No weathering...is that wrong?

Naw Bones. There is nothing wrong with that factory fresh look! Thats what modelling is all about. Making something you like the way you like it. B-17 with German marking? It happened! Some folks like to add "history" to their models, some don't. It's cool. In the past I've made "fresh" ones and I've made "wrecks". Two P-61's come to mind. The same kits, just one made all shot up. Of course that was wwwwaaaayyyy back when. But it's all good!!!

Congratulations on the finish.
I, personaly, am of the opinion that many models are spoilt by "over weathering".
If you have a photo of a badly weathered a/c by all means emulate it but as in all things moderation.
I will admit that the green used on Japanese a/c did tend to weather very badly as did I believe Canadian paint when used on ships.
But it is, as always, a personal choice.
Dai

Bones ... Lovely looking model ... congratulations!
There is nothing wrong with not weathering models, after all they all started life like that.

Dai:
Regarding the Canadian paint ... it wasn't the paint but the steel underneath wasn't 'pickled' in some yards when the hulls were assembled, and those ships went through their service lives looking positively scabrous!

Regards,
Bruce

Looks really good bones. Now if someone would just invent that new plane smell.....

Nice looking Zero, Bones! I, too seldom weather models - count me in as another lover of the factory fresh look. It's just too easy to overdo the weathering and I have trouble knowing when to stop. So I don't start!

Beautiful Zero. It looks factory fresh or like you would see today in a museum. I only have one question. If you don't weather the model, what colour are the exhaust stacks? Why have you got them rust colour? Museum bird stacks are usually painted black and factory fresh stacks are steel colour.
Cheers
Bob S.

Nice build, Bones ! I believe that when we create, there is no such thing as "right" or "wrong." We are expressing ourselves. If you believe it is what you want to do, by all means do it ! No one else can tell you what is right for YOUR models. That is a personal choice, left entirely to you. I myself do very little weathering, but that's the way I want my models to look. That Zeke is a beauty. Satisfy yourself, and gain confidence in your builds. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MORE OF YOUR WORK ! ! !

Thanks for the praises guys.

Heh, that's a good point Bob. But wouldn't the engine have been run long enough for testing that the metal would have already turned? I didn't think they painted exhuast back then. I figured the paints weren't good enough to stick to such hot surfaces so they were left bare. Am I wrong?

Bones,
i know where you are coming from. it would be hard to take a flawless looking paint job like that and weather it. and if you want to go factory fresh, you don't have to. i hope we all build them the way we like them and not to someone else's standards & specs. i try never to think that someone else's modeling preferences are 'wrong'. they are just different than how i would do it.
the only thing that matters is that you are having fun.

ed.

Looks good, Bones!
I believe in this hobby, unless you're going for trophies, you should do what ya like. You like 'em clean, do 'em clean! Dirty's your cup o' tea? Have at it!

I'm the same way with armor. I like to build relatively clean, relatively undamaged vehicles. A bit of dust, a bent fender here, a scratch there.

Maybe I'm just too lazy! But honestly, that's how I like to see 'em.

Do what ya like!

It's a beautiful build and the fact that it isn't weathered does not detract from that. Build 'em the way you like 'em and if someone doesn't like it they can look elswhere.

I agree that there would be some rust on the exhaust, if the Japanese were anything like us the engine would have 5-10 hrs.(or more) on it before acceptance and even more before squadron markings were applied at the assigned squadrons base.

Here's one of the pics I have of a brand new Merlin engine. Note the exhuast stacks.

It makes sense that the steel exhausts would be rusty. Unless protected from the elements or constantly scuffed (wear and tear) steel will rust all by itself just sitting there.

Then there is the heat generated during engine run up and other tests.

Good job on the plane Bones!!! Don't worry about the weathering if it's not something you want. Like everyone else said, do the way you like it.

Eric

Not all aircraft showed wear and tear. Some units showed great pride in their aircraft and kept them in perfect condition. Even during combat operations they would polish and maintain the aircraft. So paint your aircraft any way you want to. If someone makes a comment about, tell them "I do it my way, you do it your way".

Very nice job on the Zero Bones. I go along with everybody else - a matter of personal taste. While I do weather my models, there are a few "accepted" weathering techniques that I never use because to my eye they do not look realistic. Dont' use a technique you don't like just because everyone else does.

Jim

Good looking model, Bones. Nothing wrong with this fresh look at all. As Dai Jones has said above, many models are over-weathered, Verlinden-like...

Keep up the good work!

Great looking Zero. Like you, I tend to lean more toward the clean look on aircraft. No need for weathering to mess up the great lines and detract from the intrinsic beauty of the aircraft. Congrats on your first finish! Keep 'em coming...

demono69

I'd agree, whatever turns your prop or lights your burner is the way you should be going.

The way I look at it is the same as reading a book, its a lot more satisfying and enjoyable an activity when your doing it your own way for your own reasons than if someone, say some high school English teacher, makes you read it to a set deadline and read it for certain details over others for a following book report and critique.

A model is a much more satisfying and enjoyable activity when you're building it for your shelf at home than for the competition table, the standards you work to are your own not some pre ordained standards that will see your project looking like everyone elses on the table.

Weathering is indeed easy to overdo and sometimes it's totally inappropriate anyway. I highlight my panel lines with a wash, sometimes touch a panel corner with a silver pencil crayon to simulate a bit of light day to day service wear, but the grease smearing, gunpowder coated wings, and paint chipping to the point of looking like many years of total dereliction is not my thing.

Your Zero is a beauty, I much prefer its looks to the typical chipped up WWII Japanese subject matter.

Hey Bones
It is totally up to you. All I am saying that if you paint exhausts rust colour, then that is weathering.
BTW...That new Merlin pic is not a new Merlin at all. It looks like a Merlin in a museum and the the exhaust stacks are rusty (weathered). New exhaust stacks are steel colour and they did factory run the engine but they would not rust inside a factory. The would have some discolourization from the heat produced but then again that would be "weathering" again wouldn't it? What colour do you paint your tires? Non weathered tires are a bit shiny.
My point is, if you are painting exhausts rust colour, and tires flat black or dark grey, you are indeed doing "some" weathering. With modelling, there is no RIGHT or WRONG but I have seen many modellers claiming to not weather their models when really they do, but in a very minimal way I.E the exhaust stacks and tires. The real question is "How MUCH weathering does the modeller prefer? " and that is entirely up to the individual. You prefer very minimal and your Zero looks fantastic. Now if I were doing a Zero it would look more used and that is my preference. But the bottom line? There is no RIGHT or WRONG, just build for your own satisfaction and enjoyment and don't worry about what others may think. That is why you will never see me enter a model in a contest. It is not a competition, it is a pass-time, a hobby to relieve stress, not cause it.
Cheers
Bob S.

Very nice model! Do 'em how you want 'em. I especially like the snowy diorama. A tad out of place for the Pacific theater, but very unique.

I'd add a Yetti with a Samurai sword. But that's just me.

Some of us spend a lot of money on reference material so we can make the a/c look the way it "should". We get satisfaction form that. Some of us build straight from the box, others use aftermarket, if it isnt fun for the modeler doing it, no matter what his reason, we wouldnt have a hobby. Just enjoy it, thats the point isnt it?

Make it the way you want to! Personally I rarely weather my models, I normally only do it in the case of aircraft that look wrong if they aren't weathered. But I can't stand overdone weathering, or weathering that just doesn't look right. So I prefer to make my models without weathering as I get much more satisfaction from finishing a model that looks right without weathering, than one that looks wrong because of the weathering.

Hey Bones is that pic of a Merlin in a museum? A year back a P-51 crashed where I work. They took out the engine and replaced it because it had a cracked block. The color of the block and super charger was like a greenish blue color not black. I was just curious if anyone knows the actual color they came from the factory. Thanks in advance.

T/A

Just to throw in a little confusion & make a case for weathering...
Back in the 80's, in Germany we had brand new Tornado GR1's delivered with around 5 flying hours on them. The paint was peeling in places, there were leaks, exhaust stains on the fin, the black radome was begining to dull, etc etc.
The military aircraft you see at open days on static do not normally represent most military aircraft in service. Back in the RAF, at the start of a season, each squadron chose one aircraft. It got a repaint and was looked after better than the rest. I've seen Tornado radomes being polished with shoe polish before being flown off to do a static show.
So I do prefer some weathering, but, each to his own, thats what makes this such a diverse hobby, there is no RIGHT way to finish off a model.
VIVE LA DIFFERANCE! (pardon my French!)

Did the shoe polish improve the Radars performance?

lol!

Rob M.

Albert what make and color was the shoe polish. I want to be correct!