Weathering, tools & materials 

In order to make our layouts more realistic and less toy like, we must to some degree weather our models. Now I know this is not for everyone, but with a little effort we can make our models really come alive.

In this introduction, I'll talk about the tools and materials we will use. As we get to specifics I will explain how to apply the weathering and the "why's"  of weathering.

 
Tools: 

• Airbrush (for spray painting) 
  (Webmaster warmly recommends Aztek A470...)
   
• Two sets of paint brushes, one should be the best you can buy and the second one "as cheap as possible"
   
• Pump type spray bottles  (to spray e g "black wash")
   
• Tweezers (to pick up those small parts...)
   
• Eyedroppers (very useful to mix & apply paint) 
   
• Dremel tool  (a very handy tool for all modelers) 
   
• Q-tips (besides cleaning your ears, you can use these for much else too..)  
   
• Drill set (very small)
   
• Sponges  (to apply paint, scrub off excessive paint, and more....)
   
• Latex gloves  (to protect your hands from messy & hazardous stuff) 
   
• Masking tape
   

Materials:

• Paint (I use two kinds, solvent-based and water-based)
   
• Black wash (you make again two different kinds a light and a dark. Get some rubbing alcohol (drug store) and some India ink (get it from an art supply store) add one teaspoon of ink to a pint of alcohol, this is light wash. To another pint add two teaspoons of ink, this the dark. This can be put in a pump type spray bottle.
   
• Pastel chalks (again, visit the art supply store)
   
• Flat finish
   
• Rust all
   
• Modelers mortor or Roberts mortor (I'll explain the last three when we start to use them)
   
• Scenic materials (like coal for tenders, etc)
   

What we will be weathering:

• Track (yes, they are models too!)
   
• Locomotives (and a short course to re-letter/number them too!)
   
• Rolling stock (both passenger and freight cars)
   
• Structures (ever seen a shiny tile roof?)
   
• Scenery
   
• Figures (yes you read it right...)
   
• Detail parts
   

So, get shopping!

Of course you will not have to get everything at once, the general recommendation is to get the things when you need them. After a while, you will have accumulated all the necessary material needed for a "professional" weathering tool-box to be used in the future. You will have many hours of fun with it when you realize how good-looking your layout can be...