First Attempt at Weathering with Airbrush

[Deleted]

I bought a Neo for Iwata, dual-action airbrush early this year and began playing with it a couple of months ago, having never used an airbrush before. What I have done so far has only wetted my appetite to use the airbrush more and I even ventured into oil pastels to highlight the rust on the hood and also on the brake shoes on the trucks.

I have yet to complete it but as it is the first loco I have weathered with my new airbrush I thought I would show some progress and see what you all think?

[icghogger]

Excellent Work for a first attempt!! I couldn't help but notice you are using Hartley's Raspberry Jelly....it would have been my choice as well ;D

[Deleted]

Thanks for the comment. Yes the jelly pots are a favourite as they make excellent little pots for using when painting or just for storing scenery materials in as I move around the boards.

[Deleted]

If I can make some suggestions.

Before applying any weathering, think about how the surface gets weathered in real life. The ONLY area I use an airbrush on is around the trucks where the dust gets kicked up. This will include the lower edges of the frame above the trucks and the front/rear of the fuel tank. Other than that, it is washes and pigments.

I do no tuse an airbrush on the exhaust either. I do not have enough control to get it right. I use pigments here and scrub them in.

Brian

[Nick Lorusso]

Looking good. May I recommend picking up Tom Mann's Weathering Book www.weatheringfactory.com/ I have a copy and it gives some great tips.

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2012 10:48:54 GMT -5 @6axlepwr said:

If I can make some suggestions.

Before applying any weathering, think about how the surface gets weathered in real life. The ONLY area I use an airbrush on is around the trucks where the dust gets kicked up. This will include the lower edges of the frame above the trucks and the front/rear of the fuel tank. Other than that, it is washes and pigments.

I do no tuse an airbrush on the exhaust either. I do not have enough control to get it right. I use pigments here and scrub them in.

Brian

Do you know, I was beginning to wonder if this maybe wouldn't be the best way to go? I used the pastels at the end for touch up but in hindsight after a fade wash I think I would have used pastels more and the airbrush less. I am really impressed with how the trucks and underframe have turned out, I also am quite pleased with my exhaust stains and the effect it has created, however, I will gladly take onboard your comments and I'll post another once I've tried it and you can let me know what you think.

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2012 11:33:33 GMT -5 Nick Lorusso said:

Looking good. May I recommend picking up Tom Mann's Weathering Book www.weatheringfactory.com/ I have a copy and it gives some great tips.

I used a recent article in model railroader and the Kalmbach publishing book on painting and weathering, purely because it's what I had to hand but I am always looking for new tips so I will check the book out, thanks.

[tjmfishing]

I like it Neil. I find all my CN stuff is harder to do, cause of the black. The blue really shows the weathering well. Also, the steps are in so I should have them over the next two weeks.

[m a y o r 79]

Looks really good. Needs some fuel oil spill marks around the fuel fillers wpuld be my only suggestion.

I like the suggestion about not using the airbrush for everything, however there is benefit to using different techniques to keep everything from having a similar apperance. I mostly use an airbrush (guilty of not following my own advice) but thats probably because im not very good at oils yet.

Very nice job!

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2012 18:23:02 GMT -5 tjmfishing said:

I like it Neil. I find all my CN stuff is harder to do, cause of the black. The blue really shows the weathering well. Also, the steps are in so I should have them over the next two weeks.

I will have the same problem with NS loco's. I have found two techniques, which, I hope will work well: first fade the black to anything from a deep grey to a white depending on how severe you want it (I know some CN zebra stripe schemes look like this at times); or use a deep grey in place of the black for the grills and vents and maybe tint the exhaust stains with a deep dull grey.

I haven't tried them yet so I have yet to see the results but I'm sure it'll be worth finding out.

Good news about the steps. Look forward to seeing how they look.

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2012 20:50:09 GMT -5 m a y o r 79 said:

Looks really good. Needs some fuel oil spill marks around the fuel fillers wpuld be my only suggestion.

I like the suggestion about not using the airbrush for everything, however there is benefit to using different techniques to keep everything from having a similar apperance. I mostly use an airbrush (guilty of not following my own advice) but thats probably because im not very good at oils yet.

Very nice job!

This was one place I found the airbrush most unhelpful! I put oil stains on each end of the tank under the fillers, but the air pressure (no matter how little used) blew it into a a thin fan of colour so I may have to revisit that with a drop of gloss or even the pastels.

I'd encourage you to persevere with the pastels, from what little I have used them I am most impressed with the results.

[EMDX6043]

I like to use Modelmaster gloss black (depending on fuel tank color-they've all been black lately though) to add the fuel spills under the fillers. It's the last step I do after I seal the weathering powders.

[Deleted]

Do you just drop some on and let it run?

[EMDX6043]

Nah, just a thin brush and a few passes...no real streaks since the fuel 'soaks' into the surrounding dirt and grime.

[ladderpipe]

You should be proud of your first attempt.
This is something that could have easily turned into a disaster. Now you need to fine tune your skills. A lot of guys refuse to use airbrushes at all. I think you will do very well

[Deleted]

Aug 29, 2012 22:06:42 GMT -5 ladderpipe said:

You should be proud of your first attempt.
This is something that could have easily turned into a disaster. Now you need to fine tune your skills. A lot of guys refuse to use airbrushes at all. I think you will do very well

Thank you very much, these comments are very much appreciated.