I like to weather my models. I get a lot of satisfaction from turning a pristine engine or wagon into a filthy, dirty rust-heap! Of course, not everything on my layout is weathered like that. Some things are weathered with a great deal of restraint. However up until recently I have simply gone ahead and weathered everything how I see fit.
I like the looks of the new Bachmann BR Standard 5, No 73030. According to the review in BRM it is suitable for a post November '55 period. This will suit my layout, which is built to cater for three time periods - 1906, 1936 & 1956.
So here is my point ("ah.... finally", I hear you all sigh). How quickly did steam engines get dirty? How often were they cleaned? I can imagine that top link express engines were cleaned weekly, but how dirty were they after a week? If I assume that 73030 was shopped in November '55 and came out squeaky clean, how dirty would it likely be by May '56, assuming its use as a hardworking mixed traffic engine?
-- Enzo
I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.