Hobbies And Interests
Painting
When building a brass model train, a collector may want to paint the exterior of the model train to give it a brand new look. When painting a model train, it is important to paint in thin layers. A thin layer dries quicker. To speed up the drying process, a collector can put a brass model train in the oven for about two hours on a low setting. Enthusiasts recommend testing out the paint on an older model first, in case anything goes wrong.
Weathering
To give a brass model train a weathered look, a train collector can use a variety of methods and techniques. Different paint colors can be mixed together to create specific looks. For instance; to give a steam locomotive a weathered look, a collector can mix 70 percent black paint with 20 percent white paint and 5 percent boxcar red. It is important to use the right mix of paint to achieve a weathered look on your brass model trains.
Enhancements
Brass trains can be built with a variety of enhancements. It is important to know which manufacturers produce which enhancements. Some of these enhancements include operating doors and hatches and tiny windows on the train that open and close. If a person is working on doing these enhancements himself, he should know which enhancements work on which model train sets.
Collecting
While some people have a desire to build or enhance brass model trains, most people are interested in them as collector items. Since most brass model trains are handmade ̵2; whether built by an enthusiast or a manufacturer ̵2; they are expensive items to buy and can be worth a lot of money. Some brass model train sets are worth between $5,000 and $10,000, at the time of publication. Collectors of these trains are passionate about the creation of the trains, and they enjoy the fact that not as many brass model train sets are in production today.