The art of weathering

Model railway weathering is an enthralling subject. In this section you can read and watch weathering guides covering steam, diesel and electric locomotives as well as rolling stock and more. Keep checking back for the latest features and videos as we create new guides.

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Workstained Class 70

MIKE WILD

The General Electric Powerhaul Class 70 is the most powerful diesel locomotive on the modern railway, and it makes for an interesting weathering project. MIKE WILD explains how he brought his Bachmann ‘OO’ gauge model to life with a realistic finish.

MIKE WILD
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Weathering and detailing a Hornby LNER 'Q6' in 'OO' gauge

TIM SHACKLETON

Operating your layout with only a limited selection of classes is entirely prototypical – but how do you make near-identical engines look different? TIM SHACKLETON shows how you can do it through weathering effects alone.

TIM SHACKLETON
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WORKBENCH: Class 20 weathering – Part 1

TIM SHACKLETON

The Class 20 offers potential for detailed weathering effects. TIM SHACKLETON brushes up on the basics of weathering with a pair of Bachmann Class 20s in 'OO' gauge.

TIM SHACKLETON
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Modelling Tyne Dock Class 24s in 'OO' gauge

TIM SHACKLETON

TIM SHACKLETON goes for a high-fidelity weathering treatment that squares with the level of detail on a matched pair of Sulzer Type 2s.

TIM SHACKLETON
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Weathering EFE Rail's SEA and SPA Wagons

Looking to add EFE Rail’s recently released ‘OO’ gauge SEA and SPA wagons to his fleet, DAVID DOLMAN took to the workbench to improve their outof-the-box appearance with a realistic, weathered in-service makeover.

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STEP BY STEP: Paint fading techniques

You can almost taste the tobacco smoke and touch the threadbare upholstery as TIM SHACKLETON evokes the unique character of carriage stock from a bygone age using simple weathering techniques to fade the paint on a series of Hornby Maunsell carriages.

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Enhancing Hornby’s Colletts

The quality of ready-to-run carriages is outstanding today, but can they be made even better and more realistic? MIKE WILD says yes, with simple painting and additions.

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TIME MACHINE

Hornby Magazine’s resident Time Lord Tim Shackleton fast-forwards a GBRf Class 66 and simultaneously backdates a British Rail Class 50 with intriguing results.

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Whatever the weather

Snowploughs, Railhead Treatment Trains and much else besides – with one eye on the weather forecast, TIM SHACKLETON looks at some of the specialised vehicles that keep Network Rail running.

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Weathering a ‘Western’

TIM SHACKLETON turns a Heljan model of Western Enterprise into a detailed portrait of a real locomotive at a specific point in time to capture the elegance of these beautiful machines.