May God forgive me....I finally weathered them

randgust Nov 13, 2010

  1. randgust

    randgust TrainBoard Member

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    My ABBA set of Santa Fe F7's....

    I'm modeling '72, the last two years of F7's in passenger service on Santa Fe, when the remaining F's were leased by Amtrak before the SDP40F's arrived. While not 'beat', the F's sure weren't getting the TLC they did pre-Amtrak. If you study photos, one of the most outstanding issues is that the silver truck overspray stopped abruptly, and the continued 90mph running dusted them up big-time. Combine that with the usual dings and red paint fade, and this is not the stock appearance. They still got washed periodically, so the contrast between the sides, roof, and trucks is abrupt.

    I've been tinkering with these forever; first the Kato shells, then repainting and redecaling, additional details, spark arrestors, lift rings, all-wire handrails, finally taking off the skirts and putting on GMM steps.

    But its taken me 20+ years to finally go through with what I knew I eventually had to do to make it 'right'..... or at least what is 'right' in my eye...

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    The weathering is a three-step approach; first a diluted acrylic wash of 'earth' on the trucks; then a touch of chalk soot/black down the center of the roof for exhaust and where the washers didn't seem to reach; substantial grime between units, finally a heavier dusting of 'dark earth' on the trucks and pilot, along with that characteristic "bow wave" that seemed to happen to an F-unit at speed.

    I'm sorry, to me this was like painting a moustache on the mona lisa.... I've been very reluctant to do it, but I think it came out OK.

    Finally, after about 20 years, I think I done with this project!
     
  2. Tad

    Tad TrainBoard Supporter

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    It's a great detailing and weathering job, Randy.

    I can definitely understand the cringe factor.
     
  3. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    Randy...they look good.....they look 'real'. Isnt that what we are striving for in the end?

    .
     
  4. DaveWonders

    DaveWonders TrainBoard Member

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    Just go out and buy another set. Keep one clean, keep one dirty. Personally, I think these pictures look awesome.
     
  5. jnevis

    jnevis TrainBoard Supporter

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    Those look great.
     
  6. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Certainly looks fine from where I am sitting! Excellent scene. :thumbs_up:

    Boxcab E50
     
  7. randgust

    randgust TrainBoard Member

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    This is the shot I was sorta using as my weathering guide.... this is neither the dirtiest or cleanest unit of the era I've seen....

    http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=82554&nseq=70

    Paint's in good shape, basically, but the trucks are filthy.

    As far as for the train, I finally got my first Amtrak Phase 1 Kato pullman done a couple months ago. The BIGGEST cringe, and I still can't get past it, is that on the train I rode there were two UP cars in it - the diner and one of the pullmans. I still can't bring myself to bear that reality! I can deal with Amtrak stripes and Burlington domes, but that UP yellow...I dunno...
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 13, 2010
  8. ArtinCA

    ArtinCA TrainBoard Member

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    Good job Randy! It's always scary the first few times, then the rest of the clean stuff will get to you and it'll be all over after that..
     
  9. Flashwave

    Flashwave TrainBoard Member

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    I daresay it's perfect. Lovely job, And do I understand that was without an airbrush?
     
  10. Smokestack Lightning

    Smokestack Lightning TrainBoard Member

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    Very nice job:thumbs_up:
     
  11. OC Engineer JD

    OC Engineer JD Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I'm afraid our friendship is over! LOL Just kidding....those look fantastic. I dont think you can make that paint job look bad...weathered or not. Two thumbs up. :)
     
  12. Cajonpassfan

    Cajonpassfan TrainBoard Supporter

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    Randy,
    I still remember the shock I felt the first time I came face to face with an F7 Warbonnet, in San Diego in 1970 (see below) In my mind, based on early photographs, they were gleaming and elegant queens of the rails; the reality of 1970 was much different. You did a great job capturing the feel and worn look on your models...but I do understand your mixed feelings...:)

    Regards, Otto
    sticking to "Circa 1950"
     

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  13. subwayaz

    subwayaz TrainBoard Member

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    Randy that came out quite realistic looking. But I understand your feeling. I still can't bring myself to weather brass models.
    And really nice scene
     
  14. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

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    I think it is a 100% improvement. Now they look real. Excellent job.
     
  15. jnevis

    jnevis TrainBoard Supporter

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    That's OK Randy, I'll take them if you don't want them :)

    I picked up a AMB UP 5480 series car a couple weeks ago in LA and have been looking at building the Challenger and need a diner and Pullman.
     
  16. jsoflo

    jsoflo TrainBoard Member

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    Randy-
    I think that looks great, very realistic, not only may it change how you look at all your factory clean equipment- it may change your photography outlook, a couple good shots and you'll say "that kinda looks real..."

    Excellent work!
    my best,
    Jan
     
  17. Jim Reising

    Jim Reising In Memoriam

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    (Sigh!) Another one lost to the dark side....

    But it's a good job!
     
  18. dave n

    dave n TrainBoard Supporter

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    Randy -
    Outstanding job!! Much better, and I agree w/ Jerry, you can't make the warbonnet look bad.
     
  19. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    Randy, GREAT JOB!!!!

    Dave and Jerry...yes you can....look at the AT&SF Yellow Bonnet F7's:thumbs_down:
     
  20. randgust

    randgust TrainBoard Member

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    Actually, nearly everything else on the layout is weathered unless it is supposed to be factory fresh (like the June '72 Yellowbonnet repaints). This was the exception cause I was really afraid to mess it up....

    I've got a really grunged-up SD24, a freight F7A, and a GP7. Never thought twice about those!

    Oh, and there is a limit to which even I won't go, even with solid evidence. Apparently this got detoured through a cow pasture in Illinois on the way to LAUPT:

    http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=69441&nseq=86

    Man, that's awful.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 13, 2010

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