The last image won in the end, a mix of movie sub and authentic Soviet waterline pinstriping.
The weathering was, as usual, made up on the fly. This model using 'pre-shading', one of those techniques with cool names, first used by the plastic kit brigade, then hijacked by everyone else.
The plan being to darken areas of the model, panel lines and the like, BEFORE applying the top coats. The intention being to provide a subtle variation of shades, emphasising the details of the sub...well that was the plan anyway...
I started with a dark grey, thinned down wash of enamel paint. Enamels giving me a longer working time than acrylics. they can also be 'chased' into the detail with a thinners loaded brush, adding to the flexibility of the effect. This dark grey was applied with not too much subtlety, in a generally downward direction all over the sub. Building up the detail until the little voice in your head says "Stop!"