Once seen as a niche practice, the craft of weathering has now become firmly rooted in the railway modelling mainstream.  Not simply a means of rendering models in layers of dirty paint, weathering involves myriad techniques aimed at improving realism, including distinctive surface textures, highlights and shading, burnishing and peeling paint finishes.  The weathering process brings out the best in a model, making moulded relief or a lustrous livery really stand out.  As well as replicating the real world more closely, weathering also helps a model to look at home within a scenic setting.