1949 Ford Coupe----Worn

I've been trying new (to me) weathering techniques. A few days ago I got out a model that I completed a couple of years ago. At the time I thought it was great, but looking at it I decided it deserved to be disassembled and to go in the pond. That done, I am rebuilding it as a car that has seen better days. The owner is trying to improve it as evidenced by the replacement door and fender. He still has a long way to go before it will be done. So far I have pretty well got the body done.







There is more to come in the near future. Comments, suggestions, and friendly ridicule always welcome.

and friendly ridicule always welcome.

Would we do that to you? :roll:
Looks grerat John. Nice work. Now spill the beans and tell us how you did it.

Great start.

Lookin' good! Not over the top and in jus' the right places. Keep going. I like it.

Skid wrote:

and friendly ridicule always welcome.

Would we do that to you? :roll:
Looks grerat John. Nice work. Now spill the beans and tell us how you did it.

Al: First a coat of Model Master Stainless Steel Metalizer from the rattle can. After that dried then a coat of Floquil Polyscale acrylic Rust color--a model railroad paint, shot from an airbrush. After that dried a coat of Sinful Colors nail polish--cheap stuff--can't remember what they called the color; again shot from an airbrush..

After everything was dry I used polishing cloths to remove layers of color until I had the effect I wanted. I want to do a ittle more and then comes the BMF. I think I will use aluminium rather than chrome. Have you got a good way to age the BMF????? Finally I'll shoot a some dull coat to seal everything.

In the desert southwest you see a lot of old cars with this type of wear of the paint. I guess it comes from exposure to the HOT sun.

Nice! I'd dent it up some, maybe a scratch with an x-acto then bare metal or rust, yes, more rust! Getting some trim off and attachment holes in body always work well!
A thought I have never tried, I wonder if a small brush using semi-gloss or flat clear on foil would work? Also, I don't know if the "aluminum" finish foil would look too much like aluminum paint and not enough like chrome that is pitted and partly dull.
Thanx for good photos and interesting color choices on the body.

So far so good- missing trim, revealing the fastner holes always looks good.

On the aging BMF front- and I've not tried this, how about a weak ammonia solution?
Or a weak caustic soda solution.

I suggest 'em because I know both chemicals attack aluminium.
BMF is aluminium............

'Test on inconspicious area first" as they say with carpet cleaners.

Thanks for the explanation John, I thought that was the method you'd used.

As for the chrome trim:

In the desert southwest you see a lot of old cars with this type of wear of
the paint. I guess it comes from exposure to the HOT sun.

I'm assuming you are going to place this car in your desert garage dio!

Well, if it's been a desrt car all it's life the chrome IMO isn't going to have rusted much. The biggest cause of rust is the metal constantly getting wet and then drying out again. Repeat ad nauseum.

I think what you need is 'dulled' chrome which the alluminium BMF should replicate nicely methinks.

When applied I think a slightly thicker than normal 'rust wash' could be applied in strategic places like the mounting bolt heads.

When still wet, sprinkle talcum powder over the wash and let it dry. When dry gently dab on some more wash.

Finally, dull coat it with some matt clear and I think the job will be complete.

I think this Buick is a perfect example:


HTH

I would not want to discourage anyone from weathering models. Certainly adds more realism to them. Skid as some good advice. Desert cars won't have much cancerous rust, but more dry, overall, pitted rust. Merely sanding thru the finish paint to primer in a few high spots is a common way to give the effect of weathering and/or oxydizing, but usually looks contrived. Take your inspiration from nature, and look at rusted 1/1's for natural patterns of weathered effects.
Your Ford is well on the way to be outstandingly more interesting than a box stock assembly.

I agree that the Aluminum BMF with dull coat on it or Krylon Satin Clear, would look like old stainless.

Your Ford is well on the way to be outstandingly more interesting than a box
stock assembly.

I think that is a matter of personaly opinion Clay. One man's meat is another mans poison.

I have to take exception to the idea that the technique I used is contrived. It is a common type of weathering that occurs in the desert southwest. This patina comes from years of exposure to the dry desert sun. I do agree that rusting found on desert cars is generally of a surface type and in most cases does not affect the structural integrity until many, many years have passed. Here are a few photos of 1:1 vehicles to support my belief. These are actually over the top compared to the weathering I have done.







There are many types of weathering; this is just one of them.

Lookin good John!

Finished off the coupe today. This was a rebuild and I had forgotten just how warped this particular kit was. Much cussing during the build. Photos in the Finished Work thread.