Here is a gondola I recently did.
http://www.nscale.net/index.php?module=photoshare&func=viewimage&iid=5887&viewkey=
Just to prove that the people on nScale.net have good advice.
I asked a few weeks ago how someone might be able to add the dents and dings typically found on the gondolas traveling the countryside.
The advice given was to heat up a knife or screwdriver and use that to slightly melt the inside of the gondola causing the outside to appear dented. I am actually fairly pleased with the results.
It's an Atlas Evans 52'6" with orginal road name of Atlantic and Western Railway #11101.
I repainted the ATW in the middle with my private roadname main color and the blocked out the other information I needed to replace with Grimy Black. From there I just did a rust wash with Joe's Custome Weathering Dyes.
I also melted the inside so it wasn't so smooth. This might cause I problem in the future if I want to add a load but I guess I will cross that when I come to it.
Thanks for taking a peak.
Eric
Anaconda, MT
Weathered Gondola
Re:Weathered Gondola
Eric
Great job! I too listened to the advice here and tried some of the techniques, such as hot soldering iron, heat gun, etc etc. I was fairly happy with the results for a first effort. The gon was a $1.00 Bachmann special picked up at a train show, so I never even changed over the couplers. It now sits on my laptop and sometimes holds paper clips.
While the following link is for an HO scale gon, I believe it to be one of the best that I have ever seen in terms of weathering approach and execution:
http://www.modelerschoice.com/Articles/weatheredgon.htm
Re:Weathered Gondola
Don't sleep on those train show cheapies! As you found out, it's a good way to hone your skills vs. pooching a $10-$20 car. Sometimes the best bargains are literally found "under the table" at a train show!
Gargoyle wrote:
Eric The gon was a $1.00 Bachmann special picked up at a train show, so I never even changed over the couplers.
A great method that I use
A great method that I use to weather my gondolas with dents is just to use an exacto blade and gently shave the rim of the gon. Using various pressures you can add different depths of dents and nooks, and the best part is you have more control; you don't have to worry about accidentally melting your whole model.
-Joe
Joined: 2007-02-17