For those of us with neither the hand nor the eye of Mr. Blackman, do not fear using chalk exclusively as a weathering tool for your trains or as a finishing touch on your buildings, bridges and other structures. 1. If buildings are not handled much, it will NOT rub off. 2. The same app;ies to rolling stock. It also may be touched up at will. 3. Mistakes are not permanent. 4. It washes off if you wish to start anew. Use a very soft chalk such as Rembrandt. Obtain varying shades of the basic colors you would have used in painting. Scrape off the stick with a hobby knife and apply with a soft brush or a cotton swab or even a finger. It cleans up a lot easier and quicker than paint. I have never knocked over a bottle of chalk.
I've always used paint to weather my models, but often the weather doesn't cooperate. I really needed an alternative. Thanks for recommending using chalks. I'm doing some online research now, and they seem to be just what I'm looking for.
Take a look at the Bragdon chalks. They adhere to the model much better than artists chalks and don't require a final coat of Dullcoat. Their colors are outstanding. Their website is: www.bragdonent.com/ Not affiliated in any way. ...Tom
I like the Bragdon stuff also. Finer ground stuff than most of what I've made from chalk, also, so you get a better look in N scale.
Kis: Here is the weathering chalk system from Bragdon Enterprise. It is a great system and easy to use. Bragdon Weathering System
From the info I've gotten here, it looks like my airbrushes will have one less job to do... Thanks, everyone.
Great weathering guys I have used artists chalks with some pleasing results as well here is a pic of some of my weathered boxcars
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/marktulip/aas?full=1 The B&O and Kaiser cars were my first two rudimentary attempts at weathering with chalk. Please note I did not use more than one or two colors. I will be adding some more color to each, this evening. I found that spraying with Dullcoat virtually washes away the chalk. Try not spraying with anything and see if anything rubs off.
Chalk has replaced my airbrush for most weathering. I don't use Dullcoat any longer: misted very lightly, I found it reduced the chalking, but didn't eliminate it. I now use artist's matte fixative, again misted very lightly. It's much cheaper.
http://www.railimages.com/gallery/marktulip/aas http://www.railimages.com/gallery/marktulip/aax aas weathering with chalk aax weathering with second layer of chalk. If an error, it washes off.
Fotheringill, your weathering looks graet. What about using hair spray to protect it. It should be able to wash it off. That looks like an bad wreck on the upper level.
Fotheringill, your pictures show just what can be acheived using chalks. I usually do some basic light weathering with the airbrush, then do the final detailed weathering using chalks. I may eliminate the airbrush and do the whole thing with chalks, much less hassle
Mr. Round: 1. As to the wreck on top- I have not touched the upper level yet for scenery, etc. and keep some trains there. 2. I initially tried a spray, but it took off a lot of the chalk. I have found that short of scrubbing or using the heavy thumb method, the chalk stays on. I have just started to experiment with an oil based pastel for an undercoat in some areas of the cars. It can be spread with a bit of pressure. I am shaving regular soft chalk and carefully sprinkling in some areas over the oil based pastels. I am then carefully rubbing it in. It both blends well and adheres to the oil based undercoat. I hope to be able to post some close up pictures after my wife sets up a real camera without a flash on a tripod for me. Most of what I have taken with a digital appears blurry and not fit for viewing.
Fotheringill: I have Bragdon chalks that I have not yet used; will try this week. What about face powder or makeup? Does that have some type of base that would make it more adhesive? There are a lot of nice earth tones in face powder. Maybe it is too expensive?
GP38 With heavy Chalk weathering and a custom mixed clear laquer. Soot was a buildup of black chalk. The rediators are filled with this blak dye called "weather it". C36-7 with medium-light chalk weathering and clear spray:
Here are some boxcars with various levels of weathering. I spray the roof with alclad aluminum and then I use chalk on the freshly clear coated roof. The wetness lets the chalk build up to make a rust like apearence:
