Apologies if this reads a bit funny, I really should've gone to bed already but don't want to leave this post half-written overnight..
I can always proof-read and fix it tomorrow..
Between procrastination, work on the car, the weather and being sent the wrong paint, completion of the loco is well overdue.
On the first loco I ever weathered,
"Baron", I used Humbrol flat clear as a final clearcoat, with excellent results that held up well under steam - Unfortunately I binned the stuff along with the rest of my Humbrol, when I had frosting issues using the same tin on another project. That's when I switched to Tamiya's enamels. Impossible to know weather it was user error or quality issues, there.
The next and now most previous loco I weathered,
"Victoria", received a final clearcoat of Tamiya gloss clear. (flattened with flat base)
This turned to a satin sheen on the hottest areas of the loco, upon first firing. Yes, I gave it weeks to cure beforehand, and sprayed it in a dehumidified room. No clue why it did that, but it really spoilt the appearance for me.
22/05/22
Hoping to avoid repeating that problem on
"Calloway", I thought I'd give one last "now or never" go with Humbrol's flat clear. Again in a dehumidified room, and yes, the tins are the new UK-production stuff.
So out from the workshop queue came the weathering test-dummy Stainz. Trying enamel thinners, white spirit, and mineral turpentine, no matter how well mixed the paint was before and after thinning, regardless of air pressure and technique;
They all came out exactly as expected. Frosty all over and collecting in corners and edges. Totally unacceptable, I'm never touching Humbrol again.
So out with the Tamiya clear and flat base. I don't remember the ratios of paint/flattener/white spirit, I just play with the mixture by testing it on the Stainz until I'm happy with how it looks after half an hour's drying.
"Calloway" was given a single all-round coat to seal in the previously-applied grime wash. I also cleaned
"Victoria" and gave it another flat coat in hopes it might fix the satin issue.
23/05/22
This black-brown-white pastel weathering set from Tamiya is perfect for steam locos. The little sponge tip works much like a paintbrush - wiping and stippling to get the appearance you want. I go quite heavy with these, as subsequent clearcoats to seal it in will greatly diminish it's visibility. The joints in the motion have also had a second hit of the wash-and-wipe grime treatment.
15/05/22
The motion joints have all been very lightly lubricated, and oil wicked into the cylinders/valves via the spindles, so the new piston o-rings don't get moved around dry.. This way I can turn the wheels over to get at everything for weathering. The graphite yarn provided in the cylinder service kit was fitted to the piston rods, and the nuts nipped up.
As I had run out of flat clear, the pastels were then sealed in with an extremely thinned-down earthy brown for a slightly dusty windswept appearance. The effect is extremely subtle, but I think is appropriate for agricultural locomotives.
I've applied the white pastel with the sponge tip over most of the edges and details to highlight them. In addition to the black and brown where appropriate.
Again done in an exaggerated manner, as the final clearcoat will obscure it a bit. I can always apply more pastels over the top and clearcoat again.
It's nearly there. Just some wear to be done on the buffer faces, splattered grime on the headstocks from the railheads, some soot airbrushed over the top, and maybe some grime airbrushed over the running gear. Then final clearcoat - hopefully I won't have to reapply the white pastels to the edges and clearcoat again, but we'll see..
I'm nearly finished building a new carry cradle for the loco, will get a photo of that maybe tomorrow..
Regards,
Aaron