THE MAIL CAR

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �1 21

THE MAIL CAR NEWSLETTER OF THE ST. LAWRENCE DIVISION – NMRA

ISSUE # 111 | JANUARY 2021

sld-nmra.ca

http://sld-nmra.cahttp://sld-nmra.ca

THE MAIL CAR

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �2 21

St. Lawrence Division Executive Officers

Superintendent:Malcolm Vant 


Assistant Superintendent:Norm Levert 


Paymaster: Bill Meek Phone: (613) 521-5234 

Clerk: Tom Badenoch 
 Dispatcher: Geoff Chase
Phone: (613) 225-7324 
 Appointed Positions Inspector: Grant Knowles Phone: (613) 825-5438 
 The Mail Car Editors: Michael Rozeboom 
Phone: (613) 496-1191 


Ed Brandon

Article Submission Email

Click on an underlined name to contact them by email.

The Mail Car is published five times a year by the 
St. Lawrence Division – NMRA.

Opinions expressed are those of the editor and/or the individual authors and are not necessarily those of the St. Lawrence Division – NMRA

Copy Deadlines:

September Issue - August 15 
November Issue - October 15 
January Issue - December 15 
March Issue - February 15 
May Issue – April 15

Welcome to 2021.

As Ontario is in a lockdown until January 28 2021, the next meet will again be virtual, on January 28.

In this issue there are articles on using and staining Scultamold, and kitbashing a feed mill. Plus Weathering a Pickup Truck.

Please make note of the new email addresses for the Executive. Everything has been consolidated into the SLD’s internet domain.

Remember: Next Issue’s deadline is February 15, 2021.

Cover Photo: 6759 was one of two FPA-2's (6758 from shot #2 was the other) that had their 244 engines replaced with 251 engines by CNR as an experiment. After a period of testing, CN decided that the 251 powered FA was a winner and that led to the FPA-4/FPB-4 models from MLW built in 1959. A Roger Puta Photograph (Public Domain Image)

mailto:sld-superintendent@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Mail%20Car%20Feedbackmailto:cnlyon@sympatico.camailto:sld-as-superintendent@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Mail%20Car%20Feedbackmailto:sld-paymaster@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Mail%20Car%20feedbackmailto:sld-clerk@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Mail%20Car%20Feedbackmailto:sld-dispatcher@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Mail%20Car%20Feedbackmailto:sld-webmaster@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Mail%20Car%20Feedbackmailto:sld-editor@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Mail%20Car%20Feedbackmailto:edbrandon@hotmail.com?subject=Mail%20Car%20Feedbackmailto:sld-editor@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Article%20Submissionmailto:sld-superintendent@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Mail%20Car%20Feedbackmailto:cnlyon@sympatico.camailto:sld-as-superintendent@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Mail%20Car%20Feedbackmailto:sld-paymaster@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Mail%20Car%20feedbackmailto:sld-clerk@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Mail%20Car%20Feedbackmailto:sld-dispatcher@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Mail%20Car%20Feedbackmailto:sld-webmaster@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Mail%20Car%20Feedbackmailto:sld-editor@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Mail%20Car%20Feedbackmailto:edbrandon@hotmail.com?subject=Mail%20Car%20Feedbackmailto:sld-editor@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Article%20Submissionhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/129679309@N05/24803781330/https://www.flickr.com/photos/129679309@N05/24803781330/

THE MAIL CAR

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �3 21

Join the NMRA & NMRA-Canada  for 6 months for just $19.95*!

๏ Have easy access to one of the world’s largest railroad libraries… which includes over 100,000 prototype photos, 6,000 books, and over 50,000 modelling, prototype and historical society magazines

๏ Experience the fellowship and fun of getting modeling help and discussing the hobby with other members in your area

๏ Receive reduced rates on special insurance for your layout or collection

๏ Get admission to local model railroad meetings and events

๏ Receive 6 monthly issues of the NMRA magazine

๏ Have access to standards information and data sheets

๏ Be a part of programs like “Modeling With The Masters,” Pike Registry, Estate Counselling, contests, clinics, the Achievement Program and more!

Fill out this form and include your payment. Send $19.95 (Cdn) to:-

-

NMRA Canada Rail Pass

Membership, Registrar NMRA Canada,9 - 6975 Meadowvale Town Circle, Suite 405, Mississauga, ON, L5N 2V7

Town Centre Circle, Suite 405, Mississauga, ON L5N 2V7

Experience the fellowship and fun of getting modeling help and discussing the hobby with other member in your area

Receive reduced rates on special insurance for your layout or collection Get admission to local model railroad meetings and events Receive 6 monthly issues of NMRA Magazine Have access to standards information and data sheets Have access to one of the world s largest railroad libraries which includes

over 100,000 prototype photos, 6,000 books, and over 50,000 modeling, prototype and historical society magazines.

Be a part of programs like Modeling With The Masters, Pike Registry, Estate Counseling, contests, clinics, the Achievement Program and more!

Visit http:nmracanada.ca to see what you re missing!

*Rail Pass offer is for NEW MEMBERS and those who have NOT been NMRA member for TWO YEARS OR MORE. Individuals can join at Rail Pass rates ONLY ONCE; membership renewal will be at the regular membership rate. Rail Pass members can attend conventions and participate in contests, but cannot vote or hold office.

Name _________ Address ___________________________________________ City/State/Zip________________________________________ _________________________________________ Phone ________________________________________ Email ________________________________________ Date of Birth ______/______/______ Credit Card # __________________________ Expiration Date _____/_____ *Security Code _______ (Please Print Clearly!) * (This number is needed to process your application)

$19.95

NEW - Partnership program discounts and reduced admissions

Sign up online on the NMRA Canada Website

Rail Pass:Click Here

Fill out this form and include your payment. Send $19.95 (Cdn) to:-

-

NMRA Canada Rail Pass

Membership, Registrar NMRA Canada,9 - 6975 Meadowvale Town Circle, Suite 405, Mississauga, ON, L5N 2V7

Town Centre Circle, Suite 405, Mississauga, ON L5N 2V7

Experience the fellowship and fun of getting modeling help and discussing the hobby with other member in your area

Receive reduced rates on special insurance for your layout or collection Get admission to local model railroad meetings and events Receive 6 monthly issues of NMRA Magazine Have access to standards information and data sheets Have access to one of the world s largest railroad libraries which includes

over 100,000 prototype photos, 6,000 books, and over 50,000 modeling, prototype and historical society magazines.

Be a part of programs like Modeling With The Masters, Pike Registry, Estate Counseling, contests, clinics, the Achievement Program and more!

Visit http:nmracanada.ca to see what you re missing!

*Rail Pass offer is for NEW MEMBERS and those who have NOT been NMRA member for TWO YEARS OR MORE. Individuals can join at Rail Pass rates ONLY ONCE; membership renewal will be at the regular membership rate. Rail Pass members can attend conventions and participate in contests, but cannot vote or hold office.

Name _________ Address ___________________________________________ City/State/Zip________________________________________ _________________________________________ Phone ________________________________________ Email ________________________________________ Date of Birth ______/______/______ Credit Card # __________________________ Expiration Date _____/_____ *Security Code _______ (Please Print Clearly!) * (This number is needed to process your application)

$19.95

NEW - Partnership program discounts and reduced admissions

http://nmracanada.ca/product/canadian-rail-pass/http://nmracanada.ca/product/canadian-rail-pass/http://nmracanada.ca/product/canadian-rail-pass/http://nmracanada.ca/product/canadian-rail-pass/

THE MAIL CAR

Superintendent’s Report By Malcolm Vant

I expect as you read this, the holidays will be over, and we will have survived one of the more unusual holiday seasons in memory. There is now light at the end of the tunnel, and we can hopefully look forward to in-person meetings and operating sessions in the coming fall. Luckily, we planned last summer for a virtual season and we have been off and running ever since. In designing our new virtual season, we tried to retain as much as we could of what we usually do.

After the success of our initial Zoom meeting on September 26, where two clinics were presented, we followed up with the October KitBuster, which was an online show and tell. Then the November meet where Jeff Pinchbeck discussed how to use the Canadian Pacific Historical Association online archive in modelling, and Chris Butler demonstrated how he uses a Cricut machine for rapid prototyping. The clinics were followed by a virtual tour of Lloyd Henchey’s wonderful MHO Jct. layout. A layout located near Hawkesbury, which we probably would not have seen in person anytime soon. Zoom was our friend.

As we look forward to virtual meets for the rest of the season, geography is not a barrier, so our clinicians have been chosen from across the country and even internationally. In January, Bernard Hellen will discuss his new 3D printing business, Miniprints, where he produces fantastic miniatures of animals and people. He will be joined by Rene Gourley from BC who has been applying 21st century technology to the modelling of a 19th century steam locomotive. March brings Rob Clark from the UK (who writes in MRH) for a discussion of how he is realistically growing the towns on his layout, the amazingly realistic Cornhill and Atherton. Rob will be joined by George Dutka from the WOD, who will be discussing weathering with acrylics, pan pastels and weathering pencils. The program for May is not yet complete, but for a start Marc Simpson from BC will discuss the kitbashing he has done to create the model rolling stock for his Hudson Bay Railway. If any guest wants to join these sessions, please have them send an email to our Dispatcher at sld-dispatcher@sld-nmra.ca and he’ll send them the link.

This fall, we had a harder time figuring out how to replace our KitBuster sessions. Our KitBuster project for this season is to modify an existing model/kit to repurpose a car, just as a full-size railroad would do. At our October KitBuster, we replaced our in-person meet by an online show and tell and question and answer session related to the project or any other project anyone was working on. This way we

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �4 21

mailto:sld-dispatcher@sld-nmra.camailto:sld-dispatcher@sld-nmra.ca

THE MAIL CAR

were able to include a virtual display table of sorts. We plan to continue this approach for the rest of the season. In between sessions, members are encouraged to use our SLD Facebook group to share their progress and ask questions. If any of you wish to join it, just search for St Lawrence Div NMRA on Facebook and ask to join, and we will let you in.

To make sure we reach our less internet-inclined members, we are continuing our regular newsletter, the MailCar, but with an expanded photo section for show and tell.

During the last two months, Grant Knowles and Ed Brandon have been busy moving our SLD website to a new internet service provider. This has given the SLD a chance to refresh the look of the site and bring it up to date. More material is being loaded as the weeks go by. At this time, we also decided to create position-oriented email addresses for the SLD Executive and key members of the team. These addresses will be permanent and not dependent on the individuals in the position. See the website for the new list of addresses.

I would also like to bring your attention to a series on operations by SLD member, Doug Matheson. It is running now in the online magazine Model Railroad Hobbyist. A couple of years ago, Doug asked for the help of some other SLD members to give comments on an ops article that he was drafting. A number of folks stepped up including Alex Binkley, Chris Lyon, Mike Hamer and the late Peter Nesbitt. The article morphed into a five-part series that was accepted for publication by Model Railroad Hobbyist. It began with the December issue of the magazine and will run every other month. The magazine is free to read – the December issue is available online now. I’ve read the first instalment and I am eager for more. In it you’ll see a few friendly faces that you’ll recognize. Well done Doug and thanks to those who helped!

Hopefully, we will see even more of you both on Facebook and during our ongoing Zoom meetings. What a fortunate group we are to have such a great hobby to keep us sane during these difficult times!

Happy New Year and may it be much happier than 2020!

Malcolm Vant SLD Superintendent


#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �5 21

https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com

THE MAIL CAR

New E-Mail Addresses and a New Website The St. Lawrence Division has a new web presence, with Grant Knowles and Ed Brandon investing a lot of their time and effort into upgrading the website.

With the migration to a new hosting service complete, the website is up and running. One new feature of the change in providers is new email addresses for the executive. Executive emails are now @sld-nmra.ca

This is an active document: To send an email just click on the address. Underlined text in this document is either an email address or a link to a website.

Malcolm Vant Superintendent sld-superintendent@sld-nmra.caNormand Levert Assistant Superintendent sld-as-superintendent@sld-nmra.caGeoff Chase Dispatcher sld-dispatcher@sld-nmra.caTom Badenoch Clerk sld-clerk@sld-nmra.caBill Meek Paymaster sld-paymaster@sld-nmra.caMichael Rozeboom Mail Car Editor sld-editor@sld-nmra.caGrant Knowles AP Chairmain sld-apchairman@sld-nmra.caGrant Knowles Webmaster sld-webmaster@sld-nmra.ca

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �6 21

mailto:sld-superintendent@sld-nmra.camailto:sld-as-superintendent@sld-nmra.camailto:sld-dispatcher@sld-nmra.camailto:sld-clerk@sld-nmra.camailto:sld-paymaster@sld-nmra.camailto:sld-editor@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Mail%20Car%20Feedbackmailto:sld-apchairman@sld-nmra.camailto:sld-webmaster@sld-nmra.ca

THE MAIL CAR

Virtual Display Table

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �7 21

As a result of my retirement at the start of the summer I have been able to visit Fred Mill’s garden railroad empire on a more regular basis often dragging my equipment over is cardboard boxes. I soon found myself admiring the carrying cases the other lads have build to move their equipment around, I needed to come up with a similar solution!

What you see here is the final product. The lower section houses the locomotive with track slots routed into the base which allows the loco to move in/out under it’s own (battery) power. The upper half of the case is a tray for holding the supporting components like throttle, battery charger, tools and my lunch. For transporting the model, the end ramps are inserted into slots at the end the lower case, the upper case is latched into place with the suit case catches and the whole assembly is carried by the dowel rod handle. The first case was made for my LGB 2-6-0 mogul and since it turned out so well, I made a second, longer one for my Bachmann 2-8-0 consolidation. Now the true test will come next spring once the snow leaves for me to actually test out their functionality!

Grant Knowles.

THE MAIL CAR

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �8 21

THE MAIL CAR

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �9 21

The added benefit of the current pandemic is that it has given me additional time (and focus) to work on last year’s KitBuster project – Kit Bashed Bridge. I’m now at the stage where I’m preparing the scenery around the bridge/trestle before the final installation. The attached photos shows the completed back drop, the installation of the hardshell scenery, rock casting, loose (real) rock and trees. If you look carefully, you can see some of the 16 stone piers sticking up through the scenery which the trestle will rest on. For added interest, I have added a roadway which will pass under the end of the bridge. Bushes and other vegetation is currently being added then the bridge will be installed followed by the rails, guard rails, fire barrels, etc. The third photo shows the bridge temporarily in place. Once the bridge is in service, I can install the scenery between it and the front of the layout.

Grant Knowles

THE MAIL CAR

Casting rocks with Sculptamold Normand Levert Photos by author

Amazing what one learns when reading instructions!

Readers may remember I had mentioned trying to cast rock faces using Sculptamold™. I was disappointed with the results. The castings were crumbly and did not take paint well. Though it may have been that my painting attempt was considerably reduced because of my disappointment.

In early October I grabbed my bag of Sculptamold and read the instructions! I know real men don’t do that, but I tend to be a compulsive reader. The secret: While the usual mixing ratio is two parts Sculptamold, one part water, the recommended ratio for casting is one part Sculptamold, one part water. The result is quite watery as can be expected.

I stirred to eliminate any lumps, wetted the rock molds with a quick wash of dishwashing detergent then poured the mixture in the molds. I tapped the edges of the molds to help the Sculptamold settle in all the crevices. Very quickly, a lot of water came to the top, which I soaked up with paper towels Once the “free water” was soaked up, I wetted then pushed a sheet of paper towel onto the back of the casting, with the general idea of providing some reinforcement. The castings came out as beautifully detailed as plaster castings.

However, they took days to dry. Reading more of the instructions… guess what, the castings take days to dry) I was tempted to use the oven on low setting to speed up the process. I did a quick staining trial with thinned acrylic paint on the first casting while very damp. I managed to wait a few more days to work on the second casting, which was still quite damp. The results were quite satisfactory. I believe that if the castings are left to thoroughly dry, they would take stain very well.

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �10 21

THIS CASTING WAS LEFT TO DRY FOUR TO FIVE DAYS BEFORE PAINTING / STAINING WITH THINNED ACRYLICS. THE WHITE HIGHLIGHTS ARE NATURAL. THIS IS WHERE THE SCULPTAMOLD™ DID NOT TAKE COLOUR. COLOURS ARE BURNT UMBER AND A WASH OF DARK CREOSOTE WOOD STAIN.

THE MAIL CAR

The resulting castings are extremely light, which would be an advantage on a modular railway. They are not as strong as plaster, thin sections along the edges can break off more easily. The long drying time may allow the castings to be somewhat bent to fit in the scenery while they are still “green” and then stained or painted in place.

Michael, our editor, did not need copy for the October Mail Car, he suggested I experiment some more. Casting a second batch of Sculptamold rocks, again I soaked up the excess water with paper towels and reinforced the back of the casting with a paper towel. After a day of air drying, I tried our oven’s warming tray set at 175ºF (with permission of course!) I might have “over cooked” the casting as the surface is quite hard. It would not take a tint as readily as plaster.

It appears that Sculptamold is less porous than plaster, whether air or oven dried. I tried to give this casting a wash of diluted acrylic back. It took some work to have the pigments settle into the crevices with the casting laid flat. A second wash with yellow ochre left hints of colour.

I left that casting to dry for about two weeks. While planting other castings in scenery, I gave this one an “aggressive wash” of burnt sienna. The wash had a fair amount of pigment in it. Again, we are working on a casting laying flat.

This scene incorporates both Sculptamold™ and plaster castings. The main rock face is two Sculptamold™ castings that are getting closer in coloring. We hope some dense scrub will fill in nicely.

You may remember Chris Lyon’s clinic on rock painting. Chris and Mike Hamer first paint the castings black then add colours by dry bushing. That approach would eliminate the uneven staining of Sculptamold™. I may try the technique.

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �11 21

THIS CASTING WAS STAINED / PAINTED ONE OR TWO DAYS OLD AND STILL VERY WET. THE COLOUR WAS MOSTLY BURNT SIENNA APPLIED QUITE STRONGLY. THE COLOUR DID NOT TAKE AS WELL WHERE THE CASTING WAS MORE HUMID. NOW THAT IT IS DRY, IT COULD ACCEPT WASHES TO BRING OUT DETAILS.

FIRST WASH OF BLACK FOLLOWED BY YELLOW OCHRE. THE CASTING IS STILL LARGELY WHITE.

THE MAIL CAR

Electrical Parts for Sale

I'm switching my layout to battery powered locomotives and reducing the number of switches operated by powered controls. So I have a lot of left over wire and other components that might be of useful. Prices are very good. I have a photo

of the original offering. For more info, contact me at alex.binkley@sympatico.ca

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �12 21

SCULPTAMOLD GIVES “HIGHLIGHTS” NATURALLY AS MANY PARTS ACCEPT VERY LITTLE COLOUR

SCENERY IN PROGRESS. THE GREY CASTING IS PLASTER

mailto:alex.binkley@sympatico.ca

THE MAIL CAR

A Winter Kit, Kitbash and Scratch Text and Photos by Lloyd Henchey

This project started with a live show on how to build a Hydrocal structure. I had to pick a structure from many, but it needed to fit my layout’s era. The only one I found, was the “The Old Anderson Place” from Downtown Deco. It’s a nice building but it needed more to it, so I also bought “Brickworks Storage Building” from Walthers. From there I decided to do an old Feed Mill building that was abandoned. The only thing missing was an extra level on the roof which I was going to scratch build with Basswood.

It needed a loading dock and I had what I was looking for looking for.

Like I said, the show was on the Hydrocal building and the rest was done on the side. We showed how to assemble the walls which needed preparation to make it fit properly and added plaster to hide the imperfection. A coat of grey primer was put on all buildings at first and while waiting for the next show, I worked on the metal roofs, adding rust with gouaches and Pan Pastel.

On the next show, we showed out to paint Hydrocal and do the weathering. We then added the windows and details. Since it was an abandoned building, I made a broken

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �13 21

THE MAIL CAR

window.

Another break on the show gave me a chance to accomplish more on the other parts. I added the sliding doors and roof details, painted the top to look like Purina, painted the rust on the walls and added stairs to the dock. On the final show, we finished with the roof which was done with strips of roofing tiles and any extra details. Now that the shows were finished, I was able to finish my building.

Since I was doing a winter scene, I decided to make it a diorama a first and if the scene came out the way I wanted, I would just incorporate it in my winter section of my layout.

The next step was to work on more details such as a gate, fence, track, trees, pulley, and an oil tank.

Now I was ready for the snow. I started with a base made of plaster. Once dried, I added Flex Paste from Woodland Scenics on the plaster and wherever there was a ledge, such as the roofs, windows and loading dock.

The final step was to add the snowflakes from Woodland Scenics and more details. I broke a few boards on the dock, added 2 skiers, added a weathervane on the roof and two hobos inside warming up near a barrel with fire. The fire was created with an Arduino flashing to LED’s inside the barrel.

Now I was ready for the snow. I started with a base made of plaster. Once dried, I added Flex Paste from Woodland Scenics on the plaster and wherever

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �14 21

THE MAIL CAR

there was a ledge, such as the roofs, windows and loading dock.

The final step was to add the snowflakes from Woodland Scenics and more details. I broke a few boards on the dock, added 2 skiers, added a weathervane on the roof and two hobos inside warming up near a barrel with fire. The fire was created with an Arduino flashing to LED’s inside the barrel.

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �15 21

Jason Shron Interview | Turntable Podcast Ep. 11

Sit back and relax with your favourite bowl of shredded RDCs because this week I talked to Jason Shron, CEO of Rapido Trains, on just about everything from model train production all the way to Brexit.

Disclaimer: This may possibly be the only interview with Jason where not once was “Will you make X” asked.

https://youtu.be/x6vCNCHGOQshttps://youtu.be/x6vCNCHGOQs

THE MAIL CAR

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �16 21

Proposed Meet Schedule for 2020/2021

KITBUSTERSaturday 24 October 2020 (Halloween on 31 October)

VIRTUAL

MEETING Saturday 28 November 2020

MEETING Saturday 23 January 2021

KITBUSTER Saturday 27 February 2021

MEETING Saturday 27 March 2021

KITBUSTER Saturday 27 March 2021

MEETING Saturday 29 May 2021

January Clinics

Bernard Hellen (miniprints.ca) on 3D Printing

Rene Gourley, 21st Century Techniques to Model a

19th Century locomotive.

Watch for an SLD Dispatch with the meeting details.

Due to circumstances surrounding the Covid19 Pandemic, the meeting format may change.

Always check the SLD Website for the most up to date information.

January 23 Meeting by Zoom Videoconference.

mailto:sld-dispatcher@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Mail%20Car%20Responsehttp://sld-nmra.ca/mailto:sld-dispatcher@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Mail%20Car%20Responsehttp://miniprints.cahttp://miniprints.cahttp://sld-nmra.ca/

THE MAIL CAR

The Rip Track 


#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �17 21

Submit your Questions and

Answers to The Rip Track. If providing an

answer please refer the Mail Car issue the question

appeared in.

Please include your name with your questions and

answers.

Lloyd HencheyIf you have a question or a tip, send an email to the Rip Track and it will be presented to the membership. Someone will have a solution or appreciate your tips.

mailto:sld-editor@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Rip%20Trackmailto:sld-editor@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Rip%20Trackmailto:sld-editor@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Rip%20Trackmailto:sld-editor@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Rip%20Track

THE MAIL CAR

Weathering a Mini-Metals 41/46 Chevy Pickup

Article and photos by Malcolm Vant

I wanted a break from my never-ending Kitbuster bridge project and decided to try my hand at creating a rusty 1940s pickup from a shiny Mini Metals model (photo 1). I have never been a fan of how toy-like off-the-shelf vehicles look when plunked down on a layout. Guided by photos of rusty vintage Chevy pickups, I decided to experiment with some vehicle weathering techniques. I learned a few things along the way. The first thing was don’t try to brush on the primer. When I got to later stages of the work, the parts that had been brush-primed had obvious lines on them. So, the remaining parts were done with Tamiya Fine Surface Primer (photo 2). This primer does a wonderful job, but the spray is toxic, so best done outdoors or in a properly ventilated spray booth. I had to use very fine sanding strips to flatten the areas originally primed by brush. It probably would have been easier to just remove all the paint and start over.

After disassembly of the model, all the chrome and wheels were masked, and the plastic “glass” removed (photo 3). All remaining parts not yet primed were done with the Tamiya primer. The next coat to go on was an airbrushed layer of Vallejo Air Rust. After that was dry, I dry brushed on Vallejo Air IDF Green to get a dull sun-faded green colour. With that in place, and the rust layer showing through in places around the fenders and on the roof, I began to add various rust colour washes to get the old rust and new rust combinations. When that was done, I used some weathering powders over top in various places. This was another learning experience to see how the various applications looked in the final product. I took close-up photos with my iPhone along the way to get a more dispassionate view of how things looked.

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �18 21

1. ORIGINAL PHOTO FROM THE WEB OF THE MINI METALS 41/46 CHEVY PICKUP.

2. INTERIOR PRIMED WITH GREY TAMIYA FINE SURFACE PRIMER.

THE MAIL CAR

The tires and wheels were painted by fine brush with the colours from the Vallejo Wheels and Tracks colour set. These are just a set of specific Vallejo Air colours. Black went on the treads of the tires, Dark Brown on the sides of the tires, lightly sponged on Ivory over the Brown for dust, and then a light layer of Rust wash on the hub caps. This gave credible looking wheels instead of the shiny black ones (photo 4). I have seen suggestions to file down the bottom side of the tires so that it looks like there is weight on them, but I wasn’t sure how I was going to use the vehicle, so left that detail for now.

The box of the pickup would have had a lot of abuse and scraping of its paint, such that not much was left. This is reflected in the heavy rust treatment applied to it (photo 5).

The last remaining details, such as the chrome trim and mirror had a rust wash applied to tone them down. Finally, for the glass, I used a dilute Burnt Sienna India ink with alcohol wash to get a dirty window look. There was only one wiper, on driver’s side, on these trucks, so I wiped an arc-shaped area on that side of the window and left the passenger side as though it had been wiped by hand (photo 6).

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �19 21

3. MASKING OF CHROME AND WHEELS DURING AIRBRUSHING OF BASE COLOUR.

4. DETAILS OF WHEEL AND TIRE WEATHERING.

THE MAIL CAR

Comparing photos 1 and 6, it is clear that by my modelling era of 1955, my 41/46 pickup had seen a lot of sun and road salt. So, the final product looks like it has been around the block many times. Next time, I plan to try some of their early 1950s pickups with a less aggressive weathering. 


#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �20 21

5. THE BOX OF THE PICKUP WAS HEAVILY RUSTED GIVEN ALL THE SCRAPING IT HAD EXPERIENCED.

6. PICKUP SHOWING WINDSHIELD WITH DIRT WASH APPLIED.

THE MAIL CAR

COMING ATTRACTIONS Watch for these articles in future issues of The Mail Car

• David Steer shares more of his Locked Down Freight Car Projects • Grant Knowles demonstrates how to make Control Panels using obsolete

Printed Circuit Boards

Plus:

• Virtual Display Table • The Rip Track

Be sure to check out the NMRA’s YouTube channel for plenty of informative clinics, with new ones being added all the time. There is something for everyone!

Submit your Articles or Photos for the Virtual Display Table. Deadline is February 15, 2021!

#111 JANUARY 2021 Page � of �21 21

mailto:sld-editor@sld-nmra.ca?subject=Article%20Submission%20for%20Mail%20Car

By Malcolm Vant