Introdcution

Basic Painting & Weathering for Model Railroaders - Second Edition from Kalmbach Publishing is a book by Model Railroader in their Essential Series. Complied by Jeff Wilson, the
8 1/4 x 10 3/4 softcover book is 88 pages of illustrated demonstrations including 250 color photographs. It is catalogued by Kalmbach as book number 12484, with ISBN 9780890249550.

Any modeler who wants to paint, decal, or weather locomotives, rolling stock and structures will find plenty of in-depth, how-to techniques in this updated edition! New prototype photos, current manufacturers, and the latest products are featured along with several new projects that include making your own decals with an inkjet printer and a multi-color painting project for a locomotive.

• Contains basic-through-advanced techniques for airbrushing, brush-painting, decaling, and weathering

• Includes tips on how to add graffiti, placards, and other decal details

• Features how-to information for using chalks, acrylic paints, and oil colors - Kalmbach

Come see what's between the covers!

Content

Basic Painting & Weathering for Model Railroaders - Second Edition by Jeff Wilson consists of 10 chapters and more:

Introduction
Chapter 1: All about paint
Chapter 2: Brush-painting
Chapter 3: Airbrushing and spray-painting
Chapter 4: Multicolor paint schemes
Chapter 5: Decals and dry transfers
Chapter 6: Weathering with paint
Chapter 7: Weathering with chalk
Chapter 8: Weathering freight cars
Chapter 9: Weathering locomotives
Chapter 10: Structures and figures

List of manufacturers
About the author

Mr. Wilson has 25 books to his credit and worked for 10 years at Model Railroader and he has parlayed that experience into this book. While this book is from a model (and real) railroader publisher, the information, concepts and techniques are appropriate for any modeling genre.

Keep in mind that this book is about basic subjects. That said, there are a few topics that span into the intermediate and advanced. All about paint is a good overview of many of today's (and out-of-production favorites) paints. A portion of it addresses a contentious subject of matching a model color to the "true" prototype color. Mixing your own colors is discussed, as well as a very important subject of keeping paint fresh.

Today there is a growing segment of products formulated for brush-painting (LifeColor, Vallejo, etc.) and this art is explored in Brush-painting. New and old modelers can always appreciate the inset Brush-cleaning dos and don'ts. Airbrushing and spray-painting is one of those subjects that spans into the intermediate and advanced. Two full pages are dedicated to cleaning airbrushes, and safety is specifically addressed, too. Even experienced and professional modelers so the inset Removing paint should be appreciated.

Those three chapters may be considered primers. The practical section begins with the very interesting Multicolor paint schemes. The early diesel era boasted some of the most elaborate striking livery on the rails, many that are not commercially produced. Demonstrated here is creating and cutting one's own compound curve masks for multi-color paint jobs. Because those paint schemes usually had thin colored trim stripes between or near major color areas, following hand-in-hand (tweezers in hand?) is Decals and dry transfers. The use of dry transfers is demonstrated. Very interestingly, the section Making your own decals shows how to photograph the real deal and make decals of it, then apply the decals to a model.

Few vehicles are as exposed to the weather and under-cleaned as railway rolling stock and once the masterpiece is covered by opulent coats of luxuriant paint and decals, some modelers want to smut it up, as demonstrated in Weathering with paint and Weathering with chalk. Once those concepts and techniques are explained, the book moves into the practical again with Weathering freight cars and Weathering locomotives. Each of those types share weathering and each tends to have unique deterioration. Especially between the steam and diesel eras, and between the wood and iron construction ages. A clever technique shown is using magic markers to replicate a common form of entropy.

The book concludes with methods for making realistic Structures and figures. While the buildings may move beyond the basic, the figure painting is not.

One page lists manufacturers with contact information. I really appreciate that part of Kalmbach books.

Graphics

I did not count how many images are used to support the excellent text. I believe that there are 250 color photos. There are also several color illustrations and tables:

1. Color wheel and tone modulation.
2. Modeling paint reference chart listing 11 brands, per:
Type (acylic, enamel, etc.)
Safe to brush on plastic?
Thinner
Airbrush ratio (paint/thinner)
Airbrush pressure (psi)
Cleanup.
3. Single-Action, External-Mix, Siphon-Feed Airbrush.
4. Double-Action, Internal-Mix, Gravity Feed Airbrush.
5. Basic airbrushing paint stroke.
6. Troubleshooting airbrushes.
7. Freight car lettering and markings with a 16 item summary.
8. Steam locomotive and tender weathering.
9. Decal upgrades.
10. Changing numbers.

That is excellent graphics support.

Conclusion

Basic Painting & Weathering for Model Railroaders, Second Edition is an excellent primer of painting and weathering. It even flirts with intermediate and some advanced methods. The information and techniques are suitable for all genre of modeling.

The book has excellent graphics support. The content and text is also expert. For $20 it is a bargain! This should be an essential book on a model railroader's shelf. I recommend it.

Please remember to mention to Kalmbach and retailers that you saw this book here - on RailRoad Modeling.