Weathering

[sniperUK]

An interesting editorial by the editor of Scale Aircraft Modelling this month on the subject of weathering on models,I quote

"The application of weathering is very much up to the individual modeller,but something has been nagging at me for quite sometime now and ,at the risk of a little controversity ,here it is.
It seems to me that there are two schools of "serious" modeller.By serious I mean those who consistantly work to a high standard and have the ability and inclination to add weathering effects to their models.I do not include myself in in this catagory-my weathering attempts invariably result in black snail trails and a sticky mess.The two schools are those who finishes a model to look like the original-including the weathering-and the modeller who finishes a model to the way model aircraft are expected to look.These latter folk seem to be adhering to a style of finish,rather than creating a scale version of the original. I see no harm in either of these aproaches,but having seen many,many real aircraft in my time,to me a model with every panel line picked out boldly in black or brown just looks wrong."

Paul Eden"

I know what way I think;)

[shuttle]

Same here - I would prefer a very subtle finish. The IXO models are gruesome and I am not that happy with some of the HM attempts either. I tend to stick to the 'factory finish' look as used by Corgi, Witty and GA. It just looks better to me. The only weathering I am consistently happy with is the Dragon 1/72 scale diecast armour - it is very well executed.

:) Shuttle

[P51D]

Same here - I would prefer a very subtle finish. The IXO models are gruesome and I am not that happy with some of the HM attempts either. I tend to stick to the 'factory finish' look as used by Corgi, Witty and GA. It just looks better to me. The only weathering I am consistently happy with is the Dragon 1/72 scale diecast armour - it is very well executed.

:) Shuttle

Have to say I totally agree! Very pleased to see Dragon are now carrying their 'armour weathering skills' over to some of their aircraft. :) Really pleased to get mine, shame they leave the swasi off as, otherwise, it really blows the competition away!

If Dragon can keep this up (and others can replicate this standard) i am all for it! Otherwise 'factory fresh' for me every time.

http://www.flyingmule.com/products/DM-50324

[Edward Papazian]

Count me in for subtle rather than overdone weathering every time. It's not that hard to master with a little practice, BTW. I hate the toy-like factory fresh look, but at the same time, am repelled by over weathered kit-makes, whose creators seem to vie with each other on stylistic grounds---to the point where their models are laden with over adorned panel lines, exhaust stains, chipping, etc. Doesn't anyone look at pictures of the real planes, anymore?

[Craig]

Well to me, a panel wash and weathering are not the same thing. A panel wash is often used to pick out detail, but is rarely all that accurate. Subtle weathering, or even heavy weathering in some cases, however, is different. Weathering on my models tends not to stray much past exhaust staining of various kinds. How much other "dirt" does an aircraft generally pick up? If you look at a Tornado for instance the fin is generally filthy, but the rest of it hardly. All personal taste I guess!

[The Defiant Man]

Have to say I totally agree! Very pleased to see Dragon are now carrying their 'armour weathering skills' over to some of their aircraft. :) Really pleased to get mine, shame they leave the swasi off as, otherwise, it really blows the competition away!

If Dragon can keep this up (and others can replicate this standard) i am all for it! Otherwise 'factory fresh' for me every time.

http://www.flyingmule.com/products/DM-50324

The weathering on that Dragon is excellent......looks like they've done it as modellers do......dark lines underneath the paint scheme, rather than on top of it.

Prior to this, I hadn't seen what I consider to be decent weathering on a mass-produced diecast.

[Agent X20]

The original Corgi Bunker Hill Corsair was good top down..

All that brown stuff underneath looks a little too much..

Dragon is good but the markings are pristine..:(

[von hitchofen]

a polished airshow finish for me, and no excessive panel lines neither

whenever diecast manufacturers weather models it looks half-cocked [Corgi Bit'o'Lace/ Matchbox Hellcat] or excessive [Corgi Tippex 190]

[P51D]

a polished airshow finish for me, and no excessive panel lines neither

whenever diecast manufacturers weather models it looks half-cocked [Corgi Bit'o'Lace/ Matchbox Hellcat] or excessive [Corgi Tippex 190]

Agree on the examples you have given but what do you think of the Dragon 190 or the Corsair that Agent mentioned?

[von hitchofen]

never seen them, no idea

[P51D]

never seen them, no idea

http://www.flyingmule.com/products/DM-50324

Pretty much offers everything that the 'tippex Corgi 190' doesn't in terms of weathering :D

[von hitchofen]

hmmm very subtle, and no hideous orange stripe from the exhaust, like on the original Corgi Nowotny 190

its a Grunherz....I may have to obtain one....