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Painting & Weathering Articles

10 Tips for Painting with Acrylics

The author captured a number of useful tips-and-tricks he has learned about using acrylic paints

A Car Story... or Quick & Easy Weathering with Oil Pastel Crayons

Note that the author mentions pastels, not chalks. He offers the list of tools needed, and then briefly describes a handful of cars (a photo of each is included) and how he applied the weathering.

A Quick Course in Weathering

A handful of ideas for how to effectively weather a model.

A Short Lesson on Application of Decals

A step-by-step guide to applying decals to freight cars.

ABC's of Painting and Lettering

Prepare before buying, preparation and priming, couplers and trucks, using spray cans, airbrushing passenger cars, airbrushing cabooses, apply decals.

Achieve Realistic Colors under Artificial Lighting

How to apply paint to model so that they come out looking right under the actual light of the layout. Includes a side-bar on valance lighting.

Age and Weather

The author shares some new thoughts on how he paints and weathers structures and freight cars, with close-up photos of many examples.

Aging and Weathering

This article covers the effective use of colors on our models, and specific tips on weathering freight cars and structures.

Airbrush Weather Your Rolling Stock

The steps involved in airbrushing a piece of equipment. First start toning down the car, then weather each car uniquely. Also discusses painting trucks and couplers, and discusses streaking. Several modernday car examples shown.

Airbrushing with a High-Pressure Tank

Ask Paint Shop

Chateau Martin wine cars. CB&Q Blackbirds. Tips on creating a applying decals can.

Ask Paint Shop

Jim Hediger used reflective tape to model accurate reflective safety stripes on his S4 switcher. Also covered is how to remove tarnish from brass models.

Beat Up But Beautiful

The author describes some ideas on how to weather maintenance-of-way equipment, covering cracked and chipped paint with rubber cement.

Bounce Weathering

The author describes how he sprays paint on a cardboard and lets the bouncing of the paint hit the model, thereby providing a controlled and subtle weathering pattern on the models.

Canton RR State-flag Switcher in HO Scale

The author painted a SW1500 in the livery that uses the state flag.

Color and Light

Dealing with layout lighting and how it impacts the paint and weathering of structures.

Color and Texture Part II

The author covers painting buildings different colors so that they don't all look alike. Also, make sure that the colors look right under your layout lights, as well as the contest room lights, if that is your goal with the project.

Color Revisited

The color items on the layout are painted are highly dependent on how the layout is lit.

Colorado & Southern

The author describes how he painted and weathering a 40-foot single-sheathed box car.

Colors and Textures Part 1

Bob gives us his tips and tricks for layout lighting to match colors, using chalks and stains, weathering almost all shiny items, and distressing buildings within reason.

Continue Your Roads into the Backdrop

The author builds a road on his layout, and then paints an extension of it onto the backdrop, to make it look like it continue on.

Creating a Paint Scheme for a Freelanced Railroad

Although building a freelanced model may seem easy, this article describes the author's issues he had to deal with trying to develop a realistic paint scheme for his engines. Several photos of unique prototype paint schemes (that influenced the author) are included.

Creating Painted Brick Wall Signs

In this article the authors cover how to get original images, import them into a software application for size adjustments, print them using an inkjet printer (on very thin "nine pound air mail" paper), and how to apply them to structures.

Decal Corner

The letter the author wrote to the owner of Microscale Decals is reprinted.

Decal Corner

A collection of new decals announced from various manufacturers.

Decal Corner

New releases of decals in S-scale.

Decal Corner

The author introduces S-scale decals by Microscale, John Hall Decals, River Raisin, and S Designs.

Decal Corner

The author takes over the column, and reports on new decals available from Microscale and S Designs. He also provides some decal-application tips.

Decal Corner

New decals released by S Designs.

Decals for a Freight Car

An old hot dog wrapper (unused) led the author to having decals created for it to decorate a reefer car.

Dented Hoppers and Gons

This article describes how to model damage done to hoppers and gondolas working in and around steel mills and scrap yards.

Developing a Safe Painting and Weathering Area

The author describes how he built a space for doing airbrushing work, that also includes a good ventilation system.

Don't Forget the Roof

The author shows how he paints and weathers an Accurail 40-foot box car, paying special attention to weathering the roof.

Easy Weathering Techniques

The author describes some simple steps for weathering trucks, wheels, and car bodies with washes and dry-brushing paint.

Extreme Weathering

The author shows the steps he takes heavily weathering a car and its trucks.

Extreme Weathering

The author uses a Life-Like ex-Penn Central X72 box car that is heavily weathered. Includes the prototype photo he used as inspiration. The article describes how he achieved the rusted lettering effect. Includes a side bar by Jim Six about the techniques he used to weather his model of the same car.

Fading Posters in Minutes

The author describes how to model faded posters for billboards and for the sides of buildings.

Fe2O3

A description of how and why rust forms, where it can be found. Several prototype photos are included. The author is part owner of the Weathering Decals Company, and presents their solution at the end of the article (a few model examples are shown).

Finishing Touches

This article covers some of the new (in 1990) decals, and how the author decorated the American Models D&RGW GP9 (includes a photo).

Finishing Touches

Modeling the Lehigh Valley GP9, GP18 (American Models), and RS11 (Overland Models) engines. Includes many model photos.

Finishing Touches

The author describes how he simulates stainless steel paint finishes on a model, and how to deal with masking. The model photo shows an Omnicon RDC-3.

Getting Real

How does one decide on what the colors were when one models a time period before color photography was in common use?

Getting Started (painting)

This short article provides some tips and tricks to beginning model painters.

Grime on a Dime

Controlling the amount of weathering helps indicate whether the piece of equipment is newer or older. The author shares his techniques to applying weathering without spending too much money.

High Tech Decal Printing

The author describes the process of using an Alps printer to create custom decals. Includes several model photos.

Hobby Paint Roundup

Since the demise of the Floquil and Polly-Scale brands, all model railroaders are looking for alternatives. This article provides a summary of Vallejo, Citadel, Com-Art, Humbrol, Italery, Lifecolor, Microlux, Model Master, Grex, Scalecoat, Tamiya, and Tru-Color paint brands.

How To Apply Decals

This article covers the basics on how to apply decals in the most common ways.

Ideal Paint Stripping Containers

Using containers made from either plastic jars or PVC pipe to hold models whose paint needs to be stripped, while minimizing the amount of paint stripper needed.

In Defense of the Sable

The author makes a case for using hand brushes to paint models rather than airbrushes.

Let's Paint a Backdrop

The basics of painting a 3D-perspective on a backdrop.

Marker Weathering

After building the West End Shack (#0901) by GCLaser, the author used Prismacolor markers (also sold by GCLaser) to apply weathering to the building.

Missouri Pacific SD40-2 Part 3

In this installment the author describes how he installed the LokSound decoder and four (!) speakers into this engine. The remainder of the article covers painting and weathering the engine. Includes lots of photos.

Modeler's Notebook

The author discusses the idea of first painting your model with an under-coating paint before using the final color. Black, for example, works well in hiding the white of styrene sheet.

Modeling with the Masters

How to paint freight car trucks without getting the wheels wet, using a painting mask when using an airbrush.

More Weathering Part II

The author continues to shares his tricks for aging and weathering wood for structures.

Notes on Airbrushing

Covers which airbrushes are available, the advantages of using a CO2 tank, using a paint booth, ventilation, cleaning the airbrush, and preparing the paint and model for painting.

Oil & Grease on Modern Tanks

How to model oil and grease stains on a tank set in the desert.

Paint Like an Expert

The article covers the tools the author uses (such as masking tape, sculpting tools, and a paint bottle holder), painting the truck frames silver, cleaning solution, and tools used for applying decals.applying decals

Paint Shop

This issue's column discusses how the author painted a SCL GP38 using the "Family Lines System" logo on a three-color paint scheme.

Paint Your Wagon

The author describes his processes for painting a brass model.

Painting and Weathering Plaster

Various stages of painting and weathering are shown for modeling brick and stones.

Painting and Weathering Trucks

The author shows and describes the steps he takes in applying layering of weathering on trucks using Vallejo and AK Interactive paints. Includes model and prototype photos.

Painting and Whitewashing Structures

In this special online article, the author describes, step-by-step, how to simulate whitewashing walls, using two different methods.

Painting Brass

The author collected information from the Groups.io discussion mailing list covering the topic of "How to paint brass models?". Additionally, the article includes information from Andy Malette and Mike Swederska, two of S-scale's very experienced brass painters.

Painting Brass Models

The author describes his steps for painting a brass steam locomotives, in this particular case a HOn3 C-16 model as a Bumble-Bee.

Painting Metal Castings

Overcoming problems with paint not adhering to metal surfaces.

Painting Wheelsets

The author shares his method for painting wheelsets with an airbrush, but with no masking required.

Painting with Artists' Oils

The author describes how he paints some of his structures.

PBL Locomotive Paint

The author shares how he uses Floquil and an airbrush to paint the P-B-L Sn3 brass locomotives.

Pennsylvania RR Lettering

Marty answers the question about which PRR lettering schemes were used when on their freight cars.

PRRT&HS Paint Committee Report

The committee report covers the accurate PRR paint colors.

Publisher's Welcome

The magazine's guide to thinning acrylic paint needed to be changed, because Armor All Auto Glass Cleaner is now no longer compatible with acrylic paints, so the new thinner formula is offered in this article.

Publisher's Welcome

The author uses gun-cleaning cotton swabs to clean his track and equipment.

Publisher's Welcome

The author briefly mentions two relatively affordable spray booths.

Publisher's Welcome

Alternatives to the now obsolete Pledge furniture polish. It was used for applying decals, for making passenger window glass appear more shiny, and for glue window glass.

Publisher's Welcome

The author provides an update to his zip-texturing method, with regard to the dry pigments to use.

Publisher's Welcome

The author shares his experiment with painting handrails.

Put On a Happy Face

How to paint faces using a sharp #2 pencil.

Quick Weathering with Chalks

The author describes how he uses artists chalk, scrapes off powder-fine material, and applies that to the model.

Re-lettering Method That Really Works

The author shares Tom Lennon's approach to reliably remove lettering on models. Shows two models. Shows the technique used.

Red-orange and White on "The Peoria Way"

Modifying and painting models of the Toledo, Peoria & Western GP38-2 diesels.

Rust It Up - With Chalk

Applying "rust" using pastel chalks. The author provides the materials list and step-by-step instructions from preparing the model to applying and securing the chalks.

Rusting a Paper Panzer

This article shows how to create a number of rust effects that would not only be seen on a tank or armored vehicle, but would also be seen on huge variety of vehicles, machines, and equipment made from iron or steel. The effects are shown on a German tank that never went into production (a.k.a. "paper panzer") in the real world.

Salt Weathering a Tin Roof

The author shows how he was able to simulate a tin roof on a boxcar. The trick is to use sea salt for the effect.

Shadowing and Highlighting: Special Weathering Techniques

The author takes an HO-scale McKean NYC PS-1 box car and describes how he built it, detailed it, and then paints and applies decals to it. Next, he gets into the meat of the article, which is his technique for weathering a freight-car-red box car. Several prototype example photos are included.

Short and Easy

Art Armstrong sent in a tip on how to paint wheelsets by making a pair tongs from a clothes-hanger.

Simple 3-Step Weathering

After preparing the model, the author applies washes, then does specific highlighting, and some chalks. Two different models transition-era box cars are shown going through the steps.

Simulating Peeled Paint with Pastels

A detailed description of how to use this technique. Includes a couple of example photos.

Soviet Spirit

This article describes how to simulate heavy mud on a SU-100 model set in WWII.

Space Dust

How to model space dust on a military figure in a space suit.

Spokane, Portland & Seattle Yellow and Green

Painting an RS-3. Includes prototype and model photos.

Spray Weathering without an Airbrush

Using craft paint spray cans, the author describes how he weathers his rolling stock.

Spray-bomb Painting

Spray cans can still be used to do a good job in painting our models.

Staining and Finishing Wood

The author shares tips on how stains wood, how to simulate creosote, and how to create peeling paint and making knotholes.

Stencil Cream Weathering

The author describes how he uses Delta's Stencil Paint Creme to weather his models. These are a water-clean-up oil paint that have the consistency of a bar of soft soap. He uses these paints instead of the traditional dry-brush painting technique for highlighting details on models.

Step-by-step Backdrop Painting

The author describes how he approaches painting a backdrop.

The Art of Weathering

The author describes his process for weathering equipment, and includes lots of photos of weathered box cars, hoppers, gondolas, and engines.

The Basics of Airbrush Painting

This article covers how to choose an airbrush, all the other equipment needed, finding a place to paint, setting up for a painting session, preparing the model, how to do the painting itself, and clean-up.

The Decal Corner

This article covers new decals released by Microscale, S Designs, Delaware Valley S Scale Supply, G&W Models, and a book review. The following pages show several drawings of where Microscale decals are to be placed on engines, automobiles, and box cars.

The Decal Corner

Reports of new S-scale decals from Microscale, River Raisin, John Pratt, and S Designs. Don DeWitt announced that this is his last column, and that Jon Firpach will take over the decals column.

The Details are in the Decals!

The author paints, applies decals, and weathers a SOO Line SD60M. Includes sidebars on how to correctly spray-paint a model and its wheels.

The Many Layers of Rust, Dirt, and Grime

This article covers general information about the formation of rust, creating rust on a model, using the hairspray technique, and a step-by-step example of applying rust to an On30 Bachmann Davenport industrial switcher.

The Real McCoy

Various conditions and scenarios may lead us to think a model's color should be one way, but it really wasn't in the prototype. The author offers reasons why.

The Use of Paint Masks

The author describes how he uses the Chartpak brand tape for painting stripes.

Thoughts On Decals, A Few Techniques...

The author shares tips and tricks he has learned over the years about how to apply decals.

Truck Painting Jig

A jig that helps the author to paint his wheelsets.

Truck Sideframe Painting Mask

The author shares how he made a tool to be able to paint the sideframe of a truck without getting paint in the critical areas.

Type 69 II C

The model is of a tank that was captured by the Iraqi Army during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. The article is about how to model ownership changes (i.e. different paint schemes), and parts replacements over its lifetime.

Ugly is in the Eye of the Beholder

Tips and ideas for beginner weathering using Pan Pastels.

Using Craft Paint as a Replacement for Polly Scale Acrylics

With Testors Polly Scale paints no longer being manufactured, the author describes his experiences with using ordinary craft paints on freight cars. He also discusses mixing colors, and air-brushing.

Using Slides as Backdrop Painting Guides

The author shows how he photographs a real scene, has the slide developed, and then projects the slide onto the backdrop of his layout. He then traces and paints the scene over top of the projected image. Photos from his S-scale layout show the results.

Using Worn Effects

This article shows how to model heavy paint chips wearing on a Japanese Navy airplane.

Wabash "Bluebird" F7s

Includes prototype photos, scale drawings (for painting purposes), and paint mixture descriptions for painting these models.

Wash and Drybrush Weathering

The author describes how rust affects a prototype car over the years. He used an Athearn 40-foot PRR flat car as the demo unit. The one model photo included shows the weathering of the deck boards, however the article also includes a description of how he weathered the car's metal parts.

Weather While You Build

The author shows various techniques for weathering a freight car model while building it, because some areas are hard to reach once the model is fully built.

Weathering

A brief article on why one would one to weather equipment, and how the author weathers a freight car using thinned acrylic paints and pastel chalks.

Weathering Part 1

In this two-part series, the author shares a number of different techniques he uses for weathering structures.

Weathering a Little at a Time

The author shares his techniques for weathering cars and engines by applying many thin layers using various methods. Included are how to weather the hard-to-weather box-car-red cars.

Weathering a Toronto, Hamilton, and Buffalo Hopper

Weathering the 2022 NASG Convention car.

Weathering Brick and Stone

This installment covers coloring stonework and adding details.

Weathering Corrugated Siding

Using heated up olive oil to burn weathering into aluminum foil siding.

Weathering Diesels

The author has developed some techniques, which he shares in this article, from weathering over 100 engines for the Colorado Model Railroad Museum as well as 50 of his own engines.

Weathering for Realism

The author describes how he weathered an Accurail CN outside-braced box car, peeled paint on a Roundhouse 50' box car, a Bowser PRR round-roof box car, and an Accurail CB&Q single-sheathed box car. Includes a couple of prototype photos, along with completed model photos.

Weathering Freight Cars

The author walks through the steps he takes to weather his freight cars. Includes photos of cars he has done.

Weathering Freight Cars Part 1

The author describes his methods for weathering freight cars using oil paints. Includes two pages of color photos of weathered models, including freight-car-red models. He uses both hand and air brushes. The article also covers faded paint and lettering and weathering wood.

Weathering Freight Cars Part 2

This installment covers how to model physical damages. Examples of gondolas and hoppers are shown in color photos.

Weathering Freight Cars With an Airbrush and Colored Pencil

This article describes the complete steps the author takes to weather his freight cars. It covers the tools and supplies he uses and recommends. After discussing a few sources to use for prototype reference photos, the remainder of this article describes his steps.

Weathering Freight Cars Without an Airbrush

Making the argument that perfectly clean freight cars don't exist in the real world (unless they were just built), the author describes his steps for weathering the wheels, trucks, underframe (skipping the couplers), body, lettering, and adding scribing and waybills.

Weathering How-to: Wall Signs

The author takes a step-by-step approach to making very thin signs to embed on the surface of a wall. Includes many construction photos.

Weathering Roads

A neat trick for simulating fading of road grime using styrene rods.

Weathering Rolling Stock With Powered Pastels

Shows how to apply chalks to weather freight cars and locomotives.

Weathering Roof Techniques

This installment covers shake shingle, tarpaper roofs, and using tissue paper for tarpaper.

Weathering Roof Techniques Part II

This installment covers corrugate metal roofing, and board on board roofing.

Weathering Structures

This installment covers weathering and aging strip wood and clapboard siding, staining strip wood and siding, and dry-brushing.

Weathering Tangent NP Combination Door Boxcars

The author describes how he weathered these models as they were in 1977 as he found period photos of them.

Weathering the Whether of the Weathering Argument

More thoughts on rusting, and how to model rust on our models.

Weathering with Artist's Acrylic Paints

Acrylic paints are thicker, but the author describes how he uses this on his N-scale models, as well as larger scale models. After covering the basics, he then describes how to weather a box-car red car, a yellow reefer car, weathering over decals, how to weather in layers, and how to simulated spilled lading.

Weathering Your Diesels

This article covers how to weather an engine's wheels, sideframes, frames, tanks, bearing plates, pilots, body sides and ends, footboards, steps, walkways, doors, and roof. Includes a sidebar on airbrushing tips. Includes close-up of model and prototype photos.

Weathering Your Structures

This article covers how to weather using alcohol-based stains, using powered pastels, using pastel pencils, dry-brushing, scratching paint layers back, etched corrugated roofing, and using correction film paint. A sidebar describes how the author's B&O depot was weathered.

Whether to Weather

Should you really weather your models? If so, how? The author gives some tips and suggestions.

Zip Texturing Weathering Powders

Using the zip texturing method to apply weathering powders to scenery, track, engines, rolling stock. river banks, and dirt areas.