noob guide to weathering

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Techniques
1

im a total noob when it comes to weathering is there a sticky guide to it i dont know the 1st thing about it search hasnt been overly usefull as the threads iv found are a little adv anced for me im after advice for ships and aircraft

ps are flat coats straight forward ie when all the paints done just spray the whole model with a clear coat? or do you spray it with clearcoat before assembly??

2

Check out these sites for some guides:

http://www.swannysmodels.com/Weathering.html

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/ (tools and tips section)

http://www.cybermodeler.com/tips/painting.shtml

As to your question about flat coats: I first paint the model, then put on a shiny clear coat, then a wash and then a flat coat the seal the wash.

3

thanks for the reply mate do you do the flat coats during building or after?

4

I build the model (except small parts like antennas and landing gear), smooth all the seams, then I paint the model. I do not paint the model before building.

5

Agreed, build the major assembly first, fix all seams, remove all smudges/stray scratches, seal all areas to avoid overspray, wipe the model clean of all oils and fingerprints then paint followed by a gloss clear coat. This is for decal application, also some types of weathering work better on glossy surfaces. Decal first then apply washes, once you have taken care of any decal silvering then you can flat clear coat. Pastels are great for weathering certain effects and need a non-glossy surface to adhere best, but they are fragile so you will need to either seal again (possibly changing the tone of the pastels) or leave it alone and remember not to touch those areas. For washes I use both the DETAILER and PROMODELER washes, but you can also make your own homebrew (search for sludge wash), these two washes seem to work best on a semi gloss surface. If you get into post-shading with your airbrush you can do that before the clear coats.

I would recommend perusing the detailed build articles on HS, ARC, and MM for what those individuals did, you will get many options and see techniques that appeal to you. Good luck!