After many months of building Archistories buildings and collecting and running trains it is time to try weathering cars and plastic buildings. I ordered a nice quiet small air compressor from Iwata as I plan on airbrushing at my drafting table. I have lots of airbrushes and am familiar with the techniques of dry brushing and weathering. But my paints are mostly very old and a variety of types and brands in lacquer, enamel, and acrylic. I would like to use acrylic as I will be painting indoors and I like their ease of use very much. I don't know of any drawbacks to acrylic. I also purchased a set of rust and weathering powders from Bragdon which will be a new experience for me. So, could anyone here recommend a particular brand or colors or even a complete set of acrylic paints (like the powders) for use initially? Thanks.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weathering-Locomotive-application-Application-Vallejo/dp/B00LKNPSQ2 for steam locomotives.
Doc O'Brien's weathering chalks, set of 12. I've had a set for years and am no where close to running out. A little goes a long way. Try several different methods. Chalks make a nice "final" coat to what you painted on. Vallego brand paints are excellent. I use them almost exclusively now. I also have found some excellent acrylic paints at the "Warhammer" gamers store. They have a selection of "goth" colors, lead, pallid whch flesh, runelord brass...a good selection for machinery, etc...It's all good you can't really make any mistakes that can't be fixed. You are moving at warp speed. Jim
I ordered the Vallejo loco weathering set (available here in the US), black wash, grey primer, and airbrush thinner. They have a lot of weathering sets so thanks for pointing out their train colors line. The loco set comes with a matt varnish and liquid mask, it is a little pricey but it comes with brushes and a pallet which will get used. Looking forward to trying Vallejo paints. Hopefully this paint is also compatible with my Testors acrylic paints. Now it looks like I'll have to watch some videos to get up to speed on techniques. Mostly I don't know how to combine the paints and powders. Paint first probably!
I have been using Tamiya and Badger Modelflex acrylic paints. I really like the quality of the Badger paints and they are airbrush ready right out of the bottle. The only problem with them is the bottles/caps are horrible. They have a seal on them, and after you break the seal, the caps don’t seal well. So practically they end up being single use paints unless you transfer them to a better bottle. But they pair well with Badger airbrushes and they have a good selection of railroad colors. Tamiya paints are also very good, and widely available, but they have a more limited range of colors. I prefer these brands over Vallejo, but Vallejo are still very good paints and are widely available. Oh and I use Alclad II Klear Kote Flat Lacquer as a last sealing coat.
Thanks. My go to sealer is Testors Dullcote which is also a lacquer. But it is very flat. I don't know the correct order of things though. Like is it OK to spray sealing lacquers over acrylics and powders? I'll find out as this ins't meant to be a how to thread. Just what you guys are using. Never heard of Badger paints but I've had several of their airbrushes. I used to build scale model airplanes and architectural renderings in ink. So that is why I had airbrushes. The last one I bought is a Grex. Speaking of bottles/caps remember Floquil? That was my favorite primer ever, but a lacquer. Was that the one with the ridiculous little cans with pry off lids like house paints? LOL I am looking forward to seeing these Vallejo bottles with the drippers.
I guess one how to type question applicable might be the difference between weathering painted factory cars and bare plastic cars, as I am pretty sure some of my Marklin cars are simply unpainted plastic. I suppose spraying those with a matt sealant and then proceeding the same as with a painted car would work.
