| Weathering refers to wear and tear on a model | | | | as well. |
| airplane. This may be from the elements (e.g. | | | | Pre-shading. Full-scale airplanes see lots of wear and |
| sun-faded paint), or from operational wear. The actual | | | | tear in regular use. The surface skin panels often have |
| weathering pattern will depend on the specific airplane, | | | | uneven wear, with the center of the panels becoming |
| its maintenance, and where it was operated (e.g. dusty | | | | lighter than the edges. Pre-shading can be used to |
| airfield). It's best to consult reference photos of the | | | | mimic this effect on models. |
| actual airplane, and look at them often while | | | | The panel lines on the model are darkened first, before |
| weathering the airplane. Careful application of | | | | applying any color coats. Highly thinned black or |
| weathering will greatly increase the realism of your | | | | darkened base color is airbrushed along the panel lines, |
| model, and can turn it into a show-stopper. | | | | and around the raised surface detail. The lines can be |
| Here are some typical weathering patterns and | | | | a bit uneven, as real wear is not even. The pre-shading |
| methods of applying them to your model: | | | | is then over-sprayed with the base color, without |
| Paint chipping occurs when parts of the paint layer get | | | | completely covering the pre-shaded lines. |
| removed, to reveal the underlying bare metal. This | | | | This technique can be used on any model with visible |
| often happens on heavily exposed or trafficked areas | | | | panel lines. If the model is molded in dark plastic, you |
| of the plane, e.g. wing walks, canopy frame edges and | | | | may need to apply a light-colored primer coat before |
| wing leading edges. Paint chipping can be simulated | | | | pre-shading. |
| with silver paint and a fine brush, or a silver Prismacolor | | | | Panel Fade is uneven wear of an airplane's panels. |
| pencil. Another popular method is to paint a silver base | | | | The color is usually lighter near the middle of the panel |
| coat, then apply the base color. While the base color is | | | | and darker near the edges. Paint your airplane in the |
| still somewhat wet, use masking tape to remove | | | | base color. Then add a few drops of white to the |
| sections of the paint. | | | | base color, and airbrush in the interior of a panel. Add a |
| Gun smoke stains can be added with black pastel | | | | few more drops of white, then spray near the center |
| chalk dust applied with a fine brush (blow gently in the | | | | of the panel only. Repeat this procedure for all the |
| direction of airflow to remove the excess). Pastels are | | | | panels that you want to fade. When all the panels are |
| best applied over a flat (matt) surface, so if necessary | | | | done, make a very thin mixture of the base color. |
| first paint the model with a flat clear coat. The pastels | | | | Spray a light coat of this over all the panels to tie all |
| will also need to be sealed with a clear coat. A | | | | the different color shades together. |
| convenient option that needs no sealer is to use an | | | | Post-Shading can be used instead of a panel-line |
| airbrush to make the stains. Airbrush (in the airflow | | | | wash. It involves using the airbrush and painting a fine |
| direction) a fine line of highly thinned black paint. | | | | dark band along each panel line. This is done with a |
| Engine exhaust stains can also be added with black | | | | very thin, dark color. Post-shading requires an airbrush |
| pastel chalk dust applied with a brush. To vary the | | | | capable of fairly fine lines. Thinned black can be used, |
| effect, add some dark browns or grays on top of the | | | | or a mixture of the base color with black added to it. |
| black. The airbrush can be used very effectively here | | | | |