Putting patina look on bottom of a copper-painted Constitution hull bottom

Modeling Subjects Ships
1

Looking for suggestions for paint colors and techniques for getting a great patina look on the bottom of a copper enamel-painted Revell Constitution hull bottom. Have read of several techniques but want some current expert advise from the sages on this forum.

Thanks in advance, Bill

2

you can buy patina kits at an arts and crafts store. it’s a 2 part paint process.

3

check this out: http://www.chem.umn.edu/outreach/Card-SaltVinCopper.html

-Jesse

4

I t depends on what you mean by ‘patina.’ Copper stays ‘copper-colored’ for about five minutes when introduced to a marine environment (even while still on the stocks, the salt air will cause the creation of verdigris very quickly!). To reflect this, I have generally put a green wash over any copper bottomed model. Another trick is to put the copper-painted hull in a heavily salted water bath overnight (most copper paint uses actual copper powder as its pigment), and this will start the ‘greening’ of the hull…

5

Any suggestion as to a color of green to use? Bill

6

/forums/1003472/ShowPost.aspx

See my previous

7

I think the color to look for is ‘verdigris’…

8

Bill,

Below is a method I used on my Cutty Sark, I’ve used it every time with great results.

The lower hull painting /Corrosion detail was done in the follow manner: You must use FLOQUIL Brand Paints for this step.

  1. Coat the hull with Floquil Copper, I airbruch and prefer that methos of application, brush a brush will work in a pinch. (ONLY this brand of paint will work), let dry 24 hours.

  2. Using a #2 size brush, use Floquil Lt. Green, streak the hull in from the top of the plates to the keel in downwards strokes only.

  3. Using a #2 size brush, paint Floquil Ant. White directly over the Lt. Green, and then while the paint is still damp wash the paint down with ONLY turpentine, any other solvent is too strong. Let dry over night, the smell is not that bad, but if you work indoors on your models you will want to do this outside and let dry their.

Take a look at the hull detail in the following pictures.

Mail Album http://news.webshots.com/album/208514027pzrDjh

Detail pics. http://news.webshots.com/photo/1208521353054402330MuhHcx

http://news.webshots.com/photo/1208521966054402330jmstJp

http://news.webshots.com/photo/1208522621054402330LbTkVS

http://news.webshots.com/photo/1208522038054402330XZmGUi

Hope this helps.

Jake

9

I use the same method, only I use a #6 brush. Thus, the plates appear more green and less copper. Does using a smaller brush as you do allow for more of the copper color to show? If it does, then I suppose I’d better change to the smaller brush.

10

I use Tamiya Olive Green for the green. I find that this is the most realistic in my opinion. I apply it over the copper when well dried with a small piece of sponge dipped in water, this allows it to dry in a haze (so to speak). It takes some practice on scrap to get the technique right.

I also use Tamiya XF-6 Copper for ships hull copper, and find that you can brush paint it if the model has molded hull plates which the Constitution does. (Tamiya is generally very difficult to brush paint on a smooth surface, as it tend to roll up, you would not have that problem with your kit)