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WEATHERED USING WEATHERING LIQUID & A PAINT BRUSH
oilsoot

This example shows how to weather a Hornby SR 4-4-0 Schools Class "Wellington" loco by brushing on weathering liquid.

Brushing on weathering liquid is a completely different technique to that of airbrushing. When airbrushing, the liquid is quite dry when it hits the model which means that several coats can be built up one on top of the other. When brushing, the liquid is applied wet and this dilutes any previous coats applied.

So, when brushing, the technique is more like painting, but with one main exception, the liquid can be smudged after it has dried.

The pictures below show how I weathered the loco. I mainly used Oil Brown and Soot Black. I thinned the Oil Brown using 2 of water to 1 of liquid.

The liquid may permanently stain the model. Before use, test on a hidden surface to check to see if can be removed or smudged, see here for more information. It's best to matt varnish a model before using Weathering Liquid.

Please apply the liquid in a well ventilated space and wear a good quality face mask.

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Clean loco - Un-weathered

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Clean - Un-weathered loco. I matt varnished this model before weathering. Weathering Liquid is alcohol and can damage some painted surfaces. The matt varnish provides a protective layer over the model which protects the paintwork. Only a light coat of matt varnish is needed.

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Brush on Oil or Mud Brown Weathering Liquid. Dilute use 2 of water to 1 of Weathering Liquid, ie, twice as much water as liquid. You could use 3 or 4 of water to 1 of liquid for a weaker colour. Take care when applying the liquid around moving parts of the loco.

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Leave until completely dry. This might take an hour or so, depending on room temperature and humidity.

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Smudge using kitchen roll or cotton bud. I am using a cotton bud here. The only problem I found with the cotton bud was that it snagged on sharp projections and pulled off individual strands of cotton. The strands were not that visible, but it took me a while to pick them off. In future I will try using a brush to smudge.

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Smudging off the dye.

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I then brushed on neat undiluted Soot Black where I wanted to see soot staining. Let it fully dry.

7Smudge the dry Soot Black, breaking up the surface.

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This is the soot staining after smudging.

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A closer view.

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I stopped at the point, but I could have added more weathering liquid or taken more off. I didn’t want to over weather this model.

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Close up of the main wheels, the liquid is trapped in the recesses.

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Close up. See how the liquid is trapped in the wheel.

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Another view.

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This is the finished weathered model. I wiped off quite a lot of the Weathering Liquid so that the loco was not too heavily weathered, but I could have left more on. If I was weathering the loco again I might leave on more dirty water steaks down the side. I might go back and add some.

The liquid will always be water soluble. More can be added or removed at any time in the future. If you really like the weathered effect and want to keep it, then spray a final mist coat of matt varnish over the model.

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Weathered Loco

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