How to Weather Model Steam Engines
Serious model steam engine collectors often prefer a weathered look for the steam engine. A weathered steam engine appears to work for a living and has an antique feeling rather than looking just purchased. The many moving parts and details on a steam engine cause it to be difficult to weather. The appearance of a working engine can be obtained by following these steps for weathering the model steam engine.
Items Needed:
- Four to five inexpensive sponge brushes
- Grimy black shade of model paint
- One to two teaspoons of India black ink
- Oily black shade of model paint
- Pint of rubbing alcohol
- Plastic retail bag (plastic bags merchandise is placed in at a retail store)
- Q-tip
- Rust-All solution
- Spray bottle
- Tap water
- Testors DullCote
- Two small disposable bowls
- Xyelene thinner
- Photograph the chassis, drive rods and wheels of the steam engine. This will assist in reassembly.
- Separate the tender, chassis, and boiler from the steam engine.
- Detach lamps, light guides, windows and other small parts.
- Place the small parts in a plastic butter bowl for storage.
- Cover the plastic windows with pieces of blue painter’s tape cut to size.
- Remove the drive rods and wheels from the chassis.
- Pour one-eighth cup of Testors DullCote in a spray bottle and add one-half cup of tap water.
- Mist the boiler and tender with the diluted Testors DullCote mixture to dull the shine of metal and plastic parts.
- Utilize a small sponge brush to lightly coat the buffers by spraying the DullCote mixture on the sponge brush.
- Allow the boiler and tender to dry. The mixture may dry on the boiler or tender leaving a whitish or foggy appearance, which is not a problem.
- Apply a drop of the DullCote mixture with a Q-tip to a few of the windows and allow to dry.
- Utilize a fingernail to scrape some of the DullCote from the windows. This will give the illusion of grime that has been built-up on the windows and wiped with a rag.
- Place one teaspoon of India black ink with one pint of rubbing alcohol for the first solution and shake well. This mixture will promote the appearance of soot, oil drips and road grime.
- Add the other teaspoon of India black ink to the mixture for a darker appearance.
- Cover the chassis and wheels in the India black ink and alcohol mixture with a sponge brush.
- Utilize a dry brush technique for the gears and contacts by loading the sponge brush with only a small amount of the India black ink and alcohol mixture and dabbing the sponge brush on a dry paper towel to remove most of the mixture. This will allow the gears to move freely.
- Allow the chassis and wheels to dry on a clean plastic retail bag.
- Mix one-fourth teaspoon of Grimy black paint with two teaspoons of Xyelene thinner in a small disposable bowl.
- Utilize a Q-tip to apply RustAll solution to the nooks and crannies one small drop at a time where desired to form rust spots.
- Allow the RustAll solution to run down the train and puddle, as this is the way rust naturally occurs. Do not be concerned about white scaling forming around the simulated rust drips.
- Dry brush Oily black model paint, utilizing the dry brush technique described above, for the appearance of grease where desired.
- Dry brush the Grimy black paint and Xyelene thinner mixture with a sponge brush in strategic areas to give the appearance of grime.
- Allow the model steam engine to dry and reassemble.