Model trains: Weathering Flat Cars

model trains, on30, weathering flat cars, o scale, aging flat cars, rusting flat car, o gauge,
@YMXMD
I also make my own flat cars • Making your own flat c...

[@w.rustylane5650]

I just ordered a flatcar kit in HO scale from Tichy Train Group and will build it when it arrives along with my glue and a few more supplies. I plan on adding my own wooden planks to the deck instead of just weathering and painting the deck to look like wood. Do you use HO scale Kadee couplers for ON30? I don't thinik ON30 is true O scale; I think it's more at Lionel 027 scale which is actually S scale 1/64th scale. Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm seriously thinking about mixing some ON30 with my Lionel 027 and I know ON30 will run on HO track albeit not the exact scale as true ON30 track is. I think true ON30 has ties that have more spaces between them. I just downloaded a card stock model for an HO scale loading ramp but didn't like the way it looked. So I painted it burnt umber and tomorrow when my wood strips dry from being dyed, I'll add all the decking planks. What are the ratios of shoe polish to alcohol? That looks like it would work better than my acrylic washes I've made from alcohol, paint & distilled water. Exactly what color of testor's paint pen do you use for the rust? Nice job weathering. Cheers from an old modeler in eastern TN

[@YMXMD]

Good morning. I hope you enjoy adding the decks, they make a big difference. I use the EZ Mate couplers from Backmann that are for HO. I like the fingers much better than the spring. There are quite a few choices. I use the long neck ones which are not prototypical but I do that because I have sharp curves for ON30. There a medium and short neck choices as well. The other choice is if the coupler is centered on the neck, at the top of the neck, or at the bottom of the neck. That allows for a range of up and down for your coupler. I use the centered ones for all my cars so that they are at the same height. I hope that helps.