Of course, I will still look at models built by others and still admire the stunning paint finishes and weathering that modellers far more skilled than I are now achieving. But for me, I’m happy to admit that weathering is simply not that important.
One of the more enjoyable aspects of any model show are the conversations that you have that spark further thoughts and considerations, long after the event has ended. Never was this more so than after yesterday’s South Cheshire Militaire, where discussions about modern military aircraft, morphed into more involved subjects such as painting, decals and of course, weathering.
“The problem as I see it, is that modellers these days spend more time building models of other people’s models, than they do, the real machines”, was how one friend opened up the debate.
To a point I have some sympathy with this point of view. There is no doubting the great enjoyment that can be gained for being inspired to recreate miniatures built by others for your own collections. Heck, I did just that with my Legacy Collection, as I recreated many of François Verlinden’s builds using his dioramas and techniques to guide my own.
I get it. I really do.
But for me, that tends to be a driver for my armour and diorama builds (at least to a degree); it’s never a driver for the aircraft that I complete. That’s a whole different approach, where other modeller’s work never comes into play. Instead, those models are always inspired by the real thing and where possible, images of the actual machine being replicated.
Of course, that approach dictates how my models are painted, which I guess is the core tenet of this rambling discourse. Whereas my more grounded subjects can – and often do – feature experimental finishes that heighten detail depending on mood and direction of travel, my aircraft will almost always feature finishes that try and replicate closely those on the real machines that I so love. The result of these restrictions, or constrictions if you like, is that my aircraft are often cleaner, less likely to feature heavy contrast between colours and definitely, less prone to experiments driven by what I see elsewhere.
I would never get past that feeling that my model was fatally flawed no matter how nice that weathering superficially appeared to be.
Given that this is now a set approach that I have no desire to deviate from, I’m rather precious about how my models are viewed (aren’t we all?!) and what I see as important, post completion. Were I to build a model that was heavily weathered for instance, I would feel that that build had failed as a project if the first comment made about it was “great weathering!”. To me, the weathering is the last thing that I feel important in one of my builds. Instead, here are considerations that I see as far more important:
- Construction. Is the model neat and tidy and have all constructional steps been carried out properly?
- Set-up. Does the model reflect how the real aircraft would have looked in service?
- Accuracy of colours. Does the paintwork look close to the way the real machine was painted in terms of colour, tone and patina?
- Smoothness of finish. Is the model painted in a way that all colours are smooth and blemish-free?
- Markings. Are these accurate? Are they perfectly applied. Have the decals silvered?
- Smaller details, cockpit, undercarriage and weapons. Do these reflect reality? Are the weapon loads accurate for that aircraft during the period in which the markings applied were seen in service?
- Surface degradation and weathering. Does this reflect the way that the real aircraft looked in service? Is it overdone?
As you can see, weathering is bottom of my list of priorities. Everything else above that is more important to me as part of a project in the round. And it’s not necessarily about which steps I enjoy the most (that would be decals!) just what I see as important. For instance, my models could be flawlessly weathered to create a truly eye-catching miniature, but that would be useless to me if my construction was rushed, the colours all over the place, the surface finish less than smooth and the decals, misapplied. I would never get past that feeling that my model was fatally flawed no matter how nice that weathering superficially appeared to be.
It is because of those factors that my models tend to ere on the side of caution when it comes to weathering and why, as the months and years have rolled inexorably by, it has become less and less important to me. Sure, they tend to feature surface effects, some even being ‘weathered’ per se, but only enough to get the point across. Much of the time, those final layers are simply there to accentuate detail and hint at use, rather than being an eye-catching coat of filth. And I doubt that will now, ever change.
I may pick a few subjects that are heavily degraded in real life and replicate them, but in the main, I like the ‘cleaner’ look that I’m now achieving. I guess that that is simply the result of comfort in my own work, where I no longer feel the need to follow trends that pop up from time to time. Of course, I will still look at models built by others and still admire the stunning paint finishes and weathering that modellers far more skilled than I are now achieving. But for me, I’m happy to admit that weathering is simply not that important.
Have a great day, everyone and see you next time.
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SPENCER POLLARD'S KIT BOX 
Spencer, I like your friend’s opening gambit. It was a hole I was in danger of falling into when I returned to the hobby 7 years ago. So many new techniques and materials to learn. I desperately tried to do it all at once, and of course I failed.Weathering is the last man standing in my learning process. I struggle with it, it’s either unnoticeable or like a drag artist the morning after.
I see it as a necessity for armour builds that are set in field, so I will persevere. However I am in agreement with you regarding aircraft. I do the minimum required even on my Japanese aircraft. It seems that weathering is quite a controvesial subject in our community, but I really don’t see why it should be. Everything was factory fresh at some point.
That’s a lot of waffle to agree with your friend, build your model not someone else’s.
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Interesting story about “factory fresh”….. I used to work for LTV Aerospace many moons ago. One of the products we built during my time there was the aft intermediate fuselage section for the B-1B ‘Lancer’ strategic bomber. The section was primed in yellow zinc chromate, and by the time it was completed and ready for the paint shop prior to shipping off to the final assembly plant, the paint had so much dirt and grime on it from workmen’s shoes it began to look like interior green as mixed from YZC and lampblack….. In short, it was well and truly filthy.
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Good thread. A friend of mine described my weathering techniques as, “Less is More”, and right from the get go i try to work from photos of the actual aircraft. Basics of construction come first and the priorities go right down the line, like yours do.
I’m paranoid about going overboard on weathering, but i do give leakage, where leakage is due. What annoys *me*, is when somebody looks at one of my builds and says, “Meh. Too clean. Clearly this person didn’t make any effort to weather his model….”. Grrrrr…….
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Thanks for the interesting read.
Two thoughts:
• Considering weathering a “trend” seems a little peculiar given that un-weathered builds are of course the original trend. Which is perfectly fine, go retro if that’s one’s preferred aesthetic. Personally, I consider adding (good) weathering to aspects 1-6 (above) evolution toward a higher goal.
• If the goal is to recreate actual planes in scale the idea of a hierarchy of tasks seems illogical. Real aircraft possess all seven of the qualities listed above – why not value each equally? That’s what makes for the most captivating builds (imo). A pristine airplane is no more an authentic a representation than one with an untidy wheel alignment.
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I didn’t say that weathering was a trend. My point was more in the round, that I no longer follow trends of any kind, such is my comfort in my own work. Maybe I wasn’t explicit enough?! As for the perceived hierarchy, the list has nothing at all to do with importance per se, rather aspects of a build that I consider in the order that I carry them out; construction first, weathering last. I concur though that there is s disparity between 1-6 and 7; the first 6 bear equal weight, weathering simply being a needed final layer depending on my source material. Finally, I’m not sure that idea of a ‘pristine’ model is something I need consider, because none of my models ever are – all of them feature some form of surface degradation. I explicitly discuss how ‘weathering’ in its broadest sense is used on all of my models to add life where needed – I just don’t feel any need to overwork my models with layers of dirt, simply because I think that’s what is de rigueur or expected…
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“…those models are always inspired by the real thing and where possible, images of the actual machine being replicated”
This is the key IMO. Weathering is a slippery slope, but if you base it on the actual/referenced subject… you now have a “center” reference to deviate up or down from. When I see a model that strikes me I don’t think “nice weathering”….I say “that’s a very realistic finish”.
Cheers
Collin
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Loved this article. I subscribe to your approach and really liked your list. I will be using that. Thanks Jules
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Spencer, I agree with you wholeheartedly. I’m glad to see someone else say the same things I’ve been thinking. I just subscribed to your blog. Thanks!
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