I'm making a Hanomag, and I want my decals to look weathered; How do I do that? (Russian Front, Village, '42)

just apply them before you start the weathering,ut be sure to apply decal solvent ot flatten out the decal if youre going to drybrush,it collects on the edge of the decal and leaves and outline.

What Air had said, and also if I am doing it, I will apply gloss coat before I proceed weathering. then you can just wash, drybrush, and do whatever you wanna with it.

As Dave said, do the basic kit color (dark gray in your case); apply a gloss coat. Apply the decals. Do a black wash. Add highlights of the base color lightened with white. Apply a flat coat. Apply pastels. The decals look lilke they were painted at the factory, or at least at the suply depot, and have gone through the same wear and tear as the rest of the vehicle.

With respect to applying a gloss coat, is this over the whole kit or just the surrounding area?

Is this just a clear gloss coat, any particular recommendations?

Cheers

david

I apply the gloss coat to the whole model. That way the tone is consistant overall.Some people spot gloss, but I feel better doing it all.
capnjock

It is often quoted that the only stupid question is one that isnt asked, however, this may be the exception to the rule!!

Im getting a tad confused with all this glossing malarky, by which I mean that I try to make my models as 'matt' as possible - I hope Im not the only one - yet the thought of then adding a coat of gloss, to me, would be the last thing I'd want to do. Is this common practice?

Thanks

david

Hip
The gloss coat thing - yea - it threw me when I was first pointed in that direction. But, it you think about it it does make sence on how the decals work and how paint works.

Flat paint diffuses light and looks flat because it has texture, Gloss paint reflects light because it has very little texture. The 'big scale' comparison is with a piece of sandpaper (flat) and a piece of photo paper (gloss). If you apply a decal to sandpaper (even with setter and solvent) there is a greater chance for air to get trapped under the decal in the textures. This air then turns into 'silvering' later. If you put a decal on a piece of photo paper there is much less chance for air to get trapped and you get less (hopefully no) silvering.

So, I basically will only put gloss over the areas where decals will go, this may eventually be the whole thing. Then I apply the decals. Then I put a dull coat over the entire thing to seal it and to take away the shine of the gloss.

Yes its common to do matt/gloss/decals/dull coat.

Hope this helps

Scott

Cheers for the comprehensive answer. It now begs the question, how do Iget the dullness back into the model? I believe theres a product called 'dullcote' however, its not available in either of my local model shops - they dont have primer either!! - but is there a home made alternative to this?

Cheers again

D

Hip_Priest
I don't know of any home made recipies for a dull coat
You may want to check out Model Masters, they have a dull coat too.
You may want to check a local hobby store and see if something like Apple Barrel Paints has a flat clear paint.

If you don't get a response in this thread you may want to start a new one.