| Last updated on January 22, 2021
In this installment of Video Step by Step, Cody Grivno shows you how to model a weather-beaten modern diesel locomotive using acrylic paints. In part 1 of 2, he covers how to disassemble the N scale model, prep it for painting, and apply the characteristic deteriorating paint patches.
Members enjoy 15% off any purchase in our store. Join Today!
Milwaukee, Racine & Troy HO scale steel cupola caboose - road name 1407
Don’t miss this exclusive HO scale Milwaukee, Racine & Troy steel cupola caboose.
Wow Cody, you take a perfectly good looking loco and beat the heck out of it! When you were disassembling the loco, those cracking sounds were a bit ominous, like a breaking set of handrails or the like. Looking forward to seeing the rest. As always, great work.
Great video Cody… you’ve made the UP and Santa Fe locos look very prototypical with the fades/rust. Looking forward to Part 2.
For Armand: I felt the same way about my Tangent Scale Models and being afraid of weathering them until I had practiced enough on older/cheaper models and getting the look I was wanting. After that, I felt more comfortable in doing a few and they look much better. I’m just now starting some ‘light’ weathering on my locomotives now. A good modeler friend told me that ‘less is more’ when it comes to weathering and he’s right.
And MRVP… thanks for the ‘out takes’!
Really admire your work Cody and appreciate the tips. I have a thought though, that companies like Kato and Atlas might consider offering their locomotives in “kit” form so the modeler doesn’t have to disassemble so much for weathering. It would help reduce the chance for breakage I’m sure.
Nice job on the weathering. I suppose if your prototype or your railroad wanted to spend the funds, the management would not let locomotive paint deteriorate that badly. It’s a nice contrast to the recently (paint) shopped or newly delivered power from the builder.
All I can think of was a previous weathering job Cody did on a steamer. As I recall it sort of looked like a rust dip job. I think Cody’s techniques are applied the hard way and he should investigate alternative methods instead of making this great looking loco look like it has a disease instead of being a hard working asset to the railroad. Pan Pastels would be a good starting point.
Great detailed instruction….BTW, nice sink.
Kato shells are press fit. How do you remove the shell from an Atlas US23B?
Hi again…
Sorry guys…….I'm still having an issue …in my head….in taking a beautifully finished $300 diesel and scratching the paint off and adding rust and grime. I have tried to keep my units clean and polished and perhaps being unrealistic or unauthentic……but I'd like to know if I'm alone in my thinking and if there are others that feel the same!!
Greetings from northern Ontario
Excellent Work Cody!
Nice work. I don't know if you have tried it, but for a dark wash I like to use some India Ink mixed with a bit of Model Master acrylic thinner (I think alcohol will work too). I like the way it flows into grill work and recesses. I can change the dilution to achieve different effects or intensities. usually use black, but I also have a bottle of dark brown India Ink that works very well to accent certain colors. My local Hobby Lobby carries several different colors of India Ink. It has only a slight sheen when dry. As you mentioned, if the wash goes where you don't want it a quick wipe with a damp towel or swab will remove it. If you don't catch it until after it dries then a swab dampened with alcohol will take it off. Be careful to only get the swab damp with alcohol as many model train paints are removed by alcohol.
Very cool! Looking forward to part 2. Now, let's buy an N scale UP engine…
Great job and patience Cody. Ever loose any of those small parts?(like I have)
The other day, I received a copy of the digital MR and I saw the article on your weathering of a Santa Fe engine. The original new paint scheme is beautiful and your weathering job made that beauty look really awful. I live near the BNSF main line here in central California and that day, I went downtown and the gates were down and here comes a train lead by, you guessed it, an ex Santa Fe engine with a weathering job that was as bad as you made your n scale engine. Well I still don't like the look but it is very prototypical at least in this area. Another great job Cody
Al Jones Hanford,Ca.
This is my favorite topic! I always enjoy your videos!
Great segment Cody. Just a thought on using a toothbrush on an N scale model, might want to use a very soft bristle toothbrush on the hand railings so as not to break anything, they can be brittle?
Really appreciate this project, especially in N Scale. Another great color for those wheel sets is Vallego Air Panzer Brown. Good technique to clean off the axle points is to use the blunt end of a wooden skewer, spin that a few times by pressing in on it and it is clean.
Great technique for weathering locos Cody. Just wondered whether touching the painted areas with a dry micro brush might even out the inevitable paint puddles that a brush might create…….great segment on weathering.