Weathering...
 

I am looking to cut my teeth on weathering and I am interested in hearing what the current preferred techniques are. Initially my plan was to brush acrylic paint on the panel lines and wipe them off. I also stumbled upon paint washing and also a technique using eyeshadow thinned with glass cleaner. Then of course there is air brushing.

What at is your favorite weathering technique?

There is a very good tutorial/thread here on RCU made by the guy who weathered Ali's 1/4 scale FEJ F-16. It used a combination of methods.

Can't remember who the guy was.

My latest project is the Xtreme Skymaster F-18F. Using an airbrush I used a combination of the dark Gray, mixed with Black and Yellow to highlight the panel lines and make it look dirty, looks like rust and oil.

Of course the biggest problem with weathering is over doing it and I think using straight Black for weathering is a bad idea in most cases.

The pictures do not show the weathering very well, in person it looks pretty convincing. Not shown is the bottom under the engines and behind the gear doors is where most of the dirt accumulated.

Less is more!

Luke
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2200064http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2200065

I have had good luck with artists chalk. Buy a multi pack like the one shown for about $15. Pick the appropriate color(s) and use a piece of cloth to rub it where you want weathering....panel lines, streaks behind hinge lines and fuel caps for example. You can vary the darkness and amount by how much you apply. When you are done, spray it lightly with a flat clear coat to seal.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2200063
Here's how it looks on my A-10.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2200066

I like acrylic paints. Black browns. Wipe on and wipe off with damp rag. Wet sand with fine paper to remove more if needed. Here are 2 examples one very dirty and one air force not so much

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2200076http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2200077http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2200078http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2200079http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2200080http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=2200081

Google "Pinnacle Aviation uk"...loads of great YouTube videos available ����

Word to the wise, and someone already mentioned it.

I've photographed a lot of great looking jets at events, I've seen a few lose something by the weathering being way over done.

This thread has some detail on the weathering of My BV F-100.. My first real scale jet! From the bottom of page 3 on. http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-j...bvm-hun-3.html

I used a combination of Airbrush, artist oils, dry paint pigments, and guess work.. I learned a some techniques from the very good RCJI Articles that Sean Mchale wrote.

My subject was a well used Vietnam combat veteran. These plane were dirty.

Roger,
glad you found the articles helpful and trusted them on your f-100. Looks great!

ive put a few tips on my site under tips and techniques if it's of interest to folks. Thanks

http://www.strictlyscale.com/home.html

I asked my dad once about weathering. His response was exactly this, "less is more". People that weather there airplanes will know that is a true fact.

Simplicity is such a great concept!

Model Master make an airbrush paint " jet exhaust ", I have used that with good success. As stated, black just does not look right.

There are several tried and true methods but also consider the fact that aircraft sit parked more than they fly. Sitting outside they have more subtle weathering than you think. It's cool to just model the flying streaks but that's not accurate.
Use a combination of techniques to achieve both static and flying weathering as layers which will look more authentic.