Experimenting With Wood

Since I use to paint with watercolors, I wanted to see if I could weather wood with a mixture of ink, watercolor and dirt. Talk about mixed mediums!
Shawn Branstetter's picture
I added the ties to a .040 styrene sheet and using my trusty saw and #11 X-acto knife, scratched and scraped...

Shawn Branstetter
shortlinemodelers.com

Shawn Branstetter's picture
A lot of "fuzz" to remove!

Shawn Branstetter
shortlinemodelers.com

Shawn Branstetter's picture
Here I am using a mixture of water with india ink added. To the side I have burnt umber from my watercolor tubes which I mix them both together. I am making sure there is more black than brown.

Shawn Branstetter
shortlinemodelers.com

Shawn Branstetter's picture
MUD! I started adding dirt to the ink/water mix. I used a brush to brush it on and then my finger to rub it into the wood.

Shawn Branstetter
shortlinemodelers.com

Shawn Branstetter's picture
Once dry, I used a wet brush to remove access dirt.

Shawn Branstetter
shortlinemodelers.com

Shawn Branstetter's picture
My tools.

Shawn Branstetter
shortlinemodelers.com

Shawn Branstetter's picture
Done???

Shawn Branstetter
shortlinemodelers.com

Shawn Branstetter's picture
The color I chose was rail brown by Floquil. The color is too green and looks "new". I am trying a new approach right now, Polly Scale roof brown paint. It is a little glossy but with a nice coat of dull varnish, it should have a nice rust look.

Shawn Branstetter
shortlinemodelers.com

David Eblen's picture

They look great!

Shawn Branstetter's picture
Thanks Dave!

Shawn Branstetter
shortlinemodelers.com

Komachi's picture

I'm with David, awesome work, Shawn. I'll have to give your techniques a whurl when I start my next layout (which will feature handlaid track)!

** Celebrating 25 Years of Model Railroading Enjoyment 1986-2011 **

Shawn Branstetter's picture
Thanks Erik. I really like playing with wood but my metal weathering needs some help. I am going to purchase some MIG Productions weathering pigments. They are very popular and great results.

Shawn Branstetter
shortlinemodelers.com

eTraxx's picture

Whenever I get this finished I intend to write it up .. but untill then ..

- Sprayed some American Accents Terra Cotta for a base. It resembles rust .. and has a texture
- Rusted and stained with brown, red and black oils
- After hairspray and a Pale Green paint i chipped it
- followed with weathering powders

Intend to go back with some pin-washes of oils later when complete

Shawn Branstetter's picture
Looks really nice Ed!

Shawn Branstetter
shortlinemodelers.com

eTraxx's picture

Funny. Only a modeler would look at this funky, oily. dirty, rusty tank and think it looked nice! :)

Shawn Branstetter's picture
How true is that.

Shawn Branstetter
shortlinemodelers.com

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