Building a fleet...Part 4

 Milwaukee Boxcars...Again!

Some will say that I'am much more of a Milwaukee fan than a Santa Fe one! The 50 ft is one of my first brass I've owned in the 90's and like all my older rolling stock it endured some different wheathering jobs but I've always focused on a layout quality to speed up the process for a fleet (even of modest size like mine). The latest wheathering to date on this car was done around two or three years ago and the basics were the same I will apply on the 40 footer on the foreground. For the record, and the purists, I'am pretty sure the Milwaukee emblem is not right for the late forties and on this particular class of car (much more at home on pre-war full lenght rib-side probably) but I want to have one with this feature so....
My philosophy for a layout quality model is that it must be quick and easy, and the methods used lend to an homogeneous finish in my car stable, yet with individuality. That said a car treatment must not exceed two or three hours, a perfect time for an evening of work. Wheathering rolling stock could be a great hobby in itself, but my goal is still to do a layout not an RPM challenge (with all the respect I have for the marvellous results seen there).
I always begin with the roof, and the chipping associated with . The chipping is done with a small paintbrush (2/0) and a metal acrylic paint not diluted. When I began using this technique 15 years ago (from what I've read in the military modelling press), I loved using Santa Fe silver from Polly Scale. But with the discontinuance of this brand, I've settled on a Matt Aluminium acrylic (A MIG 194) from the spanish brand Ammo-Mig. It's even better than my beloved Polly Scale! It took me around 40 minutes to do the roof at a fairly slow pace (seasonal flue will not help). In a next post we'll see the sides treatment and the whole wheathering of the car.
Until then happy new year to the few that read this blog. See ya' next year.