OK, it all started out when I needed to weather a boxcar for the background on an article I am working on. I chose an Intermountain Erie boxcar and went to work. At some point I got a devilish thought...hey, maybe the car received some sideswipe damage and was bad-ordered. Here was the result: I posted my work on Railwire's weathering forum, where I got some great encouragement and advice. Tom Mann suggested I add some silver to simulate bright metal that had been scraped to highlight the damage, so I gave it a try...I also moved the ladder at an angle to imply it's barely hanging on. Consensus was the bright metal looked good, but I overdid the effect. Back to the workbench. I toned down the silver, and then my evil alter-ego struck again...damage not severe enough...and I removed the door, then held the car under my halogen workbench light to heat the side enough to inflict more damage. Very scary, high-stress stuff! Then I crumpled the door with my clumsy fingers, popped it back in its tracks (amazing it still fits) and here's the final result: Here's the opposite side of the car, which is much more conventional looking: Disclaimer: I live in Arizona, where to the best of my knowledge it is legal to abuse N scale boxcars. This was a fun project that sort of took off in its own direction, and I welcome your comments!
graffiti? nah, wouldn't fit the time frame. With damage like that, any car during the "roofwalkless era" (aka "graffiti Age") from the roofwalk era would probably be scrapped. I like it, a lot. I'd pretty much fill in those ladder mounting holes. 4" holes for mounting a ladder seems a bit excessive, eh? And maybe tweak the end ladder just a smidge.
Actaully, there USED to be Graffitti in teh steam era as well, it was simply not as Exuberant in its color or details as the Modern Puff bottles. Befroe the spray can, there was the Chalk, which not only washes off, but also falls off with age.
The model is great, but I assume you do not love your models I would have taken an old Atlas boxcar, good to know what to do with them. I am glad my IM boxcars are fine as I built them. Your modelling and your photography are masterpieces, and I would be glad if I could get similar results. Have a nice weekend, Christoph
Verne, Definately a nasty looking accident!! A very nicely done job!! A question: What did you use to create the scapes in the car side?? And what does the locomotive/car that did this damage look like??
Great job Verne! You are really busy these days. I have not gotten the courage to do this because of the bending required. I am just not sure how much heat. It is the first time I have heard of using a halogen light. Can you take a picture of the light? Was it a flood for working on a room, or a desk light. Also, I, too, would like to know how you did the scrapes on the side. Are you going to operate this car or put it in the dead line? Again, very nice job.
Like Paul mentioned, this would be a great subject for a step by step article. The effect overall is wonderful, quite a realistic looking job. One suggestion: perhaps add some small pieces of paper (on the tack boards, perhaps) to simulate bad order forms attached to the car, or attach blue flags to it for placement on a bad order track or near a repair shop.
Very nice. Don't try that in Massachusettes. I'm sure there are laws about things like that. Hmm, I wonder what the "other" car looked like.
Looks terrific. Steve- There are laws in Massachusetts about most everything, even practising witchcraft.
What you have there looks exactly like what you get when some Bozo tries using a forklift to open the door. Apparently that was not an uncommon practice at one time.
That is a very realistic looking boxcar! You have sure done a great job making it look used, and damaged! Nice work!
