Mick Bonwick's Blog

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PDK Maunsell L1 class 4-4-0 No. 1783. Step 5 - The Other Sides.

Entry posted by Mick Bonwick September 30, 2019

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The next step was a repeat of the previous, really, but I have deliberately posted separately to illustrate the difference that one light coat can make once manipulated. The process is the same - a light airbrushed coat from one end of the locomotive to the other, followed by a vertical brushing with a dry flat shader. It is possible that the paint has dried too quickly for this to have an effect, so there is a process that can address that. The flat shader can be slightly dampened by adding a couple of drops of white spirit to the bristles. This is not done by dipping the bristles in white spirit, but by using a disposable pipette (or similar device) to add a couple of drops and then briefly work the bristles in a circular motion on a paper towel.

The damp brush method can be used at any time during weathering to manipulate small amounts of paint, and it works just as well with acrylics as with enamels. You have to be much quicker with acrylics, though, because of the faster drying.

With any luck you should be able to see how the manipulation of thin layers starts to have an effect on the airbrushed surface: