Weathering my VaporettoThis is an account for this model,( Vaporetto) as all are subject to different approaches depending on the result wanted.
In this instance ( Vappy) only 2 colours were used, both Railmatch enamel railway modellers colours,
Weathered black & Brake dust and a
good deal of enamel thinners.
Basically I select a brush size suited to the model as best I can in this case a Humbrol (soft) No 8 which gives quick area coverage.
Always using the lightest colour first, the Brake dust enamel is loaded heavily onto the brush, and liberally brushed on to the rubbing strake on one side, the effect is dramatic at this point, and can be horrific to those not used to seeing my process !!
I next load the brush from the
thinners bottle, and working quickly 'soak' all the applied Brake dust, and continue with this until it runs around/into the seams and joints of the body/rubbing strake joint.( just as gravity would on a full size vessel)
Followed by a
wipe of the whole lot with a soft cotton cloth, which
has the effect of removing 95% of the paint/thinners mixture, leaving the welded seams with a line of rust, and the brackets/lower side etc a faint coating.
The brackets and other details are then touched in with a thinners wet brush and a little paint, the downward stains using the same method only this time with cotton buds.
When happy with the result, It is left to dry overnight (enamel needs time to harden otherwise you will just remove what you have applied)
The Weathered black was applied using the same method, of course the application is different by default alone.... the streaks from the windows rubbers are applied with a thin brush as a black line about 1mm wide, then each one is 'wet' applied with thinners (makes the line run downward) ..next I wipe away the surplus with a number of cotton buds, and my fingers, finally wiping in a downward stroke with a cloth.
Finally, as you will probably have streaks that are a little wide, take a clean, small brush, dipped in clean thinners, and brush out the wider edges, wiping with a combination of cotton buds and a cloth as you go.
The best of using enamels and thinners, is you have a long working time, and can remove/add as you go.
Acrylic I personally don't like for weathering as it both dries far to fast, and is too hard to quickly.
I hope this is of value, all I can really say is have a go, you will surprise yourself, oh and one more thing, work from pictures of the 'result' you want.... as my old school art mistress said to me
"paint what you see, not what you think you see" .... think about it ;o)
Steve