How to Weather a Hopper

Both young and old model train enthusiasts may want to paint some of their own train cars.

Model railroading not only involves the layout of train tracks, but the also the creation of landscapes, towns and villages. Many types of locomotives and train cars are available for purchase by amateur engineers, both young and old. Most newly purchased model train cars that are pulled straight out of the box support a fresh coat of paint. For real authenticity, try painting some of your train cars, so they take on a weathered or rusty appearance.

Things You'll Need

• Brand new model train cars
• Old toothbrush
• Dishwashing soap
• Warm water
• Old newspapers
• Paint mask capable of filtering out spray paint and paint fumes
• Jars of special weathering paint for models
• Paint brushes (polyester medium pointer and 1/4 inch wide flat brush)
• Cotton swabs
• Aerosol can of flattening lacquer spray (available from hobby stores)

Instructions

1. Purchase a set of weathering paints from a model company. Model Mates makes a set of eight weathering colors that includes soot black, moss green, rusty red, sand brown, oil brown, mud brown and light grey. They were first produced in aerosol cans, but now are available in small jars.

2. Wash the model car in a mixture of warm water and dishwasher soap. Use the old toothbrush to scrub off any excess grime, especially in hard-to-reach places like crevices.

3. Let the hopper air-dry.

4. Set the model car on a newspaper-covered workspace in a well-ventilated room and put on a high-quality paint mask, if you are using aerosol spray paints.

5. Apply a test strip of paint at the very bottom of the car, to make sure that the paint does not react with the plastic.

6. Choose a light-colored gray paint (the choices are slate grey or light grey) from the selection of available colors and mix the paint with water. Water/paint ratios may vary from 2-to-1 up to 5-to-1. Begin with the thinner mix, apply the paint with a brush and then let it dry. Add a second or third coat as necessary and make sure the paint is dry before you go to the next step.

7. Wet the painted area with brush and water and then smudge the wet area with cotton swabs or damp cloth to create weathering effect. This method should be first applied to the top part of the painted area and then extended downward. Be sure the painted area is dry before you proceed on.

8. Choose a darker shade of grey and then mix the paint with water. Then add splotches and dabs of the color to the painted area to enhance the color variation and weathered effect. Do this in moderate amounts as too much dark color can take away from the overall effect. Be sure all paint is dry before you proceed to the next step. Other darker colors may be applied for slightly different effects.

9. Spray the whole car with a flattening lacquer paint available through most hobby stores. This step definitely requires a paint mask.

Tips & Warnings

• Many hobbyists prefer airbrush to aerosol spray cans or paint brushes. Advantages of airbrush are many once the initial investment is made and you learn how to use the new tool. A detailed discussion of the matter can be found in the first reference.

• Use aerosol spray cans in a well-ventilated place and wear a paint mask capable of screening out paint fumes.

References

• Model Armour: Model Mates -- Weathering Sprays
• Model Mates: Ready Mixed Weathering Liquid in Glass Jars -- 22ml
• Airbrushung for Model Railroads

Resources

• Model Mates: Images of Weathered Model Railroad Cars