How to Make a Model Train Look Weathered

Dip a dry paint brush into paint in the appropriate color for the effect you're trying to accomplish. Wipe off the brush on a paper towel to remove most of the paint. Brush the paint lightly onto the train or building from top to bottom, leaving streaks on the object. Use a reddish color for rust, black for oil and gray for stains from exhaust. Don't cover the entire object. Instead, focus on just a few areas.

Use a wash to weather textured surfaces on train cars and buildings. Mix together one part paint to 10 parts paint thinner. Brush the paint lightly over the surface you're weathering. The paint will settle into low spots and rub off of the raised parts, leaving a weathered look.

Thin gray paint with paint thinner and add it to an airbrush. Spray the paint over the object you're weathering in a side-to-side motion. The airbrush provides a light coating. Brown paint can also be used to create a dirty look.

Apply graffiti stickers to the sides of buildings in a city area or to the sides of rail cars. Spray the graffiti lightly with gray paint from the airbrush to fade the colors a little and blend in the edges of the sticker to hide them.

Rub the sides of buildings or rail cars with sand to create scratches and a more worn look. You can also create a mixture of very fine sand and water to put into the airbrush to gently sandblast objects for your model railroad.

Paint a rusty color on parts of a train car or building that's typical to rust, such as train wheels, bolts and metal siding. Rust spots can extend beyond these areas a little.

Rub a knife along a piece of chalk to create a pile of chalk dust. Sprinkle the dust over the train car or building you're weathering. Spray the area with clear model lacquer finish. The finish hold the dust in place.