More Techniques

Try These Techniques…

– To draw lines or highlight indents – Use the side of a Sofft Tool. You can twist the tip of the sponge to fill in tight areas. It is also great for highlighting rods &  brake lines. Try Burnt Sienna 740.5 or Red Iron Oxide Shade 380.3

– On the lower edges of ribs or frame rails – use Burnt Sienna Tint 740.8 and Raw Umber Tint 780.8. Military modelers use white on panel edges to bring out details  or accent wear. White would be a useful color also because PanPastel Colors are mixable on the model.

– Brush paint truck side frames – with a #2 artist watercolor brush. It’s faster than masking and firing up the airbrush. Mix PolyScale Roof Brown with Loco Black.

Put a few drops on a recycled lid and partially mix the paint. This gives a more random color. Don’t sandblast the trucks, just wash in Dawn. The PolyScale levels quite well and doesn’t obscure details.

– To accent recessed panel lines – try Black PanPastel. The residue is easier to polish off a shiny finish.

– For large vertical streaks along the panels between ribs – Burnt Sienna Shade 740.3, Burnt Sienna Extra Dark 740.1, Burnt Sienna 740.5 or Red Iron Oxide Shade 380.3 are great.  Raw Umber Tint 780.8 is useful for streaking the lettering. Running boards can be attacked with any of the greys.

– Add ladders, running boards and B end details – after applying the colors if possible.

– For unpainted galvanized roofs – brush PolyScale New Gravel or Milwaukee Road Gray between the ribs and tone it rusty with any or all of the earth / rust colors.

Leave the ribs a dark or darker brown as they were steel and not galvanized. I don’t start with a weathered silver painted roof because it doesn’t scale down to the look of a true galvanized finish. You can also tone the BCR roof with grays to show some paint fade rather than patches.

– Masking for lines & more precise work – use Post-It notes, styrene shields or Blue tape.

– When weathering wood running boards – use an old business card to fit under the boards. You can get the narrow sides without getting unwanted gray on the roof.

– To apply color in tight places on a fully built car – try an artist’s quality oil paint brush. It should be a small #1 or 2 natural bristle. Scrub color into the tight places.

– Try other PanPastel colors for weathering – think of the too red Atlas SD-24. Now use an orange shade to add fading to the paint on the body.

IMPORTANT – Don’t be afraid to experiment and don’t be afraid to start over! PanPastel is very forgiving. (See above for ways to start over.)

Techniques above provided by Rob Manley (Prototype Modeler)