Pre-shading on an Alco RS-27

[mandealco]

Hi All

When I posted a progress photo of my N-Scale C-425, someone commented that it was weathered before it was painted.



Not all of the paint came off, but as it was going to be painted black anyway, it didn't bother me.  It got me thinking about a weathering technique used by aircraft modellers, called pre-shading.  After talking to an aircraft modeller (my 35 year old son), I thought I'd try it on an RS-27 I was detailing for my 25 year old son.  The other 6 boys don't model anything, but 2 out of 8 wasn't bad.


I started with a Walthers RS-27 in CR black colours.  It needed lots of detail changes as Nathan wanted it to be MNNR 318, a former GBW unit, with significantly different details.  Once it was modified, I painted it white, then applied some heavy black washes to highlight the details and darken certain areas.  A splotchy affect is really what I wanted, with emphasis on door surrounds and grill work.




I didn't spend a lot of time on the roof areas, as they will get airbrushed with dirt and soot.

The effect is quite subtle but a lot better looking than these cellphone pics show.
The hood doors show up well and the area round the fan stands out well.  The battery box louvres and the lower angled part of the notches look really good.  Overall I am very pleased with the effect.  I would darken the grills and shutters a bit more prior to painting, but I will have to do that afterwards in this case.

Not sure if it would be as easy in N-Scale, but worth a go.

Cheers
Steve
NZ

[jmlaboda]

Too bad its not possible yet in N-scale. They were some unique locomotives.

[iomalley]

Looks great, especially the filters!

I've often thought of pre-shading too, especially with all black units. BION, black units have several tones of greys on them as they wear/age, they are not pure black. Using your pre blackening, followed up by very thinned out grey washes, followed by more darker washes and blends.

A prolific CN old era modeler actually primed with black and 'weathered' with the boxcar red colour of the boxcars and gons to great effect for a weathered example...another technique I want to try.

I purchased a couple ebay models that were drybrushed as well, another normal technique for armour modelers.

[mandealco]

Jerry, here's the N-Scale version that was started by Zsolt.  Needs a bit of work, but Zsolt's grill work is supurb. It will be getting the MLW lease scheme of maroon and grey, as used on ex-UP units before they went to Devco.

Cheers
Steve
NZ

[mandealco]

Finally finished my son's MNNR RS-27. It's been a mission. I completed the paint and decal work.  I wasn't 100% happy with the colour, but thought a final satin clear coat would tone it down a little.  It did more than that, it gave the old splotchy crappy finish, so it went back in the paint stripper.


In the meantime I found a website that allows the viewer to mix basic colours till you end up with the shade you want.  It allowed me to end up with the new colour for the 318.  Try this:  Colour Mixing.



I followed the preshading method again, though not as bold as the first time.  The result was not as obvious, so extra shading and washes were needed after painting.


This is my first HO scale project, and likely my last.  Give me N-Scale any day.


Cheers
Steve
NZ

[Wayne Snyder]

Do you have a link to the Website for the color mixing? I tried Colour Mixing and got nothing.

[mandealco]

Hi Wayne, the link is there, it just wasn't showing correctly. I've changed the colour to make it more visible.
Cheers
Steve
NZ

[Wayne Snyder]

Thanks

[gbw2407]

Did you custom build that RS27?

[mandealco]

Hi

It's a Walthers model with some small changes. Sorry the photos on photo bucket seem to have gone fuzzy.  Hope the link below will help.  I do most of my work in N-Scale, but the RS-27 was made for my son who models BNSF in N-Scale also, so the 318 is just a display model.
Cheers
Steve
NZ


My Kitbashed Alco's and MLW's

[mandealco]

I see the link takes you to the wrong page in my Photo Bucket. Use the menu on the left to go to "Kitbashed Alcos and MLWs". The RS-27 is on the second page. I had the decals made by Matt at Circus city Decals. he does very nice work.