Weathered by Philden Showcase 16

Here's a look at just some of the intermodal and general van traffic that will slide on over from Philden Street Yard to my new layout. Once again, I've listed some duplicates of these containers on my eBay page if you're quick. There's still a few more for me to weather in order to have a complete Auscision Models storage box full of the dirty scoundrels.

A pair of Walthers 20' foot containers, MSC and MAERSK atop an Auscision NQYY wagon.

This Auscision Models 40' Intermodal Solutions container has been with me since the original Philden layout back in 2015. There's just something about the Kookaburra that makes it a favourite.

And this beat-up well rusted Auscision 40' foot Interlink container just keeps on surviving.

This side curtain 40' foot container is from On Track Models, and has been nicely weathered.

Another On Track Models container, this time SPD Transport which later became part of TOLL.

And a 3rd and final On Track Models 40' foot side curtain container to make tracks, this one TOLL.

Unable to locate any Sadliers or Pacific National RLSY's, I had to make do with these NLKY louvered vans in National Rail grime. I then painted some patched-out graffitti repairs for it to look the part.

Another NLKY with a different patch and weathering pattern. These are both Auscision Models and the other 2 I listed on eBay sold fairly quickly.

And a final 20' foot container pairing, this time showing the height difference between an Auscision domestic hi-cube TDG Distribution container and the Walthers international standard Hapag-Lloyd.

So that brings me up to date on some of my own weathering projects. While I'm waiting on some pre-ordered rollingstock to arrive for my own layout, I have a few packs of Auscision Models grain hoppers that are no  longer required that I will experiment on weathering and adding some patched-out graffitti repairs to the sides of the hoppers. Watch for them to appear soon on my eBay page below. Plus, the last of my Victorian HO models are still hiding somewhere in there if you haven't seen my clearance already.

You can purchase a Weathered by Philden model by clicking on the link above.

And like Jim Beam says... "non genuine without my signature", or something like that.

For my own record...

Models sold 105/143

Weathered by Philden Showcase 15

It's part 2 of my steel train showcase, with a motley collection of open wagons and slab steel flat wagons that will complete the backbone of my steel train operations. Just where remains a secret for now, but a lot of these have simply carried over from operations on my Philden Street Yard layout. Some of these have come from 4 packs of Auscision Models, and where I have just wanted 1 or 2, the others are on eBay for sale if you are quick. Let's jump right in...

An absolute favourite of mine, an Auscion Models RCOF National Rail coiled wire wagon.

Another Auscision Model, this time an RCFX (former NSW BDX wagon), in 50 shades of rust.

This National Rail slab steel wagon is coded RKQF, and has had the deck surface totally rusted.

Another RKQF slab steel wagon from a different angle, again it is from Auscision Models.

I've weathered plenty of these ex-WAGR WGX open wagons from SDS Models, but this one has been re-coded ROAX under National Rail/Pacific national ownership to add to my own steel train fleet.

Click here to view my weathered railway models.

There should still be duplicates of these on my eBay page for sale, as for the large part I have tried to add just 1 or 2 of each wagon type when making up my steel train rakes. Once again, prices are based on individual wagon prices plus around $35 per wagon to cover time, paints, eBay fees and Tax. All models sold help provide an alternate income flow between book orders, so thanks in advance for your support.

All models weathered by myself come with a certificate of authenticity!

For my own record...

Models sold 86/131

Weathered by Philden Showcase 14

Here's some of my own coil steel containers and wagons that will form the basis of my steel fleet on my new layout. There are some more Pacific National coil steel containers and a new pack of NQJX container wagons that have just arrived and still need to be weathered before I can say my steel train fleet is complete.

This NQYY Freightcorp container wagon is from Auscision Models.

Here it is again with 2 x National Rail RH steel coil containers also from Auscision Models.

Here's another 2 x 'butterboxes' as they're also known, only these are a whole lot grubbier!

A slight variation with these 2 x Auscision Models RV coil steel containers in Pacific National blue.

And lined up together, these coil steel containers are awaiting some more to arrive in PN yellow.

These RCNF coil steel wagons are the open alternative to shipping steel coils.

These Auscision Models RCNF wagons and coils were particularly enjoyable to weather.

While these steel coil wagons and containers are all destined for my own layout, you can still choose from the many weathered models I have for sale through my eBay listings by clicking the banner above. I now have a stack of models for my own layout, plus some more to sell, waiting beside my spray booth to be weathered as part of the final photos I'm after for my next book which will be due out mid-year. For those who don't quite understand my pricing on these, prices are based off the individual model price plus around $35 on each model to cover time, paints eBay fees and tax. It helps provide some extra income between orders for my books. So I appreciate the support.

With even more models to be weathered, I wonder how many of these I'll end up signing?

For my own record...

Models sold 81/126

Weathered by Philden Showcase 13

Before I fall too far behind in showcasing some of my weathered models, I'd better provide an update of some HO rollingstock that I am moving on from my own collection. These models were once all staples on my previous Philden Road layout, and they now join the pool of weathered models I have for sale on eBay at the moment.

Without giving too much away, February has been a huge month for clearing out a lot of my personal railway collection, making room in my study for some exciting news, and culling a fleet of Australian models I've been holding onto since layouts past, just in case I ever needed them again. It turns out I won't. Along with these models shown below, I hit a record high of 1,035 listings on eBay during February. Considering a lot of those listings were also bundled items, it's a number I doubt I will ever reach again. You can see all the models I have listed for sale by clicking here.

These Auscision Models NLKY louvred vans in PTC Blue were lovely to weather...

... but the PTC blue colour of the vans won't fit in on my next project.

These were the rustiest container flat wagons to ever belong on any of my layouts...

... but these SDS Models NQIX wagons with the L7 logos now need to move on.

Even this On Track Models side curtain container, while a favourite, now needs a new home.

And to round it out, an Auscision Models RQIW container wagon with a clean container.

I'll highlight a few more in the weeks to come as its a case of out with the old, in with the new. Being an apartment modeller, I can't afford to hold onto everything when I move between projects. And buying new models for a new project means I literally can't afford to hold onto everything.

Ahead of working on a book on weathering, these certificates come with each of my weathered models.

All are available while they last through my eBay page (click above).

For my own record

Models sold 70/120

Weathered by Philden Showcase 12

Relaunching into weathering some models for 2023, you may be clever enough to decipher all the cryptic clues as to what is going on behind the scenes of my blog. If the following Victorian HO scale models look just a little too familiar, it is because they have long been just some of the staples on my HO scale layout Philden Street Yard. A huge clean-out of my Victorian railway memorabilia, and a year-long countdown of Victorian Railways Newsletters that are all for sale on my eBay page, (link below) should be enough proof that change is coming this year!

Right, into a quick snapshot of what I've weathered and am now selling. As usual, I've based my prices on my time and the cost of paints, which I believe equates to around $35 per model on top of its' individual retail price.

And P.S. There will be a lot of near new, and well looked after models from my current layout's roster posted to eBay over the coming weeks. So be sure you add phildenmodelrailway on eBay as a favourite seller if you don't want to miss out on something you've seen on my blog in the past.

A well-rusted SDS Models FX flour wagon, this one in VPFX Fielders plain white.

An Auscision Models VLCX Freight Australia louvered van. Fading paint and peeling roof.

... and another VLCX van. These were long time favourites in Philden Street Yard.

An SDS Models VTQF 10,000 gal. petrol tank car. I was quite pleased with this one!

Another SDS Models VTQF tanker, this one looking a lot more fuel stained towards the end of its life.

And the ex-BP tank car. SDS Models did a great job with these, and they were amazing to weather.

Click here to view the 80+ models I am offering for sale.

Of course if you're willing to hunt through all of the items from my own lifetime railway collection, then click here to view all of my listings. Once more I'm pushing towards 800 listings, as last week alone I sold over 250 items which kept me busy by going to the post office everyday for over a week! 

And just like the label on a bottle of Jack Daniels.... Non genuine without my signature.

For my own record...

Models sold 68/114

Weathered by Philden Showcase 11

Now to wrap up my final showcase of models I have weathered during the course of 2022. Along with weathering my own fleet of model railway rollingstock, I also weathered a further 105 models which I made available for sale through my eBay page. Why? Simply because I couldn't have the weathering book that I will produce next year filled only with whatever you'll find running on my small switching layout.

There are 40+ weathered models still available through the link at the bottom of this post, plus a further 60+ mostly Australian models that I either don't need to weather now that I have enough material for the book, or am just selling now that I have a core roster for my layout. As I've scrapped plans indefinitely to start another layout beyond Philden Street Yard, it's just become too much money tied up in projects. Some domestic grain hoppers were the final aquisition for 'The Yard', while a sound equipped 81 Class or BL Class locomotive next year remain the only further models I'm interested in. That won't happen however until I've put all the money I outlayed for my weathering project back into our holiday account.

This SDS Models NSW BHG Guards Van converted into a works vehicle was one of my finest efforts.

These long sold out Auscision Models NSW NLKY's were going to be for myself, until I deemed that I already had enough louvered vans for my switching layout.

And another NLKY van with subtle differences in the weathering and rust spots.

Another SDS Models NSWGR way & works van, this time the yellow Electrical Branch Van.

An Austrains NSW KKG Horse Box van with a very dirty navy roof.

And another Austrains KKG Horse Box. I now think I've done enough of these!

I'd like to say I learnt a few new tricks along the way. However, there were just so many long established methods of weathering rollingstock that continue to work well without needing to reinvent the wheel. Practice it seems is still the key to pleasing results. My end opinion is that the best results are often derived from trying to correct mistakes. Perhaps the extra time we put into bringing a model back from the brink of disaster is what sets it apart from the rest.

While it was a fun-filled three month long project to attempt, I'd like to think I'm done with weathering models for the forseeable future! I've garnered enough material for what I'd now like to write, and only need to move on the remaining 40 or so models that are occupying space in my study. I'm sure in time they'll all disappear, but... if you'd like to add a model to your collection I wouldn't hesitate before the year is through or you might miss out!

There's 100+ models both new and weathered available while they last!

Thanks for browsing through my collection of weathered models. I thought sharing the pictures here may be of interest to some, and I'll need a full book to explain how I was able to achieve results like these. The best thing about placing the pictures up on my blog, is that I'll have a record of some of the models that won't make it into the book.

And once more, these C.O.A. ensures you are getting a genuine weathered by Philden model.

For my own record...

Models sold 57/105