Videos & Photos Videos How To Expert Tips How to weather rust using pastels

How to weather rust using pastels

By Angela Cotey | September 20, 2012

| Last updated on December 7, 2020


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Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno shows how to weather rust using pastels.

25 thoughts on “How to weather rust using pastels

  1. I have an interesting source for powders and chalks for use as weathering materials. My wife is a Mary Kay cosmetics consultant. It is company policy for their product to be unsaleable after a certain period of time. However, this material, although no longer being suitable for facial use, is still perfectly usable for weathering our models. You could enquire around discretely, or get your better half to do it for you) to see if there is a local source of out of date skin powders, concealers, or cheek and eye colors.

    One nice thing about using [pastels/chalks, is that if there is not enough color after spraying, add more color and spray again.. The only color I have had a problem with is white, which should be added after spraying.

    Neville Parry from Pennsylvania.

  2. Looks great Cody! I have done one 89' Trailer Train car from
    Athearn Genesis just like you have shown and love it. Can't wait
    to work on other cars. I may just keep my airbrush packed up
    for good! I hate cleaning it out so often.

  3. Do you ever run into problems with the sealant coat making the pastels disappear after the model is sprayed?

  4. very nice, thanks cody. I find you can just use artist's pastels and scratch the powder off with a screwdriver

  5. I use AIM weathering prouducts for all my freight cars and locomotives. I find them very useful. One question Cody… How do i weather the top of the car with pastels? And instesed of lussterly flat I use a clear coat from polly matsters from my sealent. Great vid Cody!

  6. I have been using pastels for weathering for many years – on freight cars as well as on structures., I use a scrap of velvet from my wife's sewing supplies. It can be folded into a convenient size, and the texture makes it easy to rub off as much of the chalk stick as you need. By usng the same piece, the blending of colors is automatic. When it wears out through it away. Saves the mess of ground powder being blown around.

  7. While there is no close-up shot of the finished car, you can get a longer look at the details of the work by pausing the video.

  8. I agree, a longer look at the finished product would be useful. Other than that, a very helpful video.

  9. I use a very similar techinique, and am happy with the results. I find that you can go a rougher with the brush than shown in the video to really get the dirt/grime into the corners/crevices.

    The pastels I used were from a arts/crafts store (Michaels), in the artist section. The pack I buy has all the colours of the rainbow in it (24 colours?), and they are in stick form. I'll either just rub the brush on the stick, or scrap some powder off with a knife blade.

    I use dollar-store brushes, and therefor am not afraid to trim/shorten the bristles to get a stiffer brush.

    Flat lacquer does not attack the plastic, and having a layer on first definitely makes a difference, giving the pastels something to bite into.

    Happy weathering!

  10. One thing I've noticed about this and other videos like this, after you are done it would be nice if you did a nice long look at the finished product before you closed the article. So I can study better what effects you have applied. But over all you make it look easy, thanks for the great advice!

  11. Answer to Alan Goralski below. Walthers has them, they call them powders. They sell an assortment for $34.98, item # 100-3100 and they are on sale.

  12. I would like to know where you purchase the dry pastels at. I've looked in Art Supply Stores and cannot locate them.

  13. Cody, Great video. I have been working with pastels now for years. The nice thing about pastels vs paints is that before you apply the dull coat, you still have the time to make changes to remove or add some pastels, where paints is is a done deal. In the question above, dull coat seals the pastel from being removed on your hand as you handle the cars over the years. Thanks again Cody

  14. I would remove the trucks and couplers before spraying matte finish on the car, or maks them off at least. I found out the hard way that the couplers especially are affected by having a roughened surface and do not couple up as smoothly as before.

  15. hi yes keep these videos coming . M.R. has come a long way ( 1953) I have some books from thin . n-scale is my too day.

  16. very good instruction value, lacking in most product discriptions.
    names and maker also invaluable. keep it comming

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