Aircraft weathering - accuracy or artful technique

The reason there even there are to show shade on panel line that is to small to reflect the shade properly. Some models have deeper and wider panel lines and a black on that time always looks to be to much. I my self have not masters panel lines at all mine are rather to dark or to faint. :( But the models that do catch my eye the most are light fine done panel lines just enough to see it. With good weathering its a thing of beauty. When I Finnish my marder3 I'm going to pick a fine line aircraft maybe my MENG 1/48 ME-410 and try to perfect that panel line one more time.

I always go with accuracy over artistic.

Its all about personal preference, yes (my personal preference being realism), but honestly, Ive heard much more negative comments from modelers on exaggerated weathering than from a kit sticking with accuracy. In fact, most negative comments Ive heard about accurate builds stem from the fact that the commenter/s were mostly unaware that the finish was actually based on photos.

And yes, one can "overdo" weathering.  Ive seen a low-viz F-14 kit uniformly covered with patch up paint work (like the patchwork has become the camo itself), and quite a number of pre-shaded, post-shaded plane and helicopter kits sporting uniformly faded/oxidized paint.  One look and you know its overdone.  

Not necessarily overdone, but weathered out of scale is what I usually see. Streaks or washes way too dark or the streaks or stains themselves too large. Or, the whole aircraft weathered heavily but no weathering of the tires, gear, or pylons and ordinance. 

This reminds me of the "rust on tank tracks" debate :)

As GM said, there is no right or wrong way. Which do you want to model, a fresh aircraft off the assembly line, in between showing some use or a hard working one? I do agree that less is more so I tend to just show some use and try to be accurate working off from my reference material.

 

I agree...most is overdone, when compared to the real thing.

For me though, most "clean" builds are not very interesting. There's also a line where overdone becomes OVERdone...then I'd rather see a clean build! A little goes a long way!

I agree with GM and mississippivol. Sometimes less weathering goes a long way.

If you see a light at the end of this tunnel (thread), there will be a train attached to it. And yes, it's mostly overdone.

There's no right or wrong. It's a matter of personal preferences.

"Lots of the weathering I see on model forums done on a/c are over done."

From the point of view of accuracy, sure. But that by no means puts it in the overdone category.

I prefer accuracy in my models over the artistic. I have succumb to filling in panel lines on modern aircraft but am moving away from that.