How to Weather Corrugated Metal Siding Made from Aluminum

How to weather corrugated metal siding made from aluminum foil. In this video I show you how to use an etching solution to get some very realistic weathering effects on corrugated siding made from foil.
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[@austinyingst5902]

It looks so realistic because you're actually depositing an iron oxide (rust) on the aluminum. Thanks.

[@jerrysmith410]

I have seen plastic forceps or tweezers. I like the high production quality of your videos, so I'm sure I'd be interested in your podcast.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Jerry Smith Thanks you, and I hope you will join me when I get them started, probably in September.

[@csxbaltimoresubdivision7746]

great video, glad you showed what safety you have to use, thanks for sharing.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

CSX 8840 CSX Baltimore sub division I am as bad as anyone about getting lazy with safety equipment. I constantly remind myself to use it, and I want others to develop better habbits than that. Safety first.

[@trondatleolsen245]

Great videos! Keep up the good work! 👍 I paint my corrugated aluminium foil with a matt, grey paint, then I weather it with "Rust streaks" from AK Interactive and a light wash with India ink/water. I'm very pleased with the result!

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Trond Atle Olsen That works too. The one advantage I see to etching is, if you get it right, it really has that galvanized look that I find so hard to achieve with paint.

[@richardmattingly7000]

One great way to make corrugated metal siding is to roll a metal spring across it and finer the coils the closer the ridges will be. A dowel can be run thru it like a rolling pin or a use a flat rigid piece of metal/wood to roll the spring across the metal. Use scrapbookers embossing foil instead ot tin foil its stonger, you can also glue tin foil in layers together and roll it while still wet for more strength if you prefer. Use baking paper as a backing during rolling because the glue that squeezes out needs to dry and clean the glue from the spring while wet too.

[@yrunaked4]

Another great video Ron, This technique is a little scary but it looks so good and its real rust. I will practice on some tin foil first before I tackle some of my campbell kits. Thanks so much for your work. Cheers, Rob

[@csnyder29]

interesting video .. will have to try this in the future. I would be very interested in a live show.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+craig snyder I hope you can join us for the live stream. I plan to start some time in September. I will be sure and make announcements on my videos. If you do try this process, let me know how it turns out.

[@pongignacio6705]

very nice ron!

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Pong Ignacia Thank you.

[@shekharsahu2816]

Yes i agree to work

[@chazco]

great vid. Not sure I want to mess with the etching solution. However the effect was great. About the live Q&A, not sure I would participate, it would depend on what ever else I had going on in that time slot. But I think it is a great idea. Chuck

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Chazco Thanks for watching and for your input.

[@Harold8532]

The live stream sounds interesting. If it's at a convenient time, I'll participate. I am in the US eastern time zone. My principal interest is in operations although most of my recent videos have been about scenery.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Harold Herre I haven't made any form decision yet, but I am considering one Sunday night a month at 7:30 Central, that would be 830 Eastern.

[@Harold8532]

That's good for me

[@dacuzzz]

hi Ron... that looks like some nasty stuff but dose a great job to weather aluminum .. thanks for sharing.. vinny

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

bnsf6951 I certainly wouldn't brush my teeth with it. Lol. 👍

[@mlkesimmons758]

Ron. Perhaps diluting the etching solution a little with some distilled water might slow down the bubble process giving you a little more time to get it just right. Have gone back to watch your videos from the start. Great stuff. Live streaming session would be fun. Was unable to access your track plan. Look forward to seeing an ops session. What main track authority will you use to operate your railroad? Mike

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Hi, Mike. Thanks for the comment. I have had several suggestions regarding how to tweak the etching process. I am going to experiment with some of them and possible make another video down the road on my results. I will have to look back at that track plan link, but I plan sometime to make a video on track planning with very affordable software and will show my track plan on that one too. As for my layout, I use car cards with 4 cycle waybills using train orders, running everything like an extra similar to how class 1s do today only without the signaling (for now).

[@everonrailways8399]

I wonder if this method will be useful for prepping metal for painting as well?

[@tommiemartin6457]

Ron, the live stream segments sound great. I think the only thing that governs peoples interactions is of course the scheduled time. The ability to send in questions prior to the live streaming might be an option to look into. I would love to participate, just waiting to see the details and how they work out. Also one thing to consider on working with aluminium prior to painting is to use a solution called " alodine " at about $25 a quart. It bonds with aluminium to give a chemical adhesion for paints and coating for aluminium and it fairly non-toxic..Also what about using a q-tip to apply the etching solution to only one side of the aluminium panels while on say paper towels and then looking for the acid reaction? Might be a way to save on materials/process.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Hi, Tommie. You have some great, helpful ideas here. Thanks. First, on my video coming out today I am asking people to suggest a day and time that would be best for them for the live stream. I want to try to work in the time slot that is best for the most people, assuming of course that it works with my schedule as well. Right not I am leaning toward one Sunday night per month at 7:30 p.m. central, but that is not certain yet. What time works best for you? I am not familiar with alodine, but I will look in to it. Sounds interesting. I had not considered applying the etchant ton one side only. This is the way I was taught to do it so I've always done it that way--you know how that goes--but I think I will give that a try. If I like the results I may do a follow up video, and if so I will certainly credit you with the idea. Thanks again for watching and for your suggestions. 👍

[@tommiemartin6457]

Sounds good. You might want to put a link to your FB page in the video and then put a poll on the FB page about scheduling and see where that goes. For me anything after 5 pm CST is good.

[@pacbeltrr38]

Hey Ron, I like that method! I realize that it wouldn't be nearly as cost effective, but what about using brass or copper sheets? It certainly makes a nice effect. I'm gonna try to find the video on doing the corregation next. WAY back in middle school, we used liver sulphur to etch and tarnish metals... I wonder if that would be safer on aluminum? Carmine 🚂

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+PacbeltRR Those are interesting questions worthy of some experimentation. Thanks for watching and for your question. I may have to try some of these things.

[@robertshanks8385]

Hello Ron, is there any plastic tweezers in the market that would work? Can you weather the foil before you etch it? About your live feed. Will you also have it where viewers can watch it later or even the next day? My problem is having to catch it so i can watch it. By recording it for us retirees who threw away their watches, time seems to fly faster now than when working. LOL Thank you

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Thanks for watching. There probably are plastic tweezers out there, I just don't have any. Any pre weathering would be eaten off by the etchant. The live stream will also be recorded on my channel for later playback. I need enough people on live, however, to make it a viable show worth watching.

[@davidmuse7004]

That's a cool way to get a very nice effect. Is there another method that can be used? Is "acid" the best way to do this? What other methods have you tried and found to be of some success???? Thanks for the video and enjoy watching your channel Ron. D. Muse

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+David Muse Thanks for watching. I have tried various painting techniques--airbrush, dry brushing, etc.--which come out ok, but it doesn't stick to the aluminum great and I tend to lose that galvanized look with paint.

[@ethynvillebro4208]

SWEETA!!! Nice technique makes the tin look pretty cool. can you seal the model with a clear coat or will any type of clear coat react with that solution that is left on the tin? See yes your live stream would be helpful ...I think,, many questions could be answered in the hour...thx for sharing Ron...Tom from ETHYNVILLE BRO420

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Ethynville Bro420 i have never used a clear coat on this material, but I don't think it would bother the weathering as it is in the aluminum, not just on the surface.

[@liveti1till160]

Slow down Ron, I do not have time to see all the videos at the same rate you upload them ;-) - Mikael

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+liveti1till160 Lol. Thanks for watching.