How to Weather Aluminum Question

Your welcome, have fun...experiment....have more fun....and keep learning.

Again I agree with Stik, the effect your looking to achive would be better done by drybrushing, or pigments. Studying the above pix it is my opinion the areas you have circled are actually shadows, quite possibly even reflections of the tarmac.

theflyingdutchman

 

 

armornut

Stik and Phil are correct, the hot section of most turbine engines are titanium. They do change to a smokey, dark umber look after heating and in some areas they actually turn a rainbow of blues and copper. Do be light on the weathering, by that I mean work up to the level you are wanting, slowly. Modern aircraft are espeacially military are well maintained and inspected regularly. Have fun.

 

 

 

 

What kind of wash is BEST for getting that kind of weathering effect. Do you all have any suggestions on how to get the kind of effect circled in the picture below?

 

 

 

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I would suggest that you try this stuff rather than a wash

armornut

Stik and Phil are correct, the hot section of most turbine engines are titanium. They do change to a smokey, dark umber look after heating and in some areas they actually turn a rainbow of blues and copper. Do be light on the weathering, by that I mean work up to the level you are wanting, slowly. Modern aircraft are espeacially military are well maintained and inspected regularly. Have fun.

 

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For subtle changes you could try shading with a soft lead pencil (4B), then blending it with a paper stick. Go easy and build up, when you can just see a different tone, stop.

theflyingdutchman

 

 

Don Stauffer

What  did you use for the Aluminum?  It makes a difference what the paint or finish is.

 

 

 

 

 

Don- I couldn't find any of the chrome or aluminum testors paint at my local hobby shop so I had to resort to using Revell's enamel aluminum 99. 

 

 

 

Okay, over enamel I would use Testors Steel.  The steel color is darker than the aluminum color, so looks a bit dirty and weathered.  While you could use a wash, I personally prefer to use the drybrush technique.  However, if you have not done drybrushing before, I would practice on a piece of scrap, painted first with the aluminum.

The secret to drybrushing is to use an extremely small amount on the brush. You will be putting on such a thin coat of steel that it may be almost invisible at first.  You then can build up the tint until you reach the desired look.  And remember, in weathering, less is better than more :-)

Hi, Dutch;

 Listen ,what I use is a wet mix of aluminum and anthracite .Then, dry-brush a very little of Hull red mixed with Brown .Very light .Almost non - existant on a dry brush .

Don Stauffer

What  did you use for the Aluminum?  It makes a difference what the paint or finish is.

 

 

Stik and Phil are correct, the hot section of most turbine engines are titanium. They do change to a smokey, dark umber look after heating and in some areas they actually turn a rainbow of blues and copper. Do be light on the weathering, by that I mean work up to the level you are wanting, slowly. Modern aircraft are espeacially military are well maintained and inspected regularly. Have fun.

Phil_H

I'd be hesitant to make the engine exhaust cones look sooty/smoky. Sure, they would display some heating effects, but that comes from heating the inside of the cone.

The engines are high-bypass turbofans and it's pretty much cool, unburnt air (hence the term "bypass") that passes over the outer surface of the exhaust cones.

 

I don’t believe that the area you mention is made from aluminum. More than likely it is a different alloy, and more high heat resistant.

What  did you use for the Aluminum?  It makes a difference what the paint or finish is.

I'd be hesitant to make the engine exhaust cones look sooty/smoky. Sure, they would display some heating effects, but that comes from heating the inside of the cone.

The engines are high-bypass turbofans and it's pretty much cool, unburnt air (hence the term "bypass") that passes over the outer surface of the exhaust cones.