WEATHERINGSCALE

AIRCRAFT

Quick Techniques andTips on Weathering

Model Aircraft

By Randy FieldsIPMS#13710

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WEATHERING SCALE AIRCRAFT

January Fort Crook SeminarWeathering scale aircraft is a matter of personal preference and interpretation. Some modelersmay want a pristine model, just as it was delivered from the factory. I prefer to finish my modelsto represent the way they looked during a particular time in the aircraft’s history. If the aircraft Iam modeling was involved in a combat role and suffered from the day to day rigors of combat, climateand maintenance, I want to capture that look in the most realistic way possible.

If you are planning to weather your model it is important to study your reference material and notethe look of the aircraft. How did it weather? Note the exhaust stains, oil, fuel and hydraulic leaks,wear from maintenance, fading from adverse weather conditions, etc. In most cases, the groundcrews were more focused on the aircraft’s combat reliability than it’s overall look. Pristine aircraftwith polished finishes were usually for PR purposes. However, in some cases, crew chiefs did polishthe aircraft to gain additional speed. So, it is important to study your reference material.

Over the next few pages you will find a number of ways to create weathered effects on model air-craft. I model 1/48th scale aircraft. The same techniques will work in other scales as well. However,remember that the scale you build in will determine the amount of visible weathering. The larger thescale of the model the more apparent the weathering effects will become.

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STARTING OUT, OVERALL PAINTINGOnce the model is painted with the base colors you canproceed with the weatheringprocess...Dust the uppersurfaces (wings, horizon-tal stabilizers, top offuselage) with the basecolor lightened 10 to 15%with white. This lighter shaderepresents fading from sunlight and promotes a “scale effect” bringing morelife to the model.

NOTEIf the model you are weathering has fabric coveredcontrol surfaces, lighten your dusting color slightlywhen spraying the fabric surfaces. They usually faded ata faster rate when compared to the surrounding metal sur-faces. Do this only on the upper surfaces that receive strongsunlight.

DUST UPPER WINGS AND FUSELAGEWITH LIGHTENED BASE COLOR

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AIRBRUSHING PANEL INTERIORSStart by mixing your interior panel color slightly lighterthan the base color. The paint should be thinned to awater consistency (approximately 50/50 paint/thinner)and tested on a spare wing or piece of plastic. Spraylight coats to achieve a subtle blend between the interiorand exterior edges of the panel.

Use an index card as a guide holding it slightly abovethe edge of the panel. Mist the thinned paint overthe edge of the card towards the middle of thepanel. Finish each panel by moving the card to eachpanel edge highlighting the center of each panel.

The distance you hold the card away from the panel willdetermine the subtleness of the blend from the panelsedge to the middle of the panel.

ACCENT PANEL LINES with AIRBRUSHThis creates the same effect as the first process, but is applied ina reverse manner. I find this my favorite method for highlightingpanels. If you make a mistake, you can correct it by just over-spraying the area with the base color.

Start by cutting a 1/16th inch wide by 2 to 3 inch wide slit inan index card. This is the mask that will be positioned overthe panel lines. Mix your paint as in the first process,but instead of making it lighter, darken the the shadeby about 10 to 15%.

Hold the card slightly above the panel line and mist on alight coat of your darkened base color. Take your time andwork slowly, remember, it is much easier to add paint enhancing theaccent effect than to go back and repaint the area.

3 x 5 or Larger Index Cardwith slot cut in center

ACCENTING PANELSMany aircraft show a definite weathering effect on paneledsurfaces, especially surfaces that are continually exposedto sunlight. Carrier based aircraft especially suffer fromthis effect. Duplicating this look can be accomplished in anumber of ways...• HIGHLIGHTING PANEL INTERIORS (AIRBRUSH)• ACCENTING PANEL LINES (AIRBRUSH)• MULTI COLOR SCHEME PANEL ACCENTS (AIRBRUSH)• DRY-BRUSHING PANEL INTERIORS

3 x 5 or Larger Index CardNote: Tape a two or three pennies to the bottom of the card.

This will keep the card a consistent distance from the surfaceand keep the card from fluttering.

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MULTI COLOR CAMOUFLAGE SCHEMESBoth the prior processes work fine on solid color or closely related color schemes (F-16 grays forexample). However, when you have a camouflage scheme that combines two or more diverse colorsit becomes difficult to highlight the panels or accent the panel lines using just one color. And, it isdifficult to blend different colorswhen highlighting panels or accent-ing panel lines.

This unique process, adopted froma Tamiya Magazine article, solvesthe problem. Start by preparingthe model for painting, just as younormally would. Before you applythe color scheme,accent all thenecessarypanel...

lines with flatblack using the

panel line accentmethod. Once the paint

is thoroughly dry proceedto apply the color scheme in

very light coats. The blackpaint first applied will darken

the panel lines consistentlyacross the camouflage scheme.

NOTE:You can tape pennies to the bottom of theindex card to adjust the width and softnessof the accented panel line. The pennies will helpkeep the panel accent look consistent as longas you keep the air pressure and amount ofpaint you are misting over the card even. I liketo use heavy cards or tape 2-3 together.

Pennies tapedto the bottomof card

Under-shadingpanel lines forlight and multi-color schemes

APPLYING DECALSAt this point apply decals in your normal fashion. If

you gloss your aircraft prior to applying the decals itwill be necessary to apply a coat of clear flat over the

decals and let it thoroughly dry before proceeding.

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TOOLS & PRODUCTS• GOOD QUALITY SMALL BRUSH• GOOD QUALITY ARTIST OILS

RAW UMBER - GRAYRAW SEPIA - GREEN

• ODORLESS TURPENOID• Q-TIPS / SOFT CLOTHS

NOTE: Use slightlydarker shades formoving parts orAccess panels

ACCENTING AIRCRAFT PANEL LINES AND CONTROL SURFACESThe next step in weathering is highlighting access panels, doors,intakes, cowl flaps and control surfaces. Some people like accent everypanel line in a color that is in stark contrastto the base color (Dark brown or gray againsta light gray base). This is considered ok bycontest judges ok but, in my opinion, it ismore realistic to subtly accent panel linesand control pieces or panels that open, closeor move.

Once the base color of the aircraft has driedit must be sealed. I use Testors DullcoatLacquer. The application of this clear dullcoat acts as a barrier between the oilsand the enamel or acrylic base paints. Oncethe barrier is thoroughly dry (overnight), youare ready to accent the panel lines.

Thin the desired color of artist oil paints towater consistency with turpenoid. Using afine brush just touch the recessed panel lineor area to be highlighted. Capillary action willpull the thinned oils around the panels or recesses.

I recommend using a quality artist oil paint to accent panellines and recesses. I use dark browns, greens or grays, neverblack. Black creates to harsh of contrast. Using good quali-ty oil paints with their fine grain pigments allows the model-er to thin the paint to water consistency and still not breakdown the color.

Don’t worry if you make a mistake or the oils bleed out-side of the panel line. Allow the oil to set up and proceedto use a Q-tip or soft cloth dampened with turpenoid tolightly wipe the area clean. The turpenoid and oils shouldnot harm the enamel or acrylic base colors.

NO STEP

NOTE: Use slightlylighter shades of

oils to accentstandard panel

lines

FABRIC COVERED SURFACESFabric surfaces on wings and control surfaces will weather at a different rate than the surroundingmetal panels. You can leave the finish painted a lighter shade as indicated on the section on paintingthe aircraft. However to enhance the effect further you can bring out the fabric texture usingartist oils and dry brushing to simulate this aging effect.

NOTEWhen dry-brushing fabric coveredareas use a cross hatching tech-nique. this will help emphasize thetexture of the fabric.

TOOLS & PRODUCTS• GOOD QUALITY BRUSH• TITANIUM WHITE ARTIST OILS

CHIPPED AND WORN PAINTCombat aircraft are prone to chipped and worn paint do to maintenance, prop and jet blast andthe rigors of combat. This must be handled very subtly otherwise it will look like it was painted onrather than paint chipping and worn away with use revealing the bare metal of the aircraft.

Use a small fine brush and take your time applying a stippled effect on and around the desiredareas such as leading wing edges, props, fasteners, access panels, cockpit entries etc. I preferusing Testors Chrome Silver for the effect. IMPORTANT: Study reference pictures of your subject!

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TOOLS & PRODUCTS• GOOD QUALITY BRUSH• TESTORS CHROME SILVER

NOTE:Once the weathering is finished,make sure the chipped and wornareas are over-sprayed with adull coat finish. The metalrevealed by chips and wear willalways have a dull sheen.

OIL, FUEL AND HYDRAULIC LEAKS AND STAINSCombat aircraft reveal numerous stains and leaks from fuels, oils and hydraulic systems. Makesure any stains and leaks follow the air flow on the fuselage or wings.

OIL LEAKSUse dark brown artist oil. Put asmall thinned amount on the spotwhere the leak starts and using aclean brush or Q-tip pull the leakback in the direction of the air flow.

HYDRAULIC LEAKSUse a thinned red/brown artist oil.Put a small thinned amount onthe spot where the leak startsand using a clean brush or Q-tippull the leak back in the directionof the air flow.

FUEL LEAKS/SPILLSUse a very thinned solution ofbrown artist oils (water consis-tency). Put a small amount on thespot where the leak starts andusing a clean brush or Q-tip pullthe leak back in the direction ofthe air flow.

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TOOLS & PRODUCTS• QUALITY SMALL BRUSH

• QUALITY ARTIST OILSOIL: . . . . . . . . . .RAW UMBERHYDRAULICS: . .SEPIAFUEL: . . . . . . . . .RAW SEPIA

• ODORLESS TURPENOID• Q-TIPS / SOFT CLOTHS

NOTEStudy your reference materialand note where the leaks andstains appear. Engine cowlings,fuel caps, landing gear bays anddrop tanks are extremely dirtyand show stains and leaks.

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GUN BLASTSNormally, guns that aremounted in the wings offighters left black powderresidue across the wing. Youcan use an airbrush withthinned flat black paint orpastels blended with a Q-tipto simulate this blastresidue. Once again, makesure the blasts match theair-flow over the wing sur-face. Study your referencematerial!

EXHAUST STAINSWhen recreating exhaust stains, itis important to study your refer-ence material. Note how theexhaust follows the airflow andcontours over the fuselage orengine nacelle.

Use a combination dark brown,gray and Testors Metalizer“Exhaust” and “Burnt Metal” tosimulate exhaust stains dependingon the aircraft being modeled.

Mask off the area around theexhaust stacks and lightly spraya light shade of Black Exhaust orBurt Metal for the base. Thenusing brown on the inside areasand finishing with a gray immedi-ately behind the exhaust stacks.

NOTEExhaust stains are not all black...the gasses exiting the engine are hot and cause paint to discolor,turning brown or even white from the heat.

You can find more pictures on the web at www.hyperscale.com

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MORE EXAMPLES...Here are more examples of what I feel are excellentweathering techniques.

NOTE:the subtle shading on panellines on this Iraqi MiG-21

NOTE:the worn and chipped paint onthe cowling of this Oscar

NOTE:the subtle weathering on thesides of this model