Whats the right order

[Peej]

I am close to completing 2 aircraft but a bit confused with what order to do things. When the model is made and painted do I weather then gloss varnish, decal, and finally matt varnish. Never weathered before so I am going to have a bash.

Thanks guys.

[Alan 45]

Some weather before some weather after it's up to you , I usually weather after I've put my decals on so you can weather the decal after the matt coat but I have done it the other way around it depends on what sort of weathering you going to do

[Peej]

Thanks Alan. Not sure what weathering I will end up doing yet. I'm going to have a go on a cheap Hurricane for my 1st victim. Will post pics when I get it done.

[Guest]

I gloss varnish first.

Firstly so thatIi can weather and if it is not as expected it is easy to remove comparative to not glossing.

Then I place the decals. That is unless the decals are on top of the weathering then I gloss varnish again.

I leave the decals to last of all.

Laurie

[Alan 45]

Thanks Alan. Not sure what weathering I will end up doing yet. I'm going to have a go on a cheap Hurricane for my 1st victim. Will post pics when I get it done.

A hurry , now I'm really interested I look forward to to seeing it

[Guest]

I don't want to confuse you...ops: but I think you should stick the decals first and then add the weathering over. Is the "logical" order I suppose...the real plane is build and paint on the factory, then arrives the day by day working and weathering....

Anyway each plane has his history and you must know what is your idea and intention about it

You can try to work without varnish, this is not usual!! But on my last work I don't use varnish

[peterairfix]

I am going with the above as i always decel and the weather i very rarley use a varnish but its all up to your tastes.

Peter t

[Guest]

My point was if you mess up the weathering you have also messed up the decal. You can easily weather over the decal if you want to.

Laurie

[Guest]

Should have added. If you decal first then I would gloss varnish over before weathering.

This if weathering for the first time is probably the safest bet.

Gloss varnish

Decals

Gloss varnish weather

Matt varnish.

Laurie

[Peej]

Thanks very much everyone. As soon as I have finished it you will be the 1st to see it. I hope you will be kind when you do (haha).

[Guest]

Apologies. Peej. Just joking. I think.

Laurie

[Guest]

I've a Spitfire I can't be bothered to fix the bitched airbrushing of I was considering using as a first test of weathering, will see how yours goes before I have a crack at mine!

[stona]

Just be careful weathering service aircraft. Of course you will find pictures of rather tired and careworn aircraft, particularly operating in tough weather conditions and inclement climes, but most didn't look like that.

Various factors would have an effect on this. Geographical situation and access to facilities would be foremost. Aussie Spitfires in the Far East or SAAF Hurricanes in the desert will tend to be much more 'tired' than a Spitfire operating from Biggin Hill. Other factors would include the life expectancy of an airframe, very low for a late war Luftwaffe aircraft for example, and usage. All aircraft spent the vast majority of their time on the ground.

My next build will be a Spitfire which first flew on 16th January 1940. It went to 92 Squadron on 20th March 1940 as that unit converted from Blenheims. It would have flown little between these dates. 92 Squadron became operational on 9th May and according to Tuck's recollections only flew a few patrols over the next weeks. On 23rd May my subject was shot down over France, the squadron having been operational for just two weeks. Just how much weathering is applicable to an aircraft like this? It had spent few hours in the air during its five month life and would have been well looked after at its various airfields. The pictures of it lying broken backed and burnt out in a French field offer few clues, only the research of its service life would indicate that at the time of its loss the airframe would have been in fairly pristine condition.

Cheers

Steve

[BarryW]

Steve is spot on. I consider that 'less is more' in most cases. After all your model could be depicted a day or two after entering service or after a week or two of intensive operations and each would look different. Overdoing the weathering can detract from the model. I am guilty at times of perhaps going a bit too far..... That said weathering is what turns a model from looking like painted plastic to a miniature of the real thing.

[Guest]

I very much agree with Steve. It also depends very much on the scale - in 1/72 you have to be very careful not to overdo it, especially when doing paint-chipping effects.