is silver paint with drybrushing enuf fro scratches?

thanks guys, i'll keep that in mind.. drybrush small, paint chipping big =)

I think it depends on the scale and subject you're building, is it 1/72 or 1/35, plane or armor ???
For 1/72, drybrushing should do the job more than enough, but armor gets beaten a lot more than a plane, also if you're working in 1/32 or 1/35 and certainly 1/24, the drybrushing, just won't work for real damage of the paint.
Another aspect is that if you are simulating larger damage, you should also show the layer of paint beneath, like the base paint beneat the camo or the zinc chromate of a plane.
Best thing you can do is study reference pics.

yeah... dry brushing is ok for some weathering, but I'd use the second technique. And use steel or aluminum if you have it.... but silvers fine.