SP SD40 Patched to UP

[allenrockwell]

I still have to add the ditch lights and hoses and few other small details, but it's basicly done.

It's an Athearn RTR SD40 that I added a Soundtraxx Tsunami board, faded, weathered and patched.



...and the prototype

[KCSRailfan]

Great Job Man on this one. I'm one of your subscribers on youtube.

[icghogger]

That is Excellent Work, Allen, tell us about your techniques!!

[deez]

I like it. Great Job! Was that MK rebuild and Ex-KCS unit? '71 built SD40's and 45's especially are very cool!

[allenrockwell]

Apr 29, 2010 15:43:38 GMT -5 icghogger said:

That is Excellent Work, Allen, tell us about your techniques!!

Pretty basic really. I sanded the SP lettering with 400 and 600 grit sandpaper until I got it to the level I wanted it.

Then it's just a matter of masking off the windows and mixing up a VERY diluted solution of flat white paint and airbrushing the entire model in very light coats until I got the level of fading I wanted. Some areas I applied randomly shaped pieces of masking tape between coats of the fading to make certain areas look less or more faded than others.

Finally I lightly drybrushed some areas with a very light gray (SP gray and white) to simulate extra fading and peeling.

The the patching was all done with Microscale Decals.

That's about it really other than some basic weathering.

[m a y o r 79]

Excellent job Allen, looks like a spot on match to the prototype.

On your fading technique, how diluted is the white paint? Is it similar to making a blackwash solution, something like 1 part paint to 10 parts water (assuming water based paints)? How many coats did it take to achieve that level of fading on your model?

Again, excellent work....

[allenrockwell]

May 8, 2010 9:57:36 GMT -5 m a y o r 79 said:

Excellent job Allen, looks like a spot on match to the prototype.
On your fading technique, how diluted is the white paint? Is it similar to making a blackwash solution, something like 1 part paint to 10 parts water (assuming water based paints)? How many coats did it take to achieve that level of fading on your model?
Again, excellent work....

Thanks

Yes, it's similar to making a blackwash solution. Mostly water with a hint of color.

It was water based (PollyScale), I filled my color cup on my airbrush with water and added about 2 drops of white paint.

We're talking about a dozen coats with a few minutes in between for drying. It's a bit of a long, tedious process and you cannot rush it or you'll get runs ... it's all about very light coats and building it up slowly until you get the effect you want.

[kcsthebetterway]

Nice work and the way you included the youtube can help us get a feel for what you are doing on the bench!

[canadaandsouthern]

looks good