Biting off more than I can chew?

Maybe engine oil washes.  AK make specific washes for engine oil.   You can also make a wash with oils.  

You might want to post down in the painting or diorama forums.

Just take small chunks and you'll be all right...

And a lot better advice would be to take a really good look at the real thing - I mean something covered in oil - look at it often and try to replicate what you see. Don't think so much about what magic chemistry to use, but rather what look exactly are you going for.

Is it glossy? How much of the original color shows through? what about the crevices of the aircraft?

Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

interesting photo. I believe thats the bombed Piaggio factory in the background.

Bill

Hi JPCARE,

I don't think anything is too soon after a long hiatus. I just completed my first build (Me-262) in over 25 years. Next I am doing a P-38 with NMF which I am probably not ready for.  But I'm gonna try it and see what happens!  As long as you're having fun, go for it!

For oil stains on an aircraft, especially a wartime bird in hard service, my personal opinion is to minimize wet glossy drips and runs. These will probably be wiped away by ground crew, leaving behind a smudge or streak. Or when the plane takes off, the high velocity air flow will spread it into a fan shaped pattern. Having said that, I recently went to Planes of Fame in Chino CA and the flight worthy birds all had visible oil leaks with large drip pans underneath to keep the oil from staining the concrete floor. The leaks were mainly visible at the lower surfaces of engine cowlings, nacelles, and on the engines themselves. Idk if black would be the right color, up close it looked like a very dark translucent brown or amber. But on a model, black might look better. I don't think there is a right or wrong way, try different things and use what looks best to you.

For wiped and wind blown oil stains and smudges, I use a mixture of post shading, washes, and Tamiya weathering master. Also, an HB pencil applied to the leak point, then wiped in the direction of airflow, can be really handy for smaller stains and smudges. Again, there is no right or wrong, try different things and use what looks good to you.

Good luck, and have fun!

Edit: I looked at the photo in your OP and I was way off track. I think for that look I might try an oil based paint. Maybe followed by an acrylic clear coat.

J.P.Care;

       Listen, the biggest part of dio building I have found is creating the picture in my mind. Once past that, then angles and sources of the design are pulled together. The Look? Well, oily planes can be done with a very thin acryllic wash or, some finely tintied clear semi Gloss. Just remember in your three dimensional picture to always count Gravity as present and must be accounted for.

Well it is your 1st post,and it is in the introduction forum,so I will say welcome to the forum

JPCARE

Is it too soon for a person to build their first diorama after a lengthy hiatus away from the hobby https://imodeler.com/2019/01/on-this-day-january-12th/  The P-47 is one of my favourite aircraft & I thought of making a diorama of the plane covered in oil. I find it would be too "easy" to just use black paint, so I was wondering about other possible methods for this project Watermelon Game

Thanks

 

An employee might volunteer for multiple projects at once, only to find themselves overwhelmed and unable to deliver quality results for any of them.

JPCARE

Is it too soon for a person to build their first diorama after a lengthy hiatus away from the hobby https://imodeler.com/2019/01/on-this-day-january-12th/  The P-47 is one of my favourite aircraft & I thought of making a diorama of the plane covered in oil. I find it would be too "easy" to just use black paint, so I was wondering about other possible methods for this project.

Thanks

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Actually, volunteering activities nowadays take place as a movement. Do people really love their work?

JPCARE

I find it would be too "easy" to just use black paint, so I was wondering about other possible methods for this project.

While I'll grant that in the photo -- which is pretty contrast-y -- the oil looks black as coal, it would likely be more convincing in a dio to use various translucent shades of brown to build that staining up.

Just an opinion, here, but in dioramas the object is to 'sell' a convincing image that tells the story to the viewer: and, frankly, most folks' experience with engine oil would be that familiar deep coffee brown -- instantly recognizable -- as opposed to wondering how an aircraft impacted with a bucket of tar.

And echoing the previous comments, the "too soon" answer is when you want to tackle a project, just roll up the sleeves and dive in. It may not turn out exactly the way you envisioned it at the start -- but your skills will improve every time you flex them.

Good luck (and, please, share pictures! )

Cheers