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9/14/2010

Arty Farty Trains

Even though it's been a while, I still love to paint. Frankly, once you find Art, I don't think you can lose it. I mean, it's not like it's a suitcase you can forget in the Train Station of Life, as you progress from one plateau to another. No, Art stays with you. It colors and flavors everything to think, say and do.

Recently, I've re-kindled a life long love of trains - HO scale model trains, to be exact. And last Sunday, I went to a Train Show to see what kinds of things there are out there - after all, it's actually been 30 years since I last concerned myself with the hobby and things have changed. A lot.

While at the train show, I ran across an ongoing seminar on "weathering". Weathering is a technique for making your nice new model you just built, look old, worn, and dirty. You know, that 'lived in' look. Although these days, accurate modeling would include the ability to reproduce accurate gang tags. Anyway, this involves powders of various and sundry sorts, applied with a brush, and sealed with a spray. Pretty powders. Little teeny paint brushes. Water. And 'Dullcoat'.

It makes for very artistic interpretations of time and the elements on things we otherwise take for granted. The trick is to build dignity into the portrayal of the boxcar, passenger coach, or engine you've worked on. That's the trick. Anybody can make it look dirty. Not everybody can make it look proud and dirty.

Ndinombethe.

7 comments:

Kim - Mommycosm said...

You are such a boy at heart;)

Big Mark 243 said...

That was funny, the line about 'gang tags'. That certainly would add to the 'updated authenticity' of the trains. There should be a market for that kind of model, don't you think?

Gabriele Agustini said...

I really enjoy your blog!
And I agree with your other commenter - that "gang tags' line was funny!
I can imagine someone sitting there with a #00 brush painting them on that train! Ha!
I've become one of your "Followers". :)

Grandmother Mary said...

I'm trying to picture pretty powders, teeny brushes and Dullcoat... I'm thinking it's astounding all the ways sellers get us to part with our money!

Jientje said...

"Not everybody can make it look proud and dirty". Not everybody. But I bet you can. Looking forward to see your train pictures.

Unknown said...

Kim: I certainly do hope so. It's rather too late to grow up now.

Big Mark 243: There could be some merit in that idea.

Gabriele Agustini: And I now follow you, as well. That said, welcome.

Grandmother: True. But I spent it willingly.

Jientje: Thank you, Jientje. I'll try.

PattiKen said...

Did you ever get a chance to check out the Scotty Mason website? It's well worth taking a look just to see the amazing work he does in HO scale.