Weathering Techniques Used on the Hoosac Valley Railroad
Dick ElwellDescription
The Hoosac Valley Railroad was built in 1959 and is now several decades old, yet is still an advanced example of fine modeling. Although the main track line has stayed fairly consistent, Dick Elwell is constantly thinking of ways to update the layout. He continues to incorporate new technology and new techniques into Hoosac Valley to keep it relevant and up to date. Some sections on the layout have been redesigned and remodeled up to three times. As new scenery elements become available, Dick revisions and modifies his layout.
Structures and Weathering on the Hoosac Valley Railroad
In part seven of the 10-part Hoosac Valley series, Allen Keller and Dick Elwell sit down to discuss structures and various weathering techniques on the layout. Allen asks Dick a total of five questions to dig deeper into the techniques behind the Hoosac Valley model railroad.
First, Allen asks Dick what he likes most about the layout now that it’s older. Then, he questions Dick on how he weathers the layout. Dick gives several answers to this one. Next, Allen investigates whether Dick has any special techniques he uses for weathering locomotives, rolling stock, or structures. After questioning Dick about weathering techniques, Allen inquires about how the new weathering blends in with the older weathering. Finally, Allen asks a few questions about the structures on Dick’s layout regarding if they are scratch built or made from kits.
There are three more episodes of the Hoosac Valley series. Don’t miss out on any of the knowledge and advice from Allen and Dick. Keep watching for more detailing tips and a tutorial on how to scratch build utility poles for your own layout.
What do you like most about the layout, now that it's 31 years old? Oh, I don't know. I guess now I'm getting to be more of a rail fan. So I watch the trains run more through the scenery, you know, and I get a lot of enjoyment out of that. I've been doing so much work on it that we haven't really had an operating session in, I would say, three years. Over three years. How do you weather the layout, Dick? We weather the layout, you know, different. I use a lot of chalk, a lot of paint pigments. When you say the layout, I imagine you mean cars and structures and things. A lot of dry brushing, a lot of fooling around really. You mean just, you try it and it looks good. Yeah you try it and if it don't work, try something else, yeah. Any special techniques that you have for locomotives or rolling stock or structures or anything that you, anything that you consistently do or you just do what it takes or? Yeah, well, right now we're using a lot of India ink. Yeah, a lot of India ink to weather it. It seems to be a quick way of weathering, and the results I think are fantastic especially on brick buildings. How does that blend in with older stuff? You know, if you're using a new technique now what does that do to the older? It don't, it makes the older stuff look pretty poor compared to what it is now. In fact, that's probably, you know, people say, gee, you're all done. What are you going to do? You know, I know what I'm going to do. I'm going to go around and redo. I've redone a lot of the structures Oh. And I'll start redoing structures now. Did you scratch build a lot of the structures? Or are they kits or? I've scratched built a lot of them, and 31 years ago, they weren't very good. You know what I thought was very good. Now the layout has got so big that we trade them. I've traded some, got some better structures, got a fella in New York state who builds not what I would call, oh what do I want to say? A quality structure, as far as contest model goes, but does a heck of a job. And he's really reasonable and not having the time, I use quite quite a few of Rich Cobb's structures. I'm finding like I've got four or five of them now and I'm leaning towards them.
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