Weathering Solutions Decals
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 1:33 pm
At Brighton Modelworld recently I spent two days weathering some freight cars with much interaction from the public. But there was some interesting interaction from fellow member Bob Norris who asked if had heard of some new decals on the marketplace that recreate rust streaks and spots. A bit of surfing and I found them, Weathering Solutions - their website can be found at http://www.weatheringsolutions.com/. Founded in 2013 they have been developing since July last year a range of products that can only enhance the realistic look of freight cars and structures. They have rust spots, scrapes and streaks (the latter in two shades) for freight car sides and roof panels of box cars and autoracks, plus industrial streaks for oil, cement, flour and sulphur spills and leakages and graffiti. They produce all in two sizes for HO and N and a few for O.
Here are some examples of their products:
Rust spots and spills by mikearnold, on Flickr
Rust streaks and graffitti by mikearnold, on Flickr
The photos show sheets of rust scrapes/streaks with some sulphur and oil spills at top and rust spots and an example of the graffitti below.
Now I love weathering with dry brush acrylics and enamels and powders but this was eye opening. I have admired Pelle Soeborg’s work but could never really master the creation of rust spots and scrapes the way he did them. Weathering Solutions have the…...weathering solutions. I have road tested these new products on some cars - a rather tired Evans 54’ box car and a couple of ACF 2-bay hoppers for cement. The decals come with full instructions for successful application and optimum results. They have a satin gloss sheen finish to them so they will need to be varnished with Dullcote or similar after they have dried and hardened in place. You have to cut each item out separately - they come on a continuous carrier film so be careful as many items are interlocking for optimum print capacity. They like warm water for a soaking first and slide easily into place. You just need a good eye to know where to place them for best effect and some Microsol to help them bed down over detail such as seams and rivets.
Here are some examples of their products:
Rust spots and spills by mikearnold, on Flickr
Rust streaks and graffitti by mikearnold, on Flickr
The photos show sheets of rust scrapes/streaks with some sulphur and oil spills at top and rust spots and an example of the graffitti below.
Now I love weathering with dry brush acrylics and enamels and powders but this was eye opening. I have admired Pelle Soeborg’s work but could never really master the creation of rust spots and scrapes the way he did them. Weathering Solutions have the…...weathering solutions. I have road tested these new products on some cars - a rather tired Evans 54’ box car and a couple of ACF 2-bay hoppers for cement. The decals come with full instructions for successful application and optimum results. They have a satin gloss sheen finish to them so they will need to be varnished with Dullcote or similar after they have dried and hardened in place. You have to cut each item out separately - they come on a continuous carrier film so be careful as many items are interlocking for optimum print capacity. They like warm water for a soaking first and slide easily into place. You just need a good eye to know where to place them for best effect and some Microsol to help them bed down over detail such as seams and rivets.