Sunday 6 February 2011

Look, I Shrunk the Wife!

 Click on the pics to enlarge to 1024 pixels...

 Ok, now I've got your attention with my wife superimposed in unseasonal clothing onto the little bridge that crosses the remains of the Glastonbury Canal next to Catcott Crossing, the real reason for this post is to highlight a little basic weathering on the rather splendid new Hornby ex GWR Hawksworth Brake Compo. These rather stylish coaches were regularly used during the final couple of years of the former SDJR Highbridge Branch. And yes that is me in the cab looking stupid.

Weathering has involved a few washes of black acrylic mixed with Carr's rusty coloured weathering powders, the filthy mix was then splashed all over the pristine coach, wiped off and then buffed with a stiff decorator's brush to produce a nice sheen whilst working the pigment into the recesses. Prior to this filthy task, the roof was repainted a darker Humbrol matt grey. The peeling paint which appears to be a feature of these coaches in their final years was achieved by applying some PVA glue before-hand and then peeling it off after the darker grey paint was applied to reveal the original lighter colour underneath. Of course there are special bespoke products to do this - but you know me by now I'm sure. Tight. I also added a 'first class' stripe just below the roof line courtesy of some HHRS Pressfix, the model doesn't come with this, but photos of these coaches show such in 1964-65.

Below, a slightly more close up view which hopefully better highlights what I have done. Further improvements might be to remove the glazing and paint the edges of the clear plastic to reduce or possibly eliminate the slight prism effect. Of course some passengers could be added too (the token passenger on the right in the top photo is a well known model railway scenic expert courtesy of Photoshop) - but we all know that this little piece of railway never carried anyone in its final years apart from spotters so who cares? Before some spod with an irritating adenoidal voice takes great delight in letting me know that the guard's handrail is missing - yup I know, it got damaged when buffing the coachwork - so it will need to be replaced with some brass wire.

I quite enjoy these quickie weathering jobs, they really transform these already excellent ready to run models. So, next I quite fancy doing a Hornby 'Blood & Custard' Maunsell 3 coach set next using similar techniques for running on Combwich, such will look super behind an ex Midland 4F.

8 comments:

  1. The weathering job on the coach is very impressive, especially the peeling paint effect on the roof.

    The New South Wales passenger cars in Australia in the 1950's - 1970's were a similar color with silver roofs that weathered to a dull grey as well, and the peeling paint was also a feature, so I will be sure to give this a go on the soon to be released passenger cars that are coming soon. http://www.austrains.com.au/fs-bs_coaches.html

    I think your technique will suit these cars down to the ground, so thanks for sharing.

    Cheers
    Darren

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looks superb. Did they have curtains in the 3rd class compartments?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Matts, good point; the jury is still out if the Hornby Hawksworth thread stuff on RMweb is anything to go by. The problem is that they are printed onto the rear of the glazing and I fear that removal with solvent even if successful could make the glazing milky - so for the time being they shall stay as they are. Certainly the photos I have seen of them in real life show them as being less prominent.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your wife looks a tad small - but perfectly formed. Subtle weathering too. On the coach.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That's becuase she is an HO scale pilates instructor, nimble but perfectly formed;-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Alright Chris lovely weathering Can you explain the techniques and processes you use please?

    Jaymes

    ReplyDelete
  7. ...errr, read the write up between the pics above ;-)

    ReplyDelete

All posts will be approved before they go live, posts from spammers will be deleted and marked as spam.