More weathering ideas
Graphite
heat-resistant
paint
Black boiler jacket and
tender sides
Sandy running gear
This Illinois Central 2-8-0 Consolidation is the
prototype for the Bachmann model that associate editor
Cody Grivno weathered using Tony’s techniques for the
cover photo and the picture in the lower left corner of the
next page. Even though this photo is in black and white,
the different shades of gray reveal a great deal about how
a steam locomotive weathers over time. The lightened
Locomotive colors
running gear comes from sand that’s dropped on the rails
ahead of the drivers to improve traction. The weight of the
locomotive crushes the sand into a fine powder that
blows all over and sticks to any wet or oily surfaces. The
paint on the smokebox and firebox has been cooked to a
rough surface texture while the insulated boiler jacket,
cab, and tender look fairly clean. – Jim Hediger
Tender weathering
Steam locomotives collect dirt from several
Locomotive
colors
directions.
Cinders and
soot constantly rain
Locomotive
colors
down
on
top
from
the
stack while
the several
sand
Steam locomotives
locomotives collect
collect
dirt from
from
Steam
dirt
used
for traction
blows
all soot
around
the several
running
directions.
Cinders
and
constantly
rain
directions.
Cinders
and
soot the
constantly
gear.
Dirt on also
blows
up stack
from
ballast
if rain
the
down
top
from
the
while
the
sand
down
on
top
from
the
stack
while
the
sand
locomotive
is pushing
the all
train.
used
for
traction
blows
around
the
running
used for traction blows all around the running
gear. Dirt also blows up from the ballast if the
gear.
Dirt also blows
up from
the ballast if the
Ash gray – Smokebox,
boiler
above
locomotive is pushing
the
train. the firebox
locomotive is pushing the train. Tenders tend to get a good dose of cinders and
Tender
weathering
soot
from the
locomotive along with the sand
Tender
weathering
and
dust
blowing
back along
the running gear.
Tenders
tend
to to get
dose
and
Tenders
tend
get a a good
good
dose of of cinders
cinders
and
The
rear
of the
the locomotive
tender
will
accumulate
rusty
soot
from
along
with
the
sand
soot from
the both
locomotive
along
with
the
sand
streaks
along
sides
and
the
back
where
and
blowing
gear.
and dust
dust
blowing back
back along
along the
the running
running
gear.
water
overflows.
The
The rear
rear of of the
the tender
tender will
will accumulate
accumulate rusty
rusty
streaks along both sides and the back where
streaks along
both sides journal
and the back
Rust – Brake water
shoes,
couplers,
box where
overflows.
water overflows.
Light gray – Boiler scale drips under check valves,
pop valves, washout plugs, and whistle Dirt – Underframe and running gear, lower
body, truck frames, and wheels
Rust – Brake shoes, couplers, journal box lids,
pipe joints, springs, and washout plugs Coal dust – Top front of tender deck plus
small piles of spilled coal on rear deck
Dirt – Main frame, lower edges of cylinders, and
pilot, bottom of air reservoirs, and trucks Light gray – Water streaks along upper
body from water spilled on the top deck
Soot (flat black) – Entire top of engine, cab roof,
and the rear tender deck Soot – All over top deck and front deck
plate (cab end) of the tender
and below the pop valves and whistle
42
Sandy running gear
Model Railroader • www.ModelRailroader.com
lids, trucks, water hatch and top deck