Authentic weathering

[Guest]

Hi all, could anyone tell me how to achieve authentic lookig paint chipping around panels, cockpit etc?

[stona]

That is a big question! Two simple ways. Use a silver pencil, keep it very sharp. Use paint and a very fine brush, the main trick here is NOT to use silver, it is far too bright. You can get away with aluminium (like Humbrol 57) or even grey. The most difficult bit is to keep the chips in scale!

Also, unless you have a good photo to the contrary, don't over do it!

There are other ways of achieving more extensive weathering/loss of paint as might be seen on a late war Japanese aircraft. These usually involve doing an aluminium or light base coat and then masking this whilst the top (camouflage) coat is applied.The masking can be done with all sorts of materials -liquid mask, hairspray, salt, marmite- you name it and someone will have tried it!

For more general wear, like the scuffing of paint in crew access areas, the camouflage coat may be sanded back with very fine (2000 grit) paper or similar.

I'm sure others will mention other methods I've never heard of!

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Thanks for that stona, I shall give it a go, had used silver, yeah to bright.