TIM SHACKLETON successfully migrates weathering techniques he developed for 4mm scale across to an ‘N’ gauge 2-6-4T.
It is estimated that at least ten times as many people model in 4mm scale than work in 2mm, and of those the overwhelming majority opt for basic ‘OO’ and ‘N’ gauge standards rather than anything particularly finescale.
Two questions I’m often asked are how well my working methods translate from one scale to another and whether the techniques I’ve primarily developed for 4mm work can be applied across the board.
The answer to both is a cautious ‘yes’. I don’t think people always realise that colours scale just as much as physical dimensions do, and the shade of Warning Panel Yellow that works brilliantly in ‘O’ gauge would be absolutely overwhelming in ‘N’.
Above: The handsome, purposeful lines of the Fairburn ‘4MTs’ were echoed in the BR Standard 2-6-4Ts and the class always had a businesslike air, captured to perfection in the Graham Farish ‘N’ gauge model. Whatever the scale, sympathetic weathering will always breathe life into a model and bring out its best qualities.
As far as methods and materials go, things are much the same whatever scale you model in, but the most important thing you can possibly do is loo…
