Unsure of The Next Proceedure

Decals first, then weathering.  You want the decals to show the effects of weathering, the same as the rest of the aircraft.

decals first

OK, thanks. So after the decals are on I can start weathering, fading, dullcoting, etc. Right?

David from PA

OK, thanks. So after the decals are on I can start weathering, fading, dullcoting, etc. Right?

 

Yes...but it doesn't hurt to spray some more gloss over the decals, to seal them in good. That also gives you the same "canvas" as the rest of the model.

OK, got it. I just don't want to screw this up too bad. Thanks

And throw on a coat of flat clearcoat to seal in the decals.

You want to make sure the decals get some weathering. If the paint is weathered, it looks funny to see pristine high contrast national insignias and other markings.

Well, what I've already done is apply the decals (which came out very nice BTW) and gloss coated the whole fuselage in preparation for washes. After the washes I'm going to have to figure out if I can mist a lighter color over the decals (simulated fading) and then, as a final step, dullcoat the whole plane. 

Oh , I gotta second and third and fourth that ! T.B. LOL.LOL.

David from PA

Well, what I've already done is apply the decals (which came out very nice BTW) and gloss coated the whole fuselage in preparation for washes. After the washes I'm going to have to figure out if I can mist a lighter color over the decals (simulated fading) and then, as a final step, dullcoat the whole plane. 

 

 

I sometimes do it that way, though if you use a flat white or light grey, you can do the fading/chalking coat after dullcoat also.

What I tried today was a 50/50 mix of white with dullcote thinned by about as much thinner as there was paint in the airbrush jar. Seemed ok on the test panel, I got moderate fading of the decal I put on it the other day so I'll probably just do what I did to the test panel.

When shading, I vary the thickness of the fading coat around the airframe.  Areas that see the most sun should get the most fading.  I put heaviest fading on top of fuselage and tops of wings and horizontal tail surfaces.  No fading on bottoms.  For the fuselage I put on max thickness on top, and keep reducing it as I come around fuselage.