WHILE HAVING A MODEL TRAIN DISPLAY SET UP THAT LOOKS PERFECT IN EVERY WAY MAY BE AN IMPRESSIVE SIGHT, IT ISN'T ALL THAT REALISTIC. IN REAL LIFE MOST TRAINS DON'T APPEAR AS IF THEY'RE BRAND NEW, THEY'RE WEATHERED AND WORN FROM YEARS OF USE AND BRAVING THE ELEMENTS. THIS ALSO APPLIES TO YOUR SCENERY AS WELL. PERFECTLY CHISELED MOUNTAINS, BUILDINGS THAT LOOK AS IF THEY WERE BUILD YESTERDAY, AND CARS THAT LOOK AS IF THEY'VE JUST ROLLED OFF OF THE ASSEMBLY LINE CAN CREATE AN ALMOST SURREAL LOOK AND FEEL.
WEATHERING IS THE ART OF TAKING YOUR MODEL TRAINS, AND THE ENTIRE DISPLAY IN MANY CASES, AND MAKING THEM LOOK MORE NATURAL AND REALISTIC. THIS MAY SOUND LIKE A SIMPLE TASK BUT IT DOES TAKE A BIT OF PRACTICE AND KNOW-HOW TO ACCOMPLISH. TRYING TO WEATHER YOUR TRAIN DISPLAY WHILE HAVING NO CLUE WHAT YOU'RE DOING CAN BE DISASTROUS.
WHEN IT COMES TO WEATHERING THE NUMBER ONE RULE IS TO HAVE PATIENCE. AS YOU'RE WEATHERING YOUR MODEL TRAINS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE DISPLAY THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK REALLY UGLY UNTIL THE PROCESS IS COMPLETE. THIS CAN CAUSE FRUSTRATION IN BEGINNERS WHO MAY ASSUME THAT THEY'VE JUST RUINED THEIR MODEL.
DON'T GET FRUSTRATED AND GIVE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEATHERING PROCESS OR YOU WILL BE LEFT WITH AN UGLY MESS. JUST REMEMBER, THE FINISHED PRODUCT WILL LOOK FINE IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND STICK WITH IT. WEATHERING IS ONE OF THOSE TASKS THAT YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO DO ONLY HALFWAY.
Different Techniques for Different Materials
ANOTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT WHEN WEATHERING MODEL TRAINS AND BOX CARS THE NATURE OF THE MODEL ITSELF WILL HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE WEATHERING PROCESS AND THE TECHNIQUES YOU USE. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOUR HAVE A BOX CAR IS MADE OF PLASTIC THAT IS PER-COLORED AND NOT PAINTED YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO PAIN THE INSIDE OF THE CAR AS WELL TO PREVENT LIGHT FROM SEEPING IN THROUGH THE THIN PLASTIC AND CREATING A “GLOW” EFFECT.
IF THE MODE TRAIN YOU'VE PURCHASED IS ONE OF THE MORE EXPENSIVE TYPES IT WILL PROBABLY COME PAINTED AND LOOK ALL NICE AND SHINY. WHILE THIS DOES LOOK NEAT, IT ISN'T REALISTIC AND YOU MAY WANT TO ELIMINATE THE SHINE. THE BEST WAY TO REMOVE THE “NEW TRAIN SHINE” IS TO APPLY A DULL CLEANER COAT TO THE MODEL.
IT WOULD LOOK PRETTY SILLY TO HAVE A WEATHERED TRAIN GOING AROUND THE TRACK IN A PRISTINE, UTOPIAN LOOKING CITY. IF YOU'RE GOING TO WEATHER YOUR TRAIN, YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO DO THE SAME FOR THE REST OF YOUR DISPLAY. THIS ALSO INCLUDES SCENERY SUCH AS MOUNTAINS, TREES, AND OTHER NATURAL OBJECTS AS WELL.
WEATHERING BUILDINGS AND CARS CAN TAKE A BIT OF WORK BUT ISN'T TOO HARD. THERE ARE TECHNIQUES TO MAKE BUILDINGS APPEAR WEATHERED THAT INVOLVE USING TWO SEPARATE COATS OF PAINT WHICH WORK INCREDIBLY WELL. ALSO, RUST CAN BE APPLIED TO “METAL” OBJECTS EITHER USING A RUST COLORED PAINT OR ACTUAL REAL RUST WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM ALLOWING STEEL WOOL TO SIT IN HOUSEHOLD VINEGAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK.
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED ON YOUR WEATHERING, MAKE SURE YOU THOROUGHLY CLEAN THE OBJECT YOU'RE GOING TO WEATHER FIRST. DUST, FINGERPRINTS, GREASE AND OTHER SUBSTANCES CAN INTERFERE WITH THE WEATHERING PROCESS. THIS IS BECAUSE WEATHERING TECHNIQUES REQUIRE VERY PRECISE APPLICATIONS OF PAINT AND SOMETIMES OTHER CHEMICALS, AND UNWANTED SUBSTANCES CAN CAUSE NEGATIVE EFFECTS.