Just watched it

And it was one of the best weathering demonstrations I have ever seen. Showing tools that did work and tools that didn't work for a given job was really illuminating......gotta go buy an awl!

The multiple layering approach was beautiful and given a good amount of video time so you could really see it at work. Little tips like holding the turp loaded brush on the oil paint for a few moments before pulling the brush across the car surface was new to me.

 And the final result............simply stunning.

Thanks for doing this Mike, it was very helpful and also entertaining to watch.

Having an issue with the thinner for the wash

Hi all,

I'm curious about the thinner used for the washes.  I had purchased maybe a year or so ago, Mona Lisa Linseed oil for artists but had never gotten around to trying any weathering with oils.  I cracked open the bottle this morning to make my oil washes and was surprised to find the linseed oil is a deep orangey colour and seems (to me at least) a bit thick.  Google searches haven't turned up much, some say put it in the sunlight for a while, most say the stuff lasts years and years.  I'm a bit concerned about the color of the thinner effecting the tint of my washes. 

Anybody ever come across this issue?  Is it even an issue?

Really fantastic videos, I'm enjoying them.  Also very impressed with the results received from the panpastels.  I had seem them a while back in MR but dismissed them as just another powder.  They seem to be in demand at the moment given some of the scalper prices I'm seeing online - $15 plus for one pan in some places!    

Thanks

Chris

Wash formula - NOT linseed oil, turpentine

Chris,

To make the oil wash, it is turpentine you need, not linseed oil. Mix a bit of black or brown artist oil into a jar of turpentine and you will be good to go!

Mike Confalone

I was at the dentist office

I was at the dentist office one time and noticed all those metal picks they use to clean teeth. I asked them what they do with them when they are warn out. They said that they throw them out after they can no longer be refinished. I explained all the modeling that I do and the picks would be perfect.

As I was leaving the nurse handed me a handful of picks, but I had to promise not to use them on my teeth.

They work great for working with plaster and scraping weathering off of decals.

--Bill B.

Pan Pastels buying tip

Buy the Pan Pastels in the stacks. You can get a 5-pack for about $20 or a 10-pack for around $35.

Here's a good weathering starter 5-pack on Amazon for $20 (Prime members get free 2-day shipping):

PanPastel Set, Earthtones, 5-Pack, https://amzn.to/2M82RWD?tag=mrhmag-20

This is about $4 per color. However, these stacks come so one pastel forms the lid for the next, so also get yourself a set of lids for $7.25:

PanPastel lids, 8-pack: https://amzn.to/34I5m8q?tag=mrhmag-20 ... Or about 90 cents per lid. An 8-pack of lids is enough for two 5-pack stacks.

In a 5-pack, the top color has a lid, but you need to unscrew the stack and add lids to the other 4, adding $3.60 to the cost of the 5-pack. You're still less than $5 per color this way.

Other good weathering sets in affordable stacks (remember to buy some lids too):
PanPastel Set, Grays, 5-pack, https://amzn.to/2McPrZr?tag=mrhmag-20
PanPastel Set, Extra Dark Shades, 5-Pack, https://amzn.to/2sGHe8V?tag=mrhmag-20
PanPastel Set, Pastel Tint, 5-pack, https://amzn.to/35HQZCn?tag=mrhmag-20

The gray and extra dark sets give you more options for dirt colors. The pastel tint set works great for fading different colored freight car paint jobs.

Thanks, Joe!

If I don't get these PanPastels at an upcoming train show I'll get them from Amazon.  The information is very helpful.

Thanks!

I appreciate the feedback.  It had never occurred to me that the different materials for thinning (turpentine, turpenoid, linseed or walnut oils) would have a difference in properties.  I just assumed they were all clear.

Good tips on the pan pastels as well, I didn't realize the stacks were coverless.  I agree that's a good way to manage the cost.  I think though sticking to the 5-packs or less may be best, I noticed when you get into the larger sets some of the colors get duplicated.

Thanks again.  Looking forward to the next installment.

Amazon

As an aside - be careful with that free amazon prime 1 month trial they give you.  Took advantage of that for some Christmas shopping... I was surprised to see on my last credit card statement a $99 charge for Prime.  No emails, no verbiage on my previous order that I was going to be charged at the end of the trial period.  My surprise turned to anger when I tried to cancel only to find I was required to pay a 20% early termination fee.  Bad business!

An email to them did seem to have resolved my dispute, I'm still waiting though

Thanks for tip!

I ordered 2 sets of panpastels on amazon prime, I ordered the lids on ebay for less.

Amazon Prime

I too was suckered in by the one month free trial and was surprised by my credit card charge. I had used prime for only one item but found the other purchases were either free shipping or less expensive without using Prime. I immediately called Amazon... no small feat to find an actual person. He offered to refund the remaining portion of my Prime membership but I said no that I had not signed up for anything other than a free trial month. After much "discussion" I was finally given my unwanted membership fee back in full. Now keep in mind I had only purchased one item using Prime so perhaps this had some bearing on the decision.

Hold it...

This is not the Amazon complaint department.

It clearly says after the 30 days it's $99 per year. Let's move on please.

Pan Pastel sets @ $20? I wish...

Dear MRH PanPastel curious,

$20 for a 5-color PanPastel set?

Maybe in the US, but not so much elsewhere...

http://www.artscene.com.au/shopping/pastels---crayons/soft-pastels/panpastel-artists-pastel-sets

("Earth Shade" 5-set @ AUD$48.40, "Drawing" 10-set @ AUD$87.30 + shipping)

NB that it didn't stop me springing for them, just hope they are as "long lasting"
(IE last thru the weathering of many many cars)
as implied...

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Pastels OZ style

Has anyone in Australia tried the pastels supplied by DCC Concepts in Perth?

They cost AU$ 20 for four  or  AU$ 50 for eleven. They certainly seem to be a similar product at a decent price.

Bryan

weathered trucks

Just wondering how the trucks got magically weathered shortly into the video?

boxcar red

Mike

Nice video, and many ideas that us "older types" can use the same principles for weathering transition era car.s

More Bang for your PanPastel Buck

In my humble, unsolicited opinion, I suggest anyone that is interested in the PanPastels - invest in these two 7 pan sets:

The 9mm "Weathering" set they call "Rust/Earth" and the 9mm "Weathering" set they call "Greys/Grimes/Soot". No colors are repeated between the sets; I triple checked before I ordered.

These sets provide a better range of colors for weathering.  I made the mistake [depending on how you look at it] of getting a10 color set.  The set included all the colors except one in the two I mentioned above, but there's not enough range in the grey, umber and sienna colors for my tastes.  There's only one color the two specific weathering sets don't include and that's Red Iron Oxide, but there is a "shade" oxide in one of the weathering sets which I like better because it's a bit more subdued than the straight up Red Iron Oxide.  

That being said, I have the 10 color set for sale if you just want to try it out and see if you like it - cheap too! LOL. I found I liked it enough to invest the 70 bucks on the two 7 piece Weathering sets.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B001PPESXE/ref=dp_olp_collectible?ie=UTF8&condition=collectible

Those are my recommendations based on having bought 3 different sets and getting to know the colors and what works best for me.  Add the disclaimer of "Your results may vary".

These along with the basic oil colors Mike covers in his videos are all you need to do a TON of weathering, dare I say your entire fleet of cars and locomotives.  A little really does go a long way.

Personally, I've been weathering some FastTracks turnouts with Mike's techniques and they are looking great!

Enjoy!

Michael Maurer

P.S. As Joe said, get yourself the a couple of packs of the lids too.  It's a pain in the hiney to have to unscrew the stacks to find the color you want.  I like to look at the words on the bottom of the pans to be sure I'm using the right color.  A tip from on color deficient male to another.  

Great Source For Pan Pastels and Tutorial

Yes you can buy Pan Pastels on Amazon Prime, but there is a model railroad source.

Stony Creek Design stocks Pan Pastels at very good prices.  He also has a great DVD that will tell you how to use Pan Pastels on Structures.

http://www.stoneycreekdesigns.com

I do clinics on weathering freight cars with Pan Pastels.  I think Pan Pastels are fantastic.  I also use Ammo of Mig pigments and washes along with the Pan Pastels.

http://www.ammomigjimenez-usa.com/

Below are two N Scale cars that were done with Pan Pastels and Ammo of mig washes and pigments.

Pete Steinmetz