Modelling: PTAs and rust
A minimalist idea to re-livery and weather Accurascale’s Foster Yeoman PTA wagons is put to the test.
Modellers were pretty unanimous in their praise of the brand-new models of the ‘OO' gauge PTA, JUA and JTA iron ore tippler wagons released by Accurascale earlier in 2021. As excellent as the models are, much can be done to them to add detail and character. This feature shows how the Foster Yeoman wagons were given a minimalist livery change and subsequent layer of grime, rust and stone dust.
RUST and dust returns to the workbench to tone down the excellent Accurascale ‘OO' gauge models of former PTA iron ore tipplers transferred to aggregate traffic in the early 1980s.
The Foster Yeoman model is the basis for a minimalist reworking to the third version of Foster Yeoman livery: the ‘Big Y' scheme which replaced the livery applied to the models. It, in turn, replaced the first version of the livery which was similar except lettering was blue on Foster Yeoman light grey.
Before the rust colours were applied, the livery was adjusted using minimalist techniques to preserve as much of the original livery, thus avoiding costly repainting.
The base Foster Yeoman grey is a touch on the light side for the third livery, but by the time weathering, rusting and road stone dust is flung at it (in a controlled manner) it becomes less important. Rust staining and grime darkens it anyway, so one can indulge in the artistic work of weathering earlier in the project.
Weathering thoughts
Weathering is a combination of trying to replicate what is observed in reference photographs and achieving a result that is pleasing to the eye using paint and weathering powders.
Weathering, like water, does not scale readily, so this is where some artistry comes in. Furthermore, in treating the Accurascale wagons, the weathering effects were sparingly applied over several days to several wagons at a time, even though fast drying acrylic paints were used which can deliver an acceptable result in hours. Each layer of weathering was applied as a thin veneer over the base livery until the desired level of rust or grime was achieved. A light touch means one can cease the application of a certain effect before it is overdone.
Livery materials
Fortunately, a variety of different transfers are available from several sources to suit the PTAs once used on the Redcar-Consett iron ore flow
(Nos. BSTE 26450-26563) and adapted for Mendip aggregate traffic. The large ARC logos, Procor, CAIB and Foster Yeoman markings are available from
Fox Transfers, whilst data panel sets, Foster Yeoman legends including the ‘Big Y' and lettering are available from Railtec Models.
Livery paint by Railmatch, which is a close match to the Foster Yeoman grey applied by Accurascale, may still be found whilst the blue panel colour can be replicated using Regional Railways dark blue, lightened with a spot of the grey colour.
Rusting of the wagons is usually very dark brown in colour including the interiors. Several colours are available as a base for rust weathering including three very useful colours in the Tamiya range, favourite being the brown yellow rust colour of Tamiya XF79 deck brown linoleum. If aged, black brown rust is desired, the ideal base is Tamiya XF10 ‘flat brown' possibly with a thin wash of Tamiya XF64 ‘red brown'. It is possible to lighten these colours for a fresh rust colour which is more yellow than
red in tone, by mixing in a spot of flat yellow.
A rarely used method of creating rust staining is to use fast drying oil paint (Griffin Alkyd) by Winsor & Newton. There are several colours which make good rust colours; ‘burnt umber' being one of the best.
General grime for the wagon exteriors can be reproduced by mixing dark greys and black colours from Tamiya, or by using some of the railway weathering colours from the LifeColour range which, being acrylic, will mix with Tamiya paints.
Dust accumulation in the wagon interiors resulting from roadstone loads comes from Tamiya XF55 ‘deck tan'. As an aside, this colour is a favourite for creating concrete effects too, usually used as a base colour before weathering is applied.
Weathering powders
MIG, Tamiya and others produce some wonderful weathering powders suitable for dusting and rust effects. Whilst the exterior of the wagons are best weathered with thin veneers of paint; weathering powders have many uses, applied to a matt finished surface to give the powders a tooth to adhere to. The model will require a further coat of varnish to seal the powders in place and protect them during handling of the models, a process which can reduce their effect on the model.
A good use of powders is applying them to build up the concretions of stone dust and fines that collect in the corners of box wagons like the PTAs. Powders mixed with matt varnish, either acrylic or enamel will form the thicker deposits for wagon interiors. Furthermore, one can mix firm hold hair spray as supplied in pump action bottles (not aerosols) or acrylic matt varnish as the base to create weathering powder mixes. They will stick without having to protect them with additional coats of varnish. Application is with a coarse stippling brush which has to be washed out straightaway!
Livery change
Before weathering, the livery was updated by first moving the blue Foster Yeoman band two panels to the left. This can be done by removing all of the panel and replacing it with a transfer. One could remove the blue from the
right-hand pair of panels along with the Foster Yeoman legend on the wagon sides as demonstrated in the pictures. There are several ways in which this can be done: by using the part-abrasive, partsolvent base of ‘Brasso' metal polish or good old IPA! One way or another, the livery elements, including most of the data notices take a little shifting and if one is not too careful, the blue paint shade can stain the base grey colour.
The remaining part of the blue band is narrowed by about 1mm on either side using a bow pen and Railmatch Foster Yeoman grey before being blocked in with Regional Railways dark blue. The same bow pen is used to line in the two panels to the left of the blue band, effectively shifting it to the left. A slight variation in this livery detail can be observed with the blue band ending part way across the rib whilst others cover the ribs completely.
Before weathering, consider the lighter bleached blue on the body side rib surfaces which can be created with a lighter shade of blue using Regional Railways dark blue lightened with a touch of white and thinned to a wash consistency before application.
Transfers were applied to a gloss finish applied locally and sealed in with matt varnish to prevent them from becoming damaged by the weathering process. CAIB logos and the ‘Big Y' are added to the wagons, which really changes their appearance. The end ladder was removed to allow the ‘Y' logo on one side of the wagon to be applied.
External weathering
To be sure that the livery change is completely dried and set, the models are left untouched for a couple of days (wheels and bogies can be worked on in this time). The next stage starts with an application of grime to the corners between ribs and the sides using pin washes of dark grey. The paint is thinned 10:1 and then run along the corners and in seams using a No. 0 or No.1 brush. Excess is then wiped away leaving a trace in the recesses of the body. This effect may be applied in several coats to build up the grime effect.