How to create weathering lines

ericjager · Post by **ericjager** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 8:55 am

I was wondering how I could create weathering lines like in this photo. I would like to know if there is a certain tool or brush that can be used and if I should use paint, chalk or oil to get the same result.

Would anyone care to help? I thank you in advance!

The picture

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 9:30 am

Ah, dirt, oil, & soot streaks.

I do mine with either Tamiya make-up sets or pastels & a fin brush. Dab a bit onto the brush, and gently streak down the area. The tough part is getting the damned things straight and not wobbly.

TREKKRIFFIC · Post by **TREKKRIFFIC** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:14 am

I have used two methods.

Buy black, red, silver, gold, and copper (or rust if you can find it, brown might work too in conjunction with red) gel ink pens. Spray a coat of flat lacquer on the model and let dry an hour or two. Get the ink flowing in the pen and delicately make swirls of ink where you want a stain. Alternately you can poke the pen tip to the tip if your finger and use your finger to apply the ink to the model. Wait a few seconds and go back in with a moistened microbrush to drag out the stain; you can also use your finger. When mostly dry you can lightlly rub with cotton gauze or q-tip to blend the colors.

The other method I've used more recently is Pastel chalk. I have one of the Tamiya sets with black, silver, and rust colors. Works well with a foam applicator and brush but rubs off easily. Very forgiving if you make a mistake. Great to rub in for subtle shading.

The ink method sticks better and is water based so mistakes can easliy be removed. It's less likely to rub off than pastel chalk too unless you get the ink wet. I also think it works well for long streaks. My 18" TOS Enterprise was done with gel ink pens and a pencil.

I've heard of others who use oil paints and stipling with an airbrush but I haven't tried those techniques myself.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 10:44 am

As a note, not all gel pens are water based.

eeun · Post by **eeun** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:54 am

TREKKRIFFIC wrote:I've heard of others who use oil paints and stipling with an airbrush but I haven't tried those techniques myself.

I cut my weathering teeth with oil paints, and they're still my preference. Not to imply it's the best way...just the one I know.

I gloss-coat the model with Future, and once that's cured I dab a little burnt sienna and black oil paint on the top of a margarine lid. Then, I lightly paint the area to be 'streaked' with varsol/paint thinner (don't use anything stronger like laquer thinner).

I then mix some of the oil paint with thinner, mixing the black and sienna to get the right shade, then apply a small streak to the model. because it's going on a damp surface, it'll soften a bit, and can be further softened by dragging the colour outwards with another damp brush.

For a more harsh line, I don't thin as much, and don't apply the initial thinner to the model.

I've done the same technique for sun fading and salt dust, using very thinned white oil paint.

Another advantage is a cheap tube of oil paint will seem to last forever.

ericjager · Post by **ericjager** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 12:22 am

Thank you all! Those are quite a bit of tips! I will try out a few things before applying it to my Falcon.

Mr. Badwrench · Post by **Mr. Badwrench** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 4:02 am

When using oil paints to create streaks like this, I don't actually paint the streak on, at least not at first. I'll apply a tiny gob of thinned oil paint at the "root" of the streak. Then, with a wide, flat brush, quickly draw the paint into a streak in a single, fast stroke.

Post by **TER-OR** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:39 pm

Another way to do it is to "moisten" the area with turpentine, apply a small amount of the dirty oil paint color, and streak it back with a soft brush. Don't overdo it. this will look like oil draining and carried by the airstream.

Mark Yungblut · Post by **Mark Yungblut** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:48 pm

I agree Oils or pastels are the way to go.
Also, I have used a post-it-note snuggled up against a scribed line to make it look like it leached from the seam.

Cheers,

Mark

starmanmm · Post by **starmanmm** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 4:45 pm

I have heard of putting a drop of oil paint - thinned as described- at the starting point and using your AB, place it behind the droplet and blast the air to create the streak.

Has anyone tried this?

Mr. Badwrench · Post by **Mr. Badwrench** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 1:18 am

Yes, but that doesn't really create streaks, more like runny fuel spills. And if you're not careful, it just looks like a messy airbrushing accident.

starmanmm · Post by **starmanmm** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:57 am

And if you're not careful, it just looks like a messy airbrushing accident.

Ah, you have seen my work then!

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 8:52 pm

starmanmm wrote:I have heard of putting a drop of oil paint - thinned as described- at the starting point and using your AB, place it behind the droplet and blast the air to create the streak.

Has anyone tried this?

The best way for these is a very thin wash in your medium of choice (I use water-based washes - see the washes thread for details) of 50-50 burnt umber and black diluted in the wash.

Then, with a 000 place the ip of the brush at the point of origin and draw it back away with the airflow of the craft or downward with gravity.

If you screw up, no sweat, just wipe it off.

Also, for pastels, get a biiiig honkin artists' pastel set. Apply them with eye makeup sponges and fine brushes.

I hope this helps.

Kenny