This is the follow up to my recent O Gauge Ballast post. I have now weathered the three test samples, with the basics. I have not added any oil patches, grime or filth, they can be added as a separate application on Depots, near Station Buffer-stops and even at signals on the main line. I would treat the goods yard scenario slightly differently, depending on the products being loaded/unloaded, noting different parts of a Yard can handle different products.

I always use enamel Railmatch Paints and have hand painted the sample, although I would use airbrushing on larger areas. I have dry brushed the sleepers to make original Peco sleepers look a bit more accurate.

Also note that the colours I have used for the rail sides, they differ as well as the ballast. Again the merging of different areas need to be seamless. I have in the past treated the chairs with a little dark rust as Cast Iron and Steel weather differently – this is dry brushed, but I guess it could be done with powders. This is a very time consuming job, OK on smaller layouts, but would be soul destroying on really large layouts.

The colours I used were, Sleeper Grime, Frame Dirt and Roof Dirt. For the grime etc. I would use all sorts of colours from Black to White and everything in between, bearing in mind that its not a ‘matt’ world. Some liberal use of Satin or Gloss is acceptable. In Steam Days, remember, the effects of water, ash and emulsified oils, lovely!!!!