OVERVIEW:
Weathering rollingstock can be a challenge sometimes, and one of those challenges are open cars. This HO scale weathering project uses a Bowser 100-ton hopper as the subject for an open car.
MY PROCESS:
To achieve the ultra flat and smudgy look of the BNSF oxide red paint I used a combination of Bragdon and AIM powders with Tamiya paint, panel wash and flat clear.
Starting out, disassembling the car is the easiest route. Using a micro brush to paint the wheel faces with flat brown makes this process a little quicker. I then masked off the back of both trucks and sprayed them with RustOleum ultra flat black from the camouflage line. While these smaller parts were drying I sprayed the entire car body with Tamiya flat clear and let dry. This was just about the right amount of time for the trucks and wheels to dry, I reassembled them and set aside.
Next step was to use 600 grit sandpaper over the reporting marks and herald. I prefer to do this after spraying the clear, it gives a slightly softer chalky appearance versus doing before.
I followed the light sanding with brown panel line wash from Tamiya applied to both sides of each side rib and end braces as well. Once mostly dried, I highlighted the ribs by brushing dark earth powder by AIM horizontally across the car sides and ends to darken the ribs.
I then used a soft blush brush to darken and highlight the car interior with AIM dark earth and grimy black. Flipping the car over I used the same brush to highlight the hard edges around the 3 bay doors. I sealed the car by using more Tamiya flat clear and setting it aside to dry.
FINAL TOUCHES:
The last step was to paint the couplers. To do this I mixed a few drops of Tamiya flat brown with TruColor oxide red, grabbed a super fine Microbrush and painted the coupler head and shank. I also used a silver Sharpie paint marker on the trip pin ends, simulating the glad hands.
