Superior & Seattle Railroad Build

[S&S RR]

So the stain test has begun.  Here is the product I'm using - my local hardware store mixed it to my color - I'm trying to get the look of a 1940's layout with fresh creosote.

[S&S RR]

Here is a picture of the first bent after it dried.  It looks like the glue covered but is shinny.  It turns out that a wipe down with a rag left excess stain which did not soak in as I thought it wood at the joints. It looks like a lot of glue that is covered up but it's only a shinny area from excess stain.

[S&S RR]

So I revised the process and wiped the entire bent with a rag and then took a dry brush and wiped down the joints.  Here is a picture after that process. What do you think?

[S&S RR]

The next step will be a A&I bath. I'm very interested in your feedback.

[ACL1504]

John,

Minwax is an excellent stain and I'm not surprised that it covered. The shiny spots on the joints can be handled with Dull Coat. However, it appears the second coat being wiped on took care of everything. At least I do't see any shiny spots on the bent after the wipe down.

And, I believe creosote is a bit darker than what you are showing but it may be the camera and the auto adjust on the color. If the Minwax color doesn't work out, try Hunter Line Creosote Black A&I. I have some and it is very dark like creosote. They will be at the next EXPO.

www.hunterline.com

Looking good my friend.

Tom

[GPdemayo]

Much better with the wipe down.....looking good. 


Lumber used for trestles was mostly treated with creosote, which is almost black when new and weathers out toward light gray after a number years. The look will be dictated by the amount of time you decide that the  trestle has been in service.

[S&S RR]

Much better with the wipe down.....looking good. 


Lumber used for trestles was mostly treated with creosote, which is almost black when new and weathers out toward light gray after a number years. The look will be dictated by the amount of time you decide that the  trestle has been in service.

The color darkens quite a bit with the A&I so I'm pretty happy with it. Most of the trestles that I have photographed have a dark brown appearance and that is what I have also seen other modelers use.  The stain is covering any glue issues and the bar codes so it looks like I have the process.

[gnatshop]

You're doin' good followin' the Ledbetter's main rule:
If there is a problem, "Cover It Up!!"

As we say around here - You Done Good on the trestle bents!
And not even any flea crap on the finished job!!! 

[S&S RR]

Here is a photograph of the first two trestle bents after the A&I step.  I'm using the 3 table spoon to a pint formula here.

[gnatshop]

Wowzzerrs!  That trestle looks close to the ceiling - do you have oxygen masks for the crew members??
The A&I finished them off great!   

[Zephyrus52246]

Looks good, John.  I'm surprised it covered the glue spots.


Jeff

[ReadingBob]

Very nice John!  Thanks for sharing your stain experiment with us.   

[deemery]

Another technique to add to the toolbox.


dave

[S&S RR]

Dave, Jeff, Bob, Tom, Greg, and Dave

Thanks for stopping by the thread and for the input.  As you can see from the picture, I stuck the stained bents in a piece of foam next to the scenery.  I'm happy with the staining process but right now I'm leaning toward the bents look too new. It looks like the trestle was just built.   I'm going to make a bent up with the old fashion A&I at about 3 of 4 table spoons of ink and see if I like the older look better before I go into full production mode. I'll post some pictures and let you know what I decide. 

One final point on the stain - I painted a piece of basswood with glue - let it dry and then stained it - it covered with the dark brown stain, but you had to let the stain dry before doing much wiping.  The process needs to be tested with a lighter stain.

[S&S RR]

I had lots of time sitting in the woods the last week looking for a deer through all the snow -  I have a design in my head for the machine shop that goes next to the Roundhouse. Stay tuned on this project - I plan on starting it in a couple weeks.  Now for more trees.