Weathering decals?

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Having pre and post shaded my Academy 109, to give it a care worn appearance, I need to do something with the decals to age them a little.

What’s the best way of doing this?

Airbrushing them with a little buff prior to application to take the edge off a bit.

Airbrushing the entire airframe after decal application with buff to blend it all in, like the ‘filters’ that the armour guys apply?

Or perhaps a dusting with pastels, which I’ve never used before?

Any ideas welcome.

Yes! I know this should have gone in the Decal forum, but seeing as there are only about 10 topics in there, I thought I’d have more luck here!

Thanks

Karl

2

You should try weathering AFTER you put the decals on, like swanny does. You gotta get the decals to snuggle down real nice so they go into the panles lines. I’m not sure how to weather decals like you need to, sorry!

3

I have had pretty good luck with pastel chalk on decals.

Darwin, O.F. [alien]

4

I do the same thing yardbird does. Best part, as opposed to Airbrushing is if ou mess up, you can wipe it off witha damp cloth

5

Heya Karl.

I found out that ABing a diluted color over the entire aircraft does the trick. When I built my Malta spit a while back I weathered the the paint job and decals by going over it all with a highly thinned layer of buff, but that was because the colors where dark earth and mid stone and the region the plane was in is hot and dry, so sun and sandblasting woulda been the weathering for it.
I am working on a FW 190 right now and I intend to do the same idea but using a highly thinned grey for the weather. It all depends on the colors and where the plane was.

6

The colour depends on where your subject is:like a sandy yellow for in the desert, so you really have to think about what your trying to show in this weathering like if the planes reasonably new[less weathering and fading] or if its been battling hard at the fronts without a break[more fading and weathering].
As for the physical weathering I usually find using both AB and pastel can create equally effect weathering effects, but to find out which is best for you you need to prctice to see which style you like and can achieve with good results!

7

I use a thin line of german grey and follow the panel lines the same way
you would preshade…use a light dusting and it should give you
the look you’re after.

Go a little at a time a be neat…you can always do more after it dries

Don’t over do it a lot goes far in this area…

Good luck,
Doug

8

One thing you can try, as long as the decals are not too fragile, is micromesh. A very fine grade will start to take off the highlights on raised areas, rivets etc, just as if the paint of the marking is wearing away.
Pete

9

Guys thanks for all the guidance and ideas.

I think I’ll pick up some pastels at lunchtime from a local art shop and have a play over the weekend on one of my R&D airframes (Read cocked up builds).

The aircraft I’m modelling was coming to the end of it’s service life at the point modelled, having served in all the campaigns from Poland to France, and so would have been pretty well worn.

Pete I’ll give the micromesh a try as well.

Jeff I’ve read about the AFV guys using a filter coat, mainly because I’m working on my first AFV, so I’ll be giving it a go next week as well.

Many thanks

Karl

10

As others have mentioned, the use of pastels will give you a great look. But it is very important… don’t get oil pastels… you want chalk pastels

11

Marc I’ve just got back from the artshop, and all they had were oil pastels!

Looks like I’ll be ordering some online instead.

Karl