RECREATE SCRAP STEAM LOCOMOTIVES

1 Dapol’s

range of injectionmoulded plastic locomotive and wagon kits remain a cheap and easy way of producing static display models. Working from kits allows parts to be modified before or during assembly.

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Alternatively, unwanted or faulty RTR models can be modified or cut up to represent scrap locomotives. Use of a jeweller’s saw to cut through the components, in a deliberately sloppy way, mimics the effect of a cutter’s torch.

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To represent locomotives in Barry Dock-style condition, with years’ worth of corrosion, is simple. Combine some rust-coloured water-based acrylic paint and a similarlycoloured dry pigment, stirring into a spreadable paste.

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With a flat brush, stipple the paint mix onto the model (plastic kits will need a primer coat first). The amount of texture is governed by the ratio of paint and dry pigment, which can be tailored to suit your particular tastes.

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Allow the initial coat to dry then add tonal depth with rust-coloured paints (without dry pigments added). Maintain a dabbing, stippling action, with only a small amount of paint on the bristles. It’ll look odd to begin with… 6 …but greater depth and realism will be achieved by building up several shades. Adding darker shades will begin to tone things down. Practice is needed to get the right results, but it’s easy to correct things by adding more paint.

With a dark 7

grey/ brown shade added, the stippling action continues, but this time the paint is worked into areas where natural shading would occur, such as around the boiler bands and within recessed areas.

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If the shading is stark, tone it down with light stippling of the rust shades. With careful, patient application, it’s possible to mimic the appearance of airbrushed paint. Using a soft brush loaded with minimal paint is key.

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Finish the job with dry-brushed lighter rust shades, along with gunmetal, to give the material a metallic edge. The texture imparted with the initial layer of dry pigments and paint will help the dry-brushed paint to adhere.

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Daubed markings can be added with a very fine paintbrush, using an off-white paint. Alternatively, a fine white ink gel pen could be used.

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A disc cut from plastic card and drilled with holes for the boiler tubes adds a bit of interest to the partially cut GWR 2-8-0. Such a scene is an eye-catching addition to locomotive shed or works yard from the latter days of steam.