My layout is nearly ready for some scenery so in preparation I've started experimenting with different painting and weathering techniques on my structures to try and achieve realistic results.  My current side project is coming up with a repeatable technique to create the look of an old, weather beaten brick factory that are common to the New York City area that I'm modeling.  The image below gives a decent idea of the look I'm after (which is ironically in Oslo; used with permission of the site host): 

To anyone who has  one of these.  I got side stepped in my decoder tester build when I wanted to run mine. 

Beware the rear light. It is incandescent and generates enought heat to damage the freight car body. Mine was  damaged. Concor is sending a replacement. in the mean time I replaced the incandescent with a warm white LED.  The Pierce-Arrow  car body has a, confirmed,  warm white LED so no damage in view.

February 17th, 2011 we will be moving into our new location in Bloomington, Mn.

The new headquarters will have a crew lounge for watching DVD's & videos, workshop area for individuals to work on their projects, car and locomotive maintainence bench, and 25x17 layout room with air conditioning and heat :))  lighting in the ceiling and the walls have already been painted. The floor has been painted a medium gray too.  

First things First;

 I just "stumbled in" to this web site and am pleased to have joined. Very informative and I will be using information from here as I finally put my "paper dream layout" I have been carrying around for 30 years into lumber and trackwork. Yes, I'm a retired person who has been "in the hobby" almost all my life and now have the chance to do more than dream and draw.