Paint Realistic Weathered Aircraft

In this video I demonstrate how I use black basing to distress and fade the paint on model aircraft. The sound issue is fixed in this version.
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Music by Ketsa: www.ketsa.co.uk

[@seansky2721]

It interests me that this technique makes weathering appear to come from underneath the final finish. Weathering occurs on the surface of the finish in real life. Models being smaller versions of actual objects would weather in the same fashion. It appears to me this undercoating makes your model airplane look as if your airbrush technique is random or sloppy by the time it's all done. Yuck.

[@ModelAirplaneMaker]

The finish of the model reflects what I wanted to imitate. In this case, I wanted a used, sun-bleached zero based in the Solomons. The technique is somewhat about weathering but it is more about showing paint wear by breaking up the solid color. Ultimately it is about creating some visual interest on the model. That the final product looks sloppy or random is entirely the point.

[@tyeguthrie1430]

Again like others have said , i am returning to my childhood hobby , which was as a 12 or 13 yr old in the 70s , but such big changes from then to now and to be honest its mind boggling , i have just started buying all the kit i may need for various builds of now and future back in the day airbrushes were not available i now have several airbrushes and a 3 ltr mini comp but unfortunately it does not allow me to change pressure and so i am spraying with it at 20 to 25 pressure which after watching your excellent video tells me i need to get another compressor that allows me to change the pressure , so until i can save up enough to buy one the weathered look will remain a dream for future builds , but your video was very informative and clear and easy to follow so thankyou for the time you have given to help newbies like me out .

[@JOJC86]

Awesome work. Returned to my childhood hobby after 24 years and so much changed in this space. Trying to grasp all techniques and get my head around all new finishing products. Great video. Much appreciate for sharing ❤

[@thepiratepenguin4465]

I have learned something new today, the results are both beautiful & realistic.

[@darktitan3025]

Ive been building Gundam models but recently decided to get a 1/48 Macross plane and im going to use this technique on it (after practicing on a few other models of course, dont wanna mess up an expensive model)

[@TXGRunner]

This audio is much better. I will try this technique. Thanks for excellent tutorial. Keep making videos.

[@TheGreywulff]

Thanks for fixing this very good video. Tried it out on a P-38 that I'm working on. It's a bit of a learning curve. It's definitely a technique that I will continue to work on 😊

[@ModelAirplaneMaker]

Glad it helped! The nice thing about it is that you are supposed to be somewhat messy and blotchy as fading is not uniform. The part I found difficult is knowing when to put the airbrush down when applying the top coats! You can always add more....

[@Flingwing24]

Thank you for that. Fascinating. Back into modelling thanks to lockdown and getting to grips with air brushing. Brilliant.

[@AirandGroundinScale]

Very nice and clean build up of the final layer. Great job!!!

[@Rashomon00]

Your videos are excellent! Thanks for what you do!

[@ModelAirplaneMaker]

Thank you so much!

[@RobPearlman]

Great Video. Keep up the good work.

[@billhays9339]

Nice video ! just subbed and looking forward to new vids

[@muratakgun1980]

Thanx for the video, is there any recommendations for airbrush brand or needle size?

[@mpierrela]

Thanks.

[@darrenburgess9367]

Could you recommend color choices, particularly for Corsair which will be a dark top blue?

[@dixieflyer500]

I've been thinking about doing this. As it happens, I'm in the middle of building two Tamiya Zeroes, but in 1/72nd. I'm just wondering if the effect will be worth the effort on something so small.

[@ModelAirplaneMaker]

Definitely - I've seen it on 72nd spitfires and they look amazing. That said, you will have to be very careful and take your time on blending!

[@soureel]

It's not stated, but it seems that your primer coat was gloss black and you filled in the panels with mottling. Supposed I start with a gray primer, and then add dark gray and beige squiggles over the entire model. THEN cover all the panel lines with black, varying the intensity and width of the line as I go. Seems it might be easier than trying to staying with in the panel area for mottling each panel.

[@ModelAirplaneMaker]

I think you’ll end up in the same place. But you’ll have no issues with the mottling once you’ve had some practice

[@MrPeterpat]

Awesome and learned a lot. But, pray, why is there no lid on the airbrush pot? I shuddered everytime i see the paint swirl in the pot!

[@ModelAirplaneMaker]

I've yet to have an accident... but I should close it up. The problem is that I have trouble getting the cap on and off

[@billhays9339]

Question: what determines what colors the marbling should be under certain topcoats?

[@ModelAirplaneMaker]

Good question. There are two things you need to think about: How subtle do you want the marbling to be and then the 'thin-ness' of the topcoat. For the zero it was whites, greys, browns because of the grey topcoat. For an olive (USAAF) i went with greys, whites, some blues and that worked well. I have not tried it but with a blue, whites, light blues, and maybe even oranges. I'd be worried a bit about greens. My goal is always a very thin top coat and maybe two coats at most. The more the contrast, the more likely you will have to make several top coats to blend it all in.

[@mpierrela]

Casting it on a large screen TV

[@modellfrickler1883]

Any experience with other acrylics than Tamiya?

[@ModelAirplaneMaker]

Mostly tamiya but I also use Gunze for certain things and I have used Vallejo as well. Tamiya is just readily available and always consistent.

[@dixieflyer500]

.

[@ModelAirplaneMaker]

Hi there - the sound was fixed in this vid.