At the High Table in the Great Hall, after bidding farewell to Lady Isadora and Sylvia, Lord Charles turned to Sir George Widgeon III. His blue eyes, normally piercing and discerning, now held a hint of concern as he spoke.

"George, what do you make of Admiral Tregowan's peculiar preoccupation with Miss Silverwood? He's concerned about the numerous connections she seems to have with individuals in his secretive sphere, individuals gathered here, to be precise. Despite being under surveillance for a considerable period, the only points of interest his agents have unearthed are her time in Germany and her German studies during her school years—up until her acquaintance with Riccardo Bianchi, who is, as we're both aware, quite well-documented himself."

"It's most peculiar. Tregowan is usually the epitome of composure, but this... it's unlike him."

"I suspect it's the strain of command. The agency is stretched thin, and with Dorothea away for the holidays, he's without his right hand. It's a lot for one man, even for the Admiral."

"True, the absence of his assistant at such a critical time is far from ideal. But do you really think it's just overwork, Charles? Or could there be merit to his concerns about Miss Silverwood?"

"Well, paranoia is often the bedfellow of intelligence work, but the Admiral's instincts have rarely led us astray. Still, I can't help but wonder if fatigue is clouding his judgment."

"Perhaps. Yet, we can't dismiss his intuitions outright."

"He wants us to investigate Miss Silverwood as a matter of urgency."

"Yes, you mentioned that he would appreciate our assistance."

"Certainly, George. We must tread carefully. It's a delicate balance between trust and caution. Tomorrow, let's convene in my study to finalise our impressions. The Admiral awaits a comprehensive analysis from Huw, who will synthesise interviews with all security-cleared personnel now at the Castle regarding their assessments of Miss Silverwood. The question is, could she be a Communist spy, indoctrinated at university in Germany? If our circle of nine has uncovered no cause for suspicion, we can deem the matter resolved. Huw's report will, of course, be thorough yet concise, capturing every pertinent detail and impression of Miss Silverwood, no matter how unlikely the notion of her being a Communist infiltrator."

"Capital idea, my friend. Let's hope the New Year brings some respite for him and clarity for us all."

When I did my first weathering a long time ago I practiced on a small piece of plastic sheet that I had scored some lines on and then sprayed with grey primer. I also used gouache paints which are entirely water soluble even long after they have dried. It meant I learned how paint and washes settled in crevices and how to dry brush colour. I could wash off the colour and start afresh with a clean test piece until I knew what I was doing. I did eventually use some weathering powders on the same test piece.

Quote from: Grassyfield on Yesterday at 11:18:11 AMSo do you weather over factory finish?, also what do you use for panel lining a wash? and what kind of paint.

Yes, I generally take the model out of the box, check it runs well and then start work on weathering. Usually do the streaking and panel lining first, followed by airbrushed acrylic paint. Then some more streaking and finally powders to finish off and a few minor touch ups like grease on buffers etc.. using a brush.

Have a look at what's out there regarding products - Vallejo, AK Interactive, Mig Ammo etc.. are good places to start.

I was a fan back in 1969 and a few years after, but you're not gonna like this Mick...

I just watched your link, and all I could think was, I wish it would hurry up and finish! 

Quote from: Grassyfield on Yesterday at 11:29:18 AM

Quote from: steadfast on Yesterday at 08:28:12 AMRTR models are not varnished in the factory. They are painted, then tampo printed with the livery details.

Thinners can remove the tampo printing (handy for renumbering or rebranding) so I always seal with a coat of varnish before weathering.

Oil paints and enamels are very different beasts. Both use an oil based carrier, but they behave in different ways - I recommended some research into oil paint weathering via Google and YouTube if this is something that you want to try. The beauty of oils is their slow drying time and the ability to blend them nicely.

Enamels can be used for weathering too, as can acrylics but each have pros and cons and different ways of working. Again, YouTube and Google well worth a look, especially some of the foreign and non railway modelling. The aircraft and military modellers do some amazing techniques.

I've just found this as a good starting point explaining about washes.
https://youtu.be/hYHF8xKj1Ug?si=JwdvIqWoIYLFbADj

Jo

I thought and ahve herd that the locos do have a factory finish on them  to protect to them handling are u sure about that, i guess RTR means ready to run.

Factory finish refers to the paint and printing on the model. If they were varnished, you wouldn't be able to renumber locos by scratching the number off with a fingernail or cocktail stick. Bachmann printing comes off particularly easily, whilst Dapol is the opposite extreme and can be harder wearing than the surrounding paint. On various makes of models, I have never had to sand through varnish to renumber. Additionally, I've had thinners accidentally remove the tampo printing when weathering, so it's definitely not sealed with varnish.

Jo

Quote from: Grassyfield on Yesterday at 11:26:51 AM

Quote from: steadfast on Yesterday at 08:28:12 AMRTR models are not varnished in the factory. They are painted, then tampo printed with the livery details.

Thinners can remove the tampo printing (handy for renumbering or rebranding) so I always seal with a coat of varnish before weathering.

Oil paints and enamels are very different beasts. Both use an oil based carrier, but they behave in different ways - I recommended some research into oil paint weathering via Google and YouTube if this is something that you want to try. The beauty of oils is their slow drying time and the ability to blend them nicely.

Enamels can be used for weathering too, as can acrylics but each have pros and cons and different ways of working. Again, YouTube and Google well worth a look, especially some of the foreign and non railway modelling. The aircraft and military modellers do some amazing techniques.

I've just found this as a good starting point explaining about washes.
https://youtu.be/hYHF8xKj1Ug?si=JwdvIqWoIYLFbADj

Jo

I dont get it, would i use enamel thinner on oil paints or only on enamel paints?.

Me personally I use white spirit for enamels, and Sansodor (a low odour turpentine style thinner) for oils, but you can use white spirit with oils, like in the video I linked previously.

Sansodor is a gentler solvent than white spririt, so less risk of attacking underlying finishes. I've seen people on YouTube using it to clean up after using enamel washes, so works with them too.

Whilst oils and enamels both use oil based products as their carriers, they are very different products.

Jo

Quote from: Newportnobby on Yesterday at 11:44:36 AMFor me, the best era of Jethro Tull with this super concert finishing with their signature "Wind Up/Locomotive Breath/Dambusters March". I saw them 3 or 4 times at this point, and also with the "Broadsword" tour and the "A" tour but always considered this the best........

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeVVPJRFgUTPF_pvfa3-Gd0ptojgL30wN

I saw JT three or four times when I was MUCH younger but mainly because my mates dragged me along.
They were a band I never took to at all I'm afraid.
Each to their own though.

Quote from: Newportnobby on Yesterday at 11:44:36 AMFor me, the best era of Jethro Tull with this super concert finishing with their signature "Wind Up/Locomotive Breath/Dambusters March". I saw them 3 or 4 times at this point, and also with the "Broadsword" tour and the "A" tour but always considered this the best........

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeVVPJRFgUTPF_pvfa3-Gd0ptojgL30wN

Good memories, my first year of Uni

For me, the best era of Jethro Tull with this super concert finishing with their signature "Wind Up/Locomotive Breath/Dambusters March". I saw them 3 or 4 times at this point, and also with the "Broadsword" tour and the "A" tour but always considered this the best........

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeVVPJRFgUTPF_pvfa3-Gd0ptojgL30wN

Quote from: steadfast on Yesterday at 08:28:12 AMRTR models are not varnished in the factory. They are painted, then tampo printed with the livery details.

Thinners can remove the tampo printing (handy for renumbering or rebranding) so I always seal with a coat of varnish before weathering.

Oil paints and enamels are very different beasts. Both use an oil based carrier, but they behave in different ways - I recommended some research into oil paint weathering via Google and YouTube if this is something that you want to try. The beauty of oils is their slow drying time and the ability to blend them nicely.

Enamels can be used for weathering too, as can acrylics but each have pros and cons and different ways of working. Again, YouTube and Google well worth a look, especially some of the foreign and non railway modelling. The aircraft and military modellers do some amazing techniques.

I've just found this as a good starting point explaining about washes.
https://youtu.be/hYHF8xKj1Ug?si=JwdvIqWoIYLFbADj

Jo

I thought and ahve herd that the locos do have a factory finish on them  to protect to them handling are u sure about that, i guess RTR means ready to run.