To weather or not to weather?

[viper3111]

Just interested to read other people's views on weathering, I enjoy weathering as it adds a bit of depth to a kit. With there being so many products on the market to add an air of 'realism' to your builds with not much effort. I think that it is becoming more popular, even to those who didn't weather in the past (like me).

So what are your comments/opinions?

[Gary West]

I always research a build as thoroughly as I can and generally build what I see having amassed as many pics as I can get. If you're subjects weathered, your build needs to be the same and vice versa if it's a clean ship.

When I do weather, I use Burnt umber oils and pastel chalks.

[Sheff]

It's an emotive subject. Some like to keep their models pristine while others like to make 'em look like they've been coal mining! Neil Robinson is a major weathering addict for example - I think we've managed to calm-down his eagerness over the years though! I try to aim for realism but it is tempting to over-weather an aircraft even if the real machine is clean and shiny - weathering always makes models look more "real" even if it's quite the opposite! It's a bit like panel lines - where the hell are one inch-wide grooves on real aeroplanes? But they do make a model look great so you have to kinda indulge in some poetic license sometimes!

Same applies to the models you see where they've had paint washes, pastel shading, airbrush highlights and so on until they look like porcelain statues more than models. Totally unrealistic... and yet they look beautiful so what do you do? It's down to choice I guess, and finishing a model so that you like it - that's the main thing!

[Ben Montgomery]

I used to over weather models terribly (a tiger scheme Tornado ECR springs to mind, that ended up more black than grey ), but I'm not doing it so much now. I do agree with Sheff, even if the real thing is clean, weathering does make it look more real.

[viper3111]

So that I dont 'over do' my weathering I make the odd tank and practice on them. That way I havnt ruined my aircraft and I get all of the weathering out of my system.
I tend to just stick to wheel wells, avionics bays, cockpits, pannel lines and the best bit the engines. I very rarely do the whole aircraft my QF-86F being the exception, I just got a bit carried away with that, although the more I look at it the more I like it. As has already been said on here weathering is purely a personal choice and if you like it thats all that matters. Naturaly there are some 'pureists' who replicate the exact aircraft down to the letter but again thats purley personal choice.

Here is a little example of my 'playing' with weathering (for example only, as it's obviously not a mil aircraft)