HS 3631 Ex-Golden Triangle PS 5344cf Boxcar
Athearn "Primed for Grime" model
Project Background |
I've been a fan of Athearn's 5344cf Pullman Standard boxcars for a long time. I remember when kits retailed for $10 in the local hobby shop- that was a while ago! At the time, I recall balking at the price of a "shake the box" kit- a $2 premium! While the model has been surpassed by ExactRail's awesome offering, I still think the Athearn model holds up pretty well overall.
So when I saw notice (randomly!) on Athearn's website of a contest based on these, I thought sure, I'll try to put something together in a few weeks, and see what I can do. So off to the web to buy one (Tony's Train Exchange to the rescue- these are kinda hard to find).
The Build |
No build necessary- this is a "Primed for Grime" ready to run car. I've not really bought too many of these- I do like to do my own weathering. However, after this project I'm a bit more of a convert- these give a pretty good starting point for adding more effects and detail.
Painting & Weathering |
Out of the box, the car looked too purple for me. So I used a craft acrylic paint fade of Brick Red to take the shine off and subtly change the look. For more info on this technique, see Gary Christensen's outline here. Then a toothpick to clean off the lettering.
I added the old graffiti which was going to get faded/worn. Then a few thin layers of water-soluble oil paints (Burnt Sienna) to add some red over the purple.
Sealed, then added the scrapes and dings and rusty patches especially on the logo. A couple of final washes, and the sides were done. The roof was a mix of an airbrushed base color, a mix of oils and then some chalk, and then sealed before adding the sealer (acrylic gray paint brushed on).
Summary |
Fun project and a nice car for the layout.
Resources |
Athearn car here. Now discontinued, you'll have to search for these.
Some additional detail decals from Smokebox Grphics. These are wonderful additions to the hobby.