Weathering of models

starbuck

Well-Known Member
Hi,
most important at plastic models is the weathering to create a realistic result.

I got the Falcon of Episode VII and tried to make a weathering on it. It is my fist attempt.

Please do not hesitate to send comments, tips and tricks of links to create a helpful thread related to weathering.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1552.JPG
    IMG_1552.JPG
    1.2 MB · Views: 15
  • IMG_1553.JPG
    IMG_1553.JPG
    1.3 MB · Views: 13
  • IMG_1554.JPG
    IMG_1554.JPG
    1.3 MB · Views: 14

Revell-Fan

Co-Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
The first rule is: The smaller the scale the lesser the weathering. I learned that the hard way when I was weathering the little Snowspeeders that came with the mpc AT-AT kit. I painstakingly re-created the weathering using screenshots and pictures of the original filming miniatures. The result looked like a piece of coal. :hammerhead:

Some of the best weathering vids on YT I know are the ones by Stefan Hacker (from the German SciFi modeling forum Phoxim):





 

subnuke

Banned
In my opinion, weathering is best when you pattern it after a picture that frames the subject to reflect the scale of the model. I also believe it is important to think about what would be happening to the real subject to justify the weathering. That is why I think the vast majority of weathering seen on models, mostly plastic models, is unrealistic.

Hold you model at arm's length. Visualize a picture taken of your subject. Find a picture that looks similar. Study the picture and look for weathering patterns. Reproduce and simulate. Also, think about what your model subject normally does or has done recently.

You are greatly helped by this model being a movie subject. Just look over shots of the subject and you are good to go. Remember on this model that the subject flies in space and atmosphere. Smoke and liquids would flow aft. It sits a lot and gets damaged. That would call for paint scrapes and mismatched panel colors.

I would suggest your darker colors be a little more subtle. You can brush over some of your darker areas with a slightly darker tone of the original color to try to lighten the smudges. I would think dark smudges would occur around the edges of panels, to represent maintenance. Those six big ducts on the aft end of the ship probably emitted some smoke, so stains that trail aft and fade would look good. Dark colors in the crevices highlight depth in the model. After you get some dark in there, go back over the higher parts with a slightly darker version of the original color to bring back the depth illusion.

Don't just go dark. You also need highlights. Anywhere there is dark, add a little light. Light colors also illustrate paint chips.

You're off to a good start. Experiment with dark, color, and highlight until it looks right. Try for subtle. You already know something of highlights and shadows from your drawings. Painting these models is no different.
 

starbuck

Well-Known Member
@ subnuke: thx for your detailed comment. These are great tips.

Another question to all: Which material do you use for weathering?
 

Rhaven Blaack

!!!THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
I moved this thread to Tips, Tutorials & Tools so that it will be easier access.
 

Revell-Fan

Co-Administrator
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
Everything which can be thinned down and applied with a brush: water colours, oils colours (should be best - but do not use these on Bandai's AT-ST!), acrylics, even graphite dust (from a pencil). There are special weathering sets with suitable colours. I have one from Revell ( ;) ! ). Enamel is said to be very difficult to work with.

There are also sets and tuts to produce real rust.
 
Top