So what is the best piece of advice for weathering that you've had?

Another thing I realized recently....... Come back to models at another time. The weathering doesn't have to be a single time but can be put back on the layout and run until new ideas or techniques are learned and the model can be revised or changed. I got stuck trying to create the perfect piece and realized that just some simple things could help and more could be done later if desired. It was a step to getting me over some hurdles I faced

JC, I’ll give you two, the first is always use a protophoto, even if it’s not of the exact car you are working on but it’s the way you want your car to look. Don’t try to weather from your minds eye, more times than not you will almost always over do it. That brings to mind the next tip. The other as you mentioned, “Less is More”. One of the things I’ve had mentioned to me is, “the products you are using are to expensive”. Just remember, you get what you pay for! The reason I use the products I do is that I have eliminated the cheaper ones that didn’t work for me so I’m letting you know which ones work best for the techniques I use. Believe me I tried many products through trial and error. You can go ahead and try for yourself, I think you will arrive at the same results. Keep this in mind, if you are going to spend big bucks on rolling stock or locomotives, why use cheap paints that may not do the job!

Great tips: Your video on how to begin is a must view, for anyone starting out. Thanks for sharing

Best Piece of advice I was given was 1 using a color wheel, and 2 how to use and clean my brushes the right way.

I like how you described making a story out of it to add your vision! I have the same model I love the Ecto 1!!! Cant wait to see that video!

lots of great tips John.. thx for sharing... vinny

Tip #11 - Pay John to do it for you. :) Great video. I’d love to get started in this but I don’t have the room to store all the materials or even a workbench to weather on. But one day I will and I’ll come back to this video. -Mark

Just saw this today (after looking at your Loop to Layout videos). Any suggestions for those of us who can't use oils? My spouse is extremely sensitive to thinners and turpenoids, so oils are right out, due to the cleanup. I already do Gundam and 40k/Titanicus, and so have some experience with the mediums and effects for those scale, though I find that what works on 28-30mm models often looks overscaled on anything smaller. Most of my Titanicus and Gunpla are "cleaner" for this reason.

Hi John, really enjoying your videos, thanks for posting. When you say oils in the videos do you mean artists oils or model enamels? Mark (UK)

Great video John - anyone looking to improve their weathering skills would do well to follow these tips (and that includes me)! -Rick

Great tips. Now I need to get off my butt and get started

I have been weathering for about 5 years. Start with a crappy model like a bachmann or old mantua and just try different things like weathering powders and learn to airbrush with them. Start with a light grey or off white thinned very much to overspray and tone down the paint. Then try using a very fine brush to add rust spots and dents. Watch a channel called DansRailroad2011 to learn highly effective techniques and processes. I have weathered many different locos and rolling stock and also track on my clubs layout. Also use rrpicturesarchive.net and other photo websites to see what rolling stock from the era you model looks like. Its not hard to learn but it does take patience, time and practice.

One piece of advice for new modelers or experienced. When fading models, do NOT apply white directly over the factory stock color model. Always use white as a base but add drops of the same color of the car to the white, say a yellow TTX boxcar, use 10 drops of white acrylic and mix 5 drops of yellow into the mix. You'll have an off color that will blend into the model better than white only.

To wheather a train for cheap take sand paper and rub on letters and train car it will fade

Less talking and more demonstration would be helpful.