Val, I have tried blackening solutions but the results are not always the subtile effect I'm looking for. As a professional custom painter for 10 years, I prided myself on my weathering and striving to make it look authentic. I can't hold a candle to the craftsman who do the logging, narrow gauge etc but that was not my nitch. Most of my customers (and personal modeling) has been more mainline power. Thus the blackening MAY work or be approriate on the "rust bucket" power but I have my doubts. I stand pat on my bead blasting technique although I realize it is drastic for many.