How to Weather Rolling Stock for Your Model Railroad

How to weather rolling stock for your model railroad. In this video I am upgrading and weathering an N scale covered hopper LO. I am upgrading to Fox Valley metal wheel sets and fading and rusting the car body. It looks amazing, and you can do this too.
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[@mach37]

Much better watching it done than just reading about it and wondering if I can ever do it right.

[@addisonwilliamsjr4450]

The background music adds such a nice touch.

[@jaybickford512]

I realize this is one of your older videos, but I have to say I really enjoyed it, and have purchased most of the items I will need to implement your weathering process on some of my rolling stock.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Cool. Let me know how it goes.

[@shawnleih2916]

Thank you teacher me doing weather car.

[@railartist001]

Ingenious concept with the "brush" made with balsa wood base ...... keep up the good work .....

[@jamesrhayden7818]

Thank you for this video. Great information and instruction for weathering N scale freight cars. I especially liked taking a toy-like car and added details and changed the trucks for more realism. Beautiful.

[@zacharybarry2862]

Your intros always make me smile! Great videos, thanksfo your time, effort and knowledge. That was a great idea to use the bin with dividers for your wheels.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Thanks for watching. I like to add some entertainment/humor when I can.

[@chopperbaldwin610]

I am just learning about weathering and small-scale dioramas. Thank you for all the guidance.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Thanks for watching.

[@Tinner7]

Thanks Ron, that truck jig and wire block are game changers for me.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

I'm so glad you found them helpful.

[@Rhinexing]

Great technique, Ron. I really liked the believable rust patches... fantastic results!

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Thank you. That is one of my favorite techniques.

[@robertpassmore396]

Hey Ron I like that hopper it looks cool, I model ho I have learned a lot by watching so now I am not afraid to weather my rolling stock.

[@jacko9759]

T on this is the best video on weathering I've seen, thanks so much, you seem to really understand it a lot better than others keeping it simple and to the point, not alot of hard steps to confuse us, THANKS

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Jack O Thanks for watching. I plan to d more videos on weathering tank cars, box cars, auto racks, graffiti, and more.

[@marcusc3463]

Ron, awesome instructional video. I've seen a lot of "professional garbage" on youtube. You videos are well made and clear objectives with great results. I hope many viewers respond and follow you

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Marcus C Thanks Marcus, and thanks for watching. The response has been good so far--500 subscribers in under 3 months and just about 20 videos. You should check out the purely fun outtake video I posted today celebrating 500. Here is a link. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJvPpaWmm6pna68

[@ATSFVentaSpurNscaler]

Ron, you presented some really practical weathering tips for N scale rolling stock. Your step-by-step process was helpful and very easy to follow. Thanks for sharing these tips! -from Tom Pilling

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+ATSF Venta Spur Nscaler Thank you and thanks for watching. I am planning to do more videos on other techniques for other types of rolling stock soon.

[@BlockBigSilverado]

Great tips thanks Ron

[@pacbeltrr38]

Now Ron, THAT was worth the price of admission!!! 🍻👍👍 That might be the *only* weathering technique that I've never tried. Not because I didn't want to, or was nervous... but because I keep forgetting about it!! 😲😫 I LOVE the way that the oil paint streaking looks - yours is certainly no exception! Like I mentioned in the last video I watched, I've made weathering powders my go-to. Thanks to your videos, and others I've seen, even after 42 years of Model Railroading, my skills are about to improve. Thanks!! Carmine 🚂

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Thanks again.

[@newfenrisrailroad621]

Nice look.plan on using this video for my rolling stock

[@DGModelworks]

Great techniques Ron. Car turned out great!

[@richardnelson-ux1zz]

Thank you for sharing this video

[@schadowolf]

Very well done, thank you for sharing!

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

schadowolf Thanks for watching and for your comment.

[@hntrains2]

Great result, indeed!

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+hntrains Thanks

[@chrisstephen4563]

Nice job

[@NewHavenRails]

Nice video. Thanks for sharing

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+New Haven Rails Thank you. I plan more freight car weathering videos down the pike.

[@reidgaffey1107]

Great video Ron, doing rust has been something I've never seemed to get right, you've shown me a simple and effective way to do it. Glad I found your channel. Cheers Reid

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Thanks, I am glad you found it useful. If you try this, let me know how it turns out.

[@reidgaffey1107]

Shall do Ron, keep up the great work.

[@giulius7176]

Nicely done.....Thanks for sharing!!

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Giulius71 Thanks for watching.

[@BigPete7407]

nice job! I really learned a lot thanks

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Peter Norkawich Thanks for watching.

[@Vman7757]

Thank you for sharing. One thing I use is 231 Greas-Em Lubricant 5.5 Gram Tube. in the pockets for the wheels. it help the wheels roll smooth for a very long time. and only take a second to apply.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Vincent Sanders Thats a good tip. Thanks!

[@markjolyn94]

You did a great job on this hopper. I was waiting for the gray on the sides. I live in California and the green BN open hoppers for some readom seem to be dirt magnets. When I modeled ho I just used hard pastels and did the entire car. Although it sounds odd if you did medium heavy on the bottom half and lighter on the top half it looked great

[@ottorosborough7589]

Great video Ron. Good idea on your method of using a piece of wire to add streaks. N scale is tough to add rust streaks because of its size. I will try your method out on my n scale cars. Keep up the great work you do and thank you. Otto

[@CajonSub]

Nice Ron, I learned a new technique. Thanks for sharing. - Steve

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+SoCalBNSF N scale layout Thanks for watching. If you try it out, let me know how it goes.

[@CajonSub]

I'll try it out, I've been weathering using paint and chalks mostly but I'm always open to new techniques. One thing I learned that helps a lot is to take a paper towel and scrub the cars paint prior to weathering to remove some of that "factory shine" on the car. - Steve

[@AlexLee-qw4re]

Thanks for the video, it's really helpful and well explained!

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Thanks.

[@alexweis9706]

hay ron you did a great job on it

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Thanks.

[@RadINation]

I have a freelance layout. I bought about 15 cheap Bachmann BN Boxcars, I have weathered all them and painted some of the doors red. I am currently renumbering and renaming from BN to BNSF on all the cars (making a bunch of patch overs). But my point is yes buy cheap cars learn from them and one can still make a cheap $5 used car look like a new $60 car.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Awesome. Thanks for this comment.

[@matthewjones1119]

Looks great!!! If you want I'll send you my roster to weather!!! Lol

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Matthew Jones Lol. I know if guys who do this for a fee. I've never done that, but the thought has crossed my mind.

[@paulturenne434]

Another great video Ron, I will have to use this technique when I finally get my layout done ,but I`m not in any rush ,just enjoying the moment.I actually like to have your videos play in the background while working on my layout, very relaxing...great piano tunes !!!!!! Lounge tunes and track ballasting.....what a great day and what a great hobby.OBTW Ron, do you or did you need to add any weight to the car and do you ever check the weights of your rolling stock ? Take care !

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

I don't remember on this specific car, but yes I weight my cars. I plan to do a video on that down the road.

[@ingridromero6261]

Enjoyed your technique as I do z-scale and other techniques I have viewed are too coarse for small scale application. Thanks!

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Ingrid Romero You are the first Z scaler I've run across here. Glad to have you as a viewer. Thanks for watching.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Hey, everyone, voting is open for the IMRROcom Big Build Contest v2. I enterd the contest weeks ago and my videos are posted here. Please go vote. Here is the link. facebook.com/groups/IMRROcomBBCv2

[@joellekarma]

WOW! I so liked how you weathered that hopper. have you ever weathered a steam Locomotive. I work with N and On30 I feel these techniques would work great for what I do. I really enjoy your videos.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

I don not have any steam, so no, I have not weathered steam locomotives. It is something I would like to try my hand at someday.

[@HA-in1me]

Wow, nice. I learned a bunch. Thanks Ron. BTW any suggestions for doing the same thing without an air brush? Right now the added expense is too much for me.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

You can do the fading and grime affect with washes. Ralph Renzetti has some great techniques, too, that he demonstrates on his weathering videos on KZbin Model Builders channel. You should check them out.

[@sheralcrowe5308]

great job looks good would you do a boxcar sheral in tucson

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

I have plans to do a boxcar, a tank car, and an auto rack in the next couple months. Stay tuned.

[@tomwcameron]

Great video and interesting techniques Ron. thanks 😊👍 it looks like you use a type of track which comes with a molded ballast base. Do you have a technique to weather that? or the rail?

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+tom cameron I use Peco flextrack. I airbrush my track and ties. I plan to do a video on that down the road.

[@beatleman69]

Great job, that was very educational! Have you weathered your track with that light brown oil paint?

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+beatleman69 No, I weather track with acrylic paint in an airbrush.

[@orgelspielerkmd]

I assume these techniques would work for HO as well, right? Perhaps a slightly larger applicator than the cooper wire would be recommended?

[@csnyder29]

Really great video .. do you replace the couplers and trucks as well when you do this? If so what to change them too?

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+craig snyder That depends on the car. I have had good luck with most magnetic knuckle couplers in N scale, so usually no. Kato cars I keep the trucks and metal wheels, cut the draft gear box off, and install body-mounted couplers. Long cars, same thing. If money was no object I would go body mounted on everything, but it is an object so... When I replace trucks and/or couplers I always go micro trains with fox valley wheelsets.

[@West_Cascade_Rail]

I’m about to try your techniques! I was wondering how you would go about weathering the trucks and ends of the car without an airbrush, as I don’t have one. Thanks!

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Without an airbrush, get a rattle can of dullcoat and spray the trucks first, then I would use paint pigment powders like Monroe Models or Bragdon powders. For car ends, I assume you mean the splash streaks. I would use a small brush and a drybrush technique stroking in straight lines from bottom to top only.

[@West_Cascade_Rail]

Great, thanks! Subscribed!

[@neil442]

Hi Ron -have been following for a while -now going backwards thro you old vids -have to say -keep them going please -you influence has spread over the pond to this northwest of England viewer -managed at last to get some turponoid over here -can I ask please what size is the wire on your oil paint applicator -looks around 30 thou ??

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

That is awesome. Good to have you aboard.

[@WhitePineSub]

Most of the roof hatches are aluminum or plastic. They will get dirty, but plastic doesn't rust. s3.amazonaws.com/rrpa_photos/115580/_DSC8681-91.jpg s3.amazonaws.com/rrpa_photos/115580/_DSC8648-59.jpg

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Karl A You are right, today most are aluminum or fiberglass. Early on many were pressed steel. Older cars with replacement hatches often had mismatched hatches of white or gray. Since this car had the same green color hatches I treated them as pressed steel. One good upgrade to this car would be to remove the hatch covers and paint them primer gray as replacement fiberglass.

[@amouty800]

would you use the light ghost grey fade coat on all colored cars or is it just best for the green bn car color used in this video?

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

I typically use the gray for darker colors and white for lighter colors.

[@gfandwrr1]

Just found this video. My question is why use the oil paints rather than acrylics? Maybe this was discussed elsewhere. If so [please advise where.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Acrylics for streaks are very unforgiving. If it isn't just right it dries and it is there. Oils have a long working time and can be reactivated with a solvent. Also the oils create texture which acryics cannot achieve.

[@Howie2025]

Once again very informative. Love your homemade tools, always a great idea given there. First attempt at the oil rust technique, perhaps a little over done but i imagine adding the grey overspray will tone it down somewhat. Thx again for another inspirational video./Users/davidhoward/Pictures/Photos Library.photoslibrary/resources/proxies/derivatives/00/00/e/UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_e.jpg

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Glad to hear you gave it a try.

[@eldonlowman253]

Ron: Which wheelsets? What size,flange depth, part#, should I get for smooth running one code 55 rail?

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Eldon Lowman I don't have code 55 track, but I run Fox Valley metal wheelsets with scale flanges. I will have to check specific part #s and get back to you.

[@vikingofengland]

Is that a scale sized fly on the layout at 0:30?!!!

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Are there any weathering techniques you would like to see or specific types of rolling stock you would like to know how to weather? Leave me a comment here and I will consider that when I make my next weathering video.

[@nancymagee6197]

great video. Why don''t you spray between applications of rust? I use artist's spray over my first coat so I didn't "rub" off the first coat. The artist's spray seemed to work well. Just wondered if you had an objection to using it? I don't like Dullcoat because I use pastels a lot and it seems to fade the pastels. The artist's spray seems to work better. Any ideas/comments on using them? Watching your videos from the beginning and having a lot of fun!!!!!

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Nancy Magee I do use the coat when it is necessary to protect one layer before the next. It isn't always necessary. As for pastels,

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Ron's Trains N Things ... as for pastels, you should try using pink pigment weathering powders. Monroe models weathering powders-- formally known as AIM powders-- for Brandon are too excellent examples. They don't rub off like artist pastels nor do they disappear under Del coat like the pastels do. They also have an adhesive quality that keeps them in place much better than the pastels. If you like artist pastels I think you will love these weathering powders. Your overspray or a layer of Delco is still a good idea but not as crucial with these as it is Whitney artist pastels. But back to the first question I do think Delco or the artist overspray that you mentioned is a good idea between layers of weathering.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Nancy Magee ... And by the way welcome to the channel and I am glad you are enjoying the videos. I have enjoyed your comments and questions. They have been thoughtful and constructive. Thanks.

[@rg1809]

Okay, good video. But. Perhaps you could do a video on this issue. I have a box of N scale used rolling stock less trucks. I have a bag full of trucks that presumably came from the cars. What is missing are the bolster pins. I purchased replacement bolster pins (Atlas) and guess what? Bolster pins are not standard! And, apparently, none of my cars are Atlas. In this video, you took the Atlas truck and therefore the Atlas coupler, and kept it. Really? On your layout, don't you standardize your couplers? Or do you really find that all couplers work well together?

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Not all couplers work well together, but I have little trouble getting MIcro Trains, Atlas, and McHenry couplers to work together. (I know HOers hate McHenry couplers with good reason, but the N scale one Athearn uses are ok.) I use some of all of them, can tell very little difference in look and function, and if one gives me trouble I replace it. Kato and other couplers get the automatic boot as they are not compatible and/or just don't play well with other couplers.

[@troybrodrick2699]

great video on your tanker video you used dullcoat to give paint some tooth did you not do that here?If no why?

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Troy Brodrick I only used Dullcoat on the trucks bacause the kind of plastic used for trucks does not take paint well. The styrene of the body does not need it when painting. When I use powders I use dullcoat to give it tooth.

[@troybrodrick2699]

Thank you great work

[@slow4dr367]

Hi Ron, is it possible to weather lower budget rail cars? Con-cor, life-like, etc. Thanks.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Absolutely. I have a number of low-budget cars on my layout. Weathering them helps take the eye away from the lower-quality details and helps them blend in with all of the other cars on my layout. Personally, I think less expensive cars are the place to start weathering as you have less invested if you don't like your early results.

[@slow4dr367]

Thanks Ron, appreciate the quick reply. New subscriber.

[@benmack1334]

I don't have an air brush

[@skittlessugarfoot1004]

Is he reading from a teleprompter Lol 😋

[@ATSF1317]

Hey Ron. Just a couple of questions.. How come you don't wash the car to get finger prints off and then wear gloves to handle it? And how come you don't use dull coat first to give the paint something to bite too before doing the weathering?

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+ATSF1317 As for dullcoat, with the techniques I used here it just isn't necessary. Honestly, the streaking works better on a smoother surface. If I use dullcoat here it would be to seal everything after weathering. As for gloves, sometimes I do wear them, but I always wash my hands before handling a car and I handle them carefully. I have never had a fingerprint issue. I should probably take more care, but it has just never been a problem for me.

[@ATSF1317]

Ron's Trains N Things That's no worries, just I'd ask as I've seen different techniques. Cheers, Dan

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+ATSF1317 I actually had the thought midway through shooting this that I should be wearing gloves. Its probably just a bad habit that I do not.

[@centeroftheearthmining4095]

Can you use acrylics instead of oils?

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

You can't get the same effects. Acrysics dry too fast and can't be reactivated and manipulated like oils can. The oils are much easier to use for these effects.

[@centeroftheearthmining4095]

Ron's Trains N Things Looks like I will be getting some oil paints. Thanks!

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Let us know how your first trials with oils went.

[@centeroftheearthmining4095]

Ron's Trains N Things It went well! I did the back of a bridge that won’t be seen when complete. I then weathered 4 athearn coal hoppers. I think they look good. Thanks Ron! Stay safe!

[@seanspennywisemiserrr]

Hey Ron, what is Turpinoid? Is this an American product?

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Sean Magee It is a low-odor version of Turpentine. As for where it is made, I will look and post that reply.

[@seanspennywisemiserrr]

Ron's Trains N Things I've never heard of it. Low odor would be great. Thank you Ron. Your videos are very informative and we'll done. Being a newbie I get alot out of them and look forward to more. Keep them coming please.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Sean Magee Here is an affiliate link if you are interested. amzn.to/2GlcA7m

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

+Sean Magee Made by the Weber co in Pennsylvania.

[@seanspennywisemiserrr]

Ron's Trains N Things great, thank you Ron.

[@lennongroover4189]

My job is to get a job dad and stp/unofficial step mom say. Well fck tht, I’m trying to weather trains do I could/can sell thm, smaller thn o scale is more common thn/than larger lke o scale and larger or so, bt lke,/…fr pole tht hve o scale, I was gonna gt some o scale quality realistic trains thn weather thm and sell thm fr lke 3 to 600 or si. Buy the or get the o scale car carrier cars from Lionel tht are actually see through and hve doors tht open. But,/…I was gonna get tjm for 109 something or so, thn sell thm for 3 to 6 or so or more, thn get enough to make enough money to buy more and keep on doing it to mke or lke jst mke money or so