Weathering
This is one of my favorite steps in modeling. I love making a model look like it just came out of the real world where it has lived a long and hard life. Weathering sounds like it should only be for machines that live inside an atmosphere, but all machines get worn and used, even in space. So it really refers to damage, chipping of paint, fading of paint, grease and oil leaks and sometimes dirt and grime.
All of my models have that George Lucas look of being in a well-used universe. Because my models are also built specifically for my book covers, sometimes I don’t put unit marking on them or anything too unique, so that they can be copy and pasted into many fighters for cover art. But with this particular model, I decided to get individual. Which meant I could do unit badges and make unique mods like the starboard engine nacelle being removed.
In this wide shot you see the whole model as it stands now. Decals are applied and paint chipping has occurred on the painted areas and we have some dusting with artist’s charcoal.
I applied a light wash to the stern details but I will be going back over this area with more grime and oil as it looks too clean for my tastes.
The paint chipping was achieved by – wait for it, actually chipping the paint. I used my finger nail and a hobby knife.
I think the nose art is from a WWII airplane kit. I just have a stack of decals and pick and chose from it randomly.
You can see the chipping details around the black area behind the pilot. Panels get chipped by ground crew constantly removing them and handling them with dirty fingers.
I think this engine art decal was from a Japanese F-1 kit.
I painted the blaster tips a darker gray since I had to do some gap filling on them post primer. I also made some of the raised panels different shades of gray.
Below we see a more extensive wash of black for the back details.
More wash applied to the intakes and exterior.
Oily stains on the bottom are a bit of a trademark for me.
Another look at the bottom details. Even if I don’t model landing gear, I include the landing gear doors.
And here she is, complete. I don’t have any Votainion Empire symbols on it or any of my models, actually. That’s because I don’t have the ability to make my own decals. Easier to let graphic artists apply them in post.
This might be the last model I work on until winter releases it’s icy grip on my garage. Right now the temps are in the teens and my garage is just too cold to be in, even with an electric heater at my feet.