my first attempt !

[Newportnobby]

Interestingly, as soon as Farish announced a 'heavily weathered' Royal Scot I dashed off a pre order but the pics I've seen since do not look heavily weathered at all
I do tend to always order any weathered version of locos and rolling stock but it is not applied particularly well and, taking the 08 for example, there is a clean straight line behind the coupling rods

[mk1gtstu]

I think with the factory weathering they just spray one colour down each side of the loco & thats it, the paint is sprayed over the connecting rods but doesn't go behind it    the blue class 20 weathered version is like that with thick paint down both sides which covers all the windows. The new class 25 is a little better as the paint isn't put on so thickly along the sides.

cheers, Stu

[Greybeema]

I think you should always go from dated photos. 

As said before in this thread, contempory locos and stock seem to be reasonably clean with just the under frame, roofs, nooks and crannies dirty.  You could get away with a thin dirty grey/brown wash on the body, a bit of exhaust staining and a grey/brown repaint of the under frame..  Oh, and the odd bit of graffiti thrown in..

Kettles seemed to be kept clean pre WWII but post that and depending on service they seemed to never be clean..  As far as weathering goes the world is your lobster but have a photo to base it on...