Hull painting/weathering question

Can one of you knowledgeable modelers "splain" the DOT method to this noob please? Would it apply to subs? I'm thinking not but what do I know!

I use my airbrush that way.  Since I use a fairly dark primer, sometimes I just vary the thickness of a lighter gray hull paint to achieve the effect, sometimes I add a few drops of color into the hull color mix and put on light transparent coats in area.  Since I spent years learning how to airbrush, I figure I will use a method I already understand rather than learning another new technique.

  This is a good method .I usually DON'T use the FUTURE ,because I want the base coat to slightly intermingle with the filter colors .It seems to make the flow of colors more subtle . It is tricky to do ,because you can lift the base colors . I specifically use all oil based paints .I am NOT a fan of acrylics .

A very light touch is needed here ,  AND I use acrylic OVER oil based paint .That way I dion't get " LIFT " of the colors below .You can use this method without fear . Just don't do it in reverse , UNLESS you use the FUTURE first.        Tanker-builder

thanks, tankerbuilder!  i use tamiya acrylics for my base coats.  will the oil paint and white spirits ruin my finish?  i was worried about that so i always coated my models with future before applying oils and white spirits for weathering...

I haven't done it that way .I just use the " DOT " filter method on the base coats of paint AFTER the ship is done Then I coat the whole thing with craft clear flat to lock everything in .

The ship is a dirty and confusing mix of colors ,shades and wear  when just arriving in port after a lengthy deployment .You have to pick what works for you .If you can , get some photos of one BEFORE in port clean-up . Still , there will be a variance in coloration .    Tanker-builder

regarding the oils, i always put down a coat of future before my dot filtering.  i just read that some modelers don't recommend future for this type of weathering because it doesn't provide 'teeth' for the oils.  

is there a better way? thoughts always appreciated!

The oil dot filter generally gives a look that is more in scale. You *can* use your airbrush and some masking tape to highlight plate edges on older ships, but keep the affect very subtle.

Ships' hulls are seldom uniform in color, except maybe when fresh out of drydock. Due to hull maintenance (preservation, i.e.- chipping and painting- every sailor's headache) there are always patches of different shades of paint on topside surfaces, including primer colors. It shouldn't be difficult for you to replicate these. Plus your staining from ventilator exhaust, scupper drains and general streaks of rust. Ships are not pretty up close.