How to distress wagons

The great thing about modelling in O gauge is the number of new Ready-To-Run (RTR) products arriving on the scene. Never has the scale looked more attractive to those moving up from smaller scales. 
This project uses Heljan's ‘Dogfish’ ballast hopper, and we will improve the realism with some heavy weathering to make them look just as life-expired as they did in the mid-1990s. Let's get started...

Shopping List:

1

Starting with a Heljan O gauge model of ‘Dogfish’ DB993608 in olive green, this wagon is to be the candidate for some severe rust and grime.

2

To weather the wagon use a selection of washes from Lifecolor. Packs LP01, LP02 and LP03 will all be used. It is recommended that you buy a pack of each.

3

The first objective is to ‘kill’ the overall olive green colour of the wagon. Start by applying a thin coat of LPW 06 rust from the ‘Rust Wizard’ kit.

4

The insides of the wagon are painted a colour shade of ‘Eroding dark rust’. Always paint in vertical lines in a downward direction, following rain streaks.

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The advantage when painting with these acrylics is the fast drying time. When the base coat dry, apply a coat of LP08 eroding light rust as highlights.

6

The exposed ends of the wagon are subject to more rainwater than dust, hence appear a different colour. These areas are given a coat of LPW10 yellow marks.

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The same paint is blended into the sides so avoid a sharp colour contrast. Do this by wiping as much paint from the brush as possible and ‘dry brushing’ to fade.

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Another good selection of acrylic paints for modellers is from Comart. Acrylic paints will mix together.

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Comart’s shade of Fertile Soil is ideal for creating tones often seen in areas covered in brake dust and unwashed by rain, such as underneath the hopper.

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This paint preparation pack from Finescale Model World contains lots of useful items when painting models. The fine grit paper is particularly good.

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Use the fine grit to rub down the top layer of paint and create slight variations in undertones. Some of the olive green can be made to appear through if wanted.

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Using an airbrush, apply three shades of rust around the wagon - Deep and Eroding Dark Rust from lifecolor and more Fertile Soil from Comart.

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1. Areas rubbed back reveal the odd glimpse of the olive green. 2. Darker rust shading reveals detail. 3. Rust stains and patches are added with a fine brush.

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A look inside the wagon reveals rust speckles. Reduce the airbrush paint flow until it spits, rather than sprays, using a contrasting darker colour.

15

The patch-painted sides are added using a mix of DCCconcepts black weathering powder and paint to obtain a dull ‘chalkboard’ faded look.

16

Footsteps, door wheels and axleboxes are painted and Health & Safety notice transfers are applied, as this wagon is fresh from revision.

17

The TOPS code ZFW was given to a small number of ‘Dogfish’ with a through airpipe. This uses a spare from a Heljan sprue, which is painted and superglued into place.

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The other wagon, DB993116 in engineer’s grey and yellow livery needs little treatment - it needs to look ex-works, but not like plastic.

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Toning down the paint with the airbrush is easy. Dust Wash from Lifecolor is ideal to create a faded, yet subtle effect. The more you use, the more faded it’ll look. Once fully dry, a coat of matt varnish is applied over both wagons to seal paint effects and transfers. 

 

 

 

The finished product looks like this. We're sure you'll agree that it looks far more realistic than what you see in Step 1.

 

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