Some questions about weathering stock

[Newportnobby]

Nobby - if of interest I've got so many "nearly but not quite" 3D printed body shells I was thinking of seeing if they were of use as testers for this sort of thing. Postage cost only. They're all unpainted (and modern prototypes), but could be of use to you (or anyone else!).

Many thanks for the offer, Nick, but I have plenty of old stuff to practice on.

[Southerngooner]

The wagons I have shown in my "On my (interim) workbench" thread have all been done relatively simply. I go for an easy to do overall effect from a distance rather than spend time on close up splendour!

I put a coat of slightly thinned Revell acrylic olive brown 86 over the whole body, one side at a time, and then immediately wipe it off with a cotton bud (I recommend Johnson's as they don't seem to pull apart as much as cheaper ones!). The paint is the remnants of a tin which has been mixed with a little black and then white at various times to change the colour slightly for each batch. This  gives subtle changes in colour over time. I used to use enamel with the same technique but happened to have this tin of acrylic nearly finished to use this time.  I use Precision Dirty Black on the roofs and underframes, then do a little wash with a dirty brown/black mix if needed. Often it looks fine to me as it is.

None of these techniques are new, I've just picked them up on the way over the years. I find this technique very quick and easy, and managed to do 20 wagons yesterday in under an hour.

Hope this helps

Dave

[Newportnobby]

Another question please.
To thin acrylic paints can I use water or should I use an acrylic thinner? If the latter does it matter whose thinner I use with my paints.
If I use powdered water what do I dilute it with?

[Southerngooner]

I used to use water and was a bit dubious about acrylic thinners, but now I've used them for a while they do seem to be better, certainly for cleaning. If they clean better they Must mix better surely? That's my take on it....

Dave

[Dalteth]

Another question please.
To thin acrylic paints can I use water or should I use an acrylic thinner? If the latter does it matter whose thinner I use with my paints.
If I use powdered water what do I dilute it with?

I always use water to thin my acrylics.

One note to be careful of, I've found on occasion when using water to thin inks for a wash, it can leave a whitish residue. I'm assuming it's due to the water quality where I live, as I've only ever had it happen to me here, and not when I've lived elsewhere.

[guest311]

If I use powdered water what do I dilute it with?

just add water, Mick

[Newportnobby]

Thanks, Alan. I hadn't thought of that

[Jim Easterbrook]

I thin water based acrylics (for airbrushing) with a mixture of one part IPA to two parts de-ionised water.