Seven-Eight-Seven

I wanted to share my recent code 3 work with you all. *I decided to give a little weathering and "ink" the panel lines of the control surfaces, on the latest addition to my 1/72 collection, a Hobby Master 1/72 A-4E Skyhawk in the TOPGUN scheme. *Famously known as Jester's aircraft from the movie TOP GUN. *

I did this with a few of my Hobby Master Models, another one was an F-4 that was all gray. *Hobby Master stopped doing the washes, which was kind of a good thing, but the overall finish of the model seemed a bit unexciting. *The results brought my A-4 and F-4 to life, and gave off a more realistic look, and sheds off that diecast toy appearance.

I know i shared somthing like this in the past, but without an effective way to explain. I suppose you can say, i've got the hang of this Forum member Ladia asked a little more about this process. Ladia, sorry to not reply sooner, but better late than never.

Before the Code 3 work:
[img]<a href=[/img]20170512_121557 />

Using a Pilot G-2 gel ink pen with a 0.38 thickness, and running the pen along the panel lines, making about 6-7 passes and giving a fair amount of ink. *The more ink, the dirtier the weathering.
[img]<a href=[/img]20170512_121910 />

Next, i used my thumb and with a little pressure, pressed down, then slide down. *Use other lines for reference to make sure the smears are parallel.
[img]<a href=[/img]20170512_121926 */>

You will achieve this result
[img]<a href=[/img]20170512_121743 */>

I particularly liked the nose area. *The Navy tends to let their planes to get dirty.
[img]<a href=[/img]20170512_125109 */>


My F-4, starboard wing before code 3 work
[img]<a href=[/img]20161120_144457 */>

Again, using the Pilot G-2 .38 pen
[img]<a href=[/img]
20161120_144708 */>

Smearing the ink
[img]<a href=[/img]20161120_144738 */>

It felt like getting a new model! *I developed a greater appreciation for this one, and more then never, i would take this one down from the shelf and simply admire it.
[img]<a href=[/img]20161120_144806 */>

[img]<a href=[/img]20161120_144552 */>

777-300ER

Wow that looks impressive. Might have to try that on one of my German Phantoms.

Aardvark

You might be better off using a 2B pencil.

Waviam

Thanks for sharing your weathering technique. I like that you used available household items & made your model come alive. I may give this a go instead of using a panel wash from my LHS.

Kitty Hawk 1903

Your weathering is very impressive and looks very real. Commercial airliners also have weathering. Some airlines more than others. I would like to see your skill on say an old B727 cargo plane.

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David

Ladia

Hi 787, I also want to thank you for your great post. And no need to apologize for later reply, I´m already fine yet again :




Honestly - your weathering looks very good IMHO. Even when you are using black color your weathering doesn´t look overdone, "too much", it looks just decent.

Me - same as many other collectors - have already painfully got used on “like-new-looking” diecast models, but my alter ego always suffers when I see unnaturaly and sometimes very odd-looking planes from Vietnam, Migs-21, Migs-25 and other Russki fighters, A-1 Skyraiders, conflict aircrafts, IAF birds etc. without any weathering. And that I´m not collecting WW II …

There are many different opinions about weathering. Some collectors say: "never", others say "please, please!", some collectors - such as you for example – weather their models by themselves. In the past there were many strange looking factory weatherings, and some of these models can easily qualify for the worst-looking models ever, but there were also few actually very nice efforts such as Unimax/FOV F-14 JR / Black Aces. And tell me why no manufacturer so far, HM or others, didn´t try to come with - maybe little bit more expensive - limited edition of factory weathered selected models, next to their non-weathered "basic" siblings?
I believe that with correct wash-, and panel lines enhancing technology the result could be really nice - similar to yours maybe.

Some manus (HM for example) are using extra deep panel lines to optically mimic weathering so as their models do not look plain and boring (new HM MIG-25 is good example). Some manufacturers and several diecast "specialists" on the forums always said in the past that Witty models with their shallow panel lines can´t be professionally weathered / enhanced panel lines. And what has happened? Look at current F-14s from JCW! Even with "Witty´s" extremely shallow panel lines JC wings did beautiful decent weathering IMHO. At least I can´t recall any comments on the forum such as "this is ugly", "horrible”, “disgusting”. They did great job with F-14 weathering in JC Wings IMHO, despite of most shallow panel lines in diecast. And if JCWings managed that, why not other manus - even if on part of production only. From 500 pcs production batch 100 - 150 - 200 models could easily be weathered IMHO. Should the factory weathering look like yours, or like Unimax/FOV F-14 JR / Black Aces or like F-14s from JCW I would definitely be among those collectors who would very much prefer such "Special edition" factory weathered models, even if sold for (reasonably) higher prices.