Bluemonkey presents....

Now the crates have had a base coat and a dark coat/shade, time to lighten the mood. Took these pics but the differences are a little too subtle for the camera and the lighting. From case colours and shades to adding a little more shade and dirt. From these 'darker' tones to dry brushing some new wood colour to all the crates to bring out highlights and lighten the wood, especially the newer ones. First up the crates after receiving final dark tones, left is the old crate and right while be the newer crate. Quite a difference for the dark crates once the highlight and lighter tones are add. Left is before and right is after. Almost a match for the first dirty pair. The newer wood crates, this time left is highlighted and right is base darker shades and tones. Now to go back and pick all the metal work out again, not so itchy as the first time around though.

Sorted! Rake of Aeros complete just need a touch of weathering and a few prop crates. Livery is rather striking.

Thank you for sharing Mikkel. Some very useful hints and tips and I also rather like your 'paint and pigment' method. Many things and techniques to learn before rushing into Bath Stone region. I continue to watch and be inspired Sir.

It is well and truly a table top production line again. After another long fight with two airbrushes.

Thank you kind Sir. I have to put it down to the clever paint manufacturers though, I just waft it around.

Very nice Mr Wolf, certainly a rabbit hole I'm stay well clear of! 🏃‍♂️🏃🏃‍♀️ Applied a wash of Agrax Earthshade last night to allow a decent drying period and to see effect on 'new wood' colour. Nice contrast between the new and old wood colours. Seems OK and certainly something that can be worked with. Probably only needs a little dry brushing of the new wood colour to finish. Don't want to 9ver do the newer wood. As for the older ones they have a Nuln Oil wash coming this morning.

It like that mountain climb. A real test on process but awesome at the top. Cheers Chris these are truly awesome. Really hope we can embark on some more/new projects together. Rocket launchers, moon mission (successful one) etc

Been slowed down a bit with the thought of all the metal work to paint. Today just got on with it. Just a stiff neck now but a few ciders will loosen that up 👆 Now for the washes. Not exactly sure how I'm going to attack the newer wood yet 🫣🤔🫣

Oops now my memory is slipping as well 🫣

Thank you for you lind comments. Look forward to seeing what you do with the Hydra and also your thoughts about the model itself. Got a feeling Chris did one as well a while ago.

You are too kind, my friend, after all you are the God father of modelling inspiration. Not to mention your own exquisite modelling.

The new decks are finished and the pictures are really not offering a very good visual. I used a mobile phone rather than my normal digital camera thing. I will try and repost the end product to give, hopefully a better representation. I am heading headlong into airbrush gate and itchy, fiddley metal detailing so having to build the correct head space to take these elements on (even though the wagons are little crackers!!!). The news that both Hatton's and The Warley Show are to cease has also knocked a little stuffing out of me and many others. I had purchased a number of decent models from Hatton's and am very sad to see a leading trader stop trading. I had always wanted to visit the Warley show but never really had enough funds to do so (probably the same for many), it was one of those 'bucket list' things I guess, bit like jumping out of a plane with a handkerchief on your back, zipping through Wales countryside on a wire, taking pictures of the artic night sky to see something later on 'film' better than reality or taking that hugely expensive trans-continent train journey 😉. We will see what the weekend brings my friends but a little nervous about 2024 and our hobby greats.

Reworked, firstly better coverage of dry brushed Faded Sinai Grey, then a good wash of Nuln Oil, followed with a good wash of Agrax Earthshade. Better and certainly darker than the camera suggests but not a match for the original. Just underlines if you require the same effect do them together as matching, even using the same process, is very tricky.

I know I said I wouldn't post about this anymore but I have discovered my error. It was simply that I had not applied enough Faded Sinai Grey when dry brushing. Discovered this when quickly catching the comparison deck up to the other three. Worth just laying around withe the technique. There are many ways to paint wood and weathering will add further, this process works for me and how my eye sees it.

It's subtle but there is a difference, honest. There is still something missing compared to the built Aero so I will add some Nuln Oil to see if that's it. I won't keep boring you with each stage as we are not at the part where it is up to the individual's requirement and 'eye' anyway. With the superb detail definition from Chuffinghell's print work and the use of layers of shades it is possible to have a goon many attempts to get the look you are after.

It can be a little tricky dry brushing with airbrush ready paint so a very light touch is required. The difference is subtle but with the Agrax should have more depth. Far right decks have been dry brushed.

The finished decking looks like this; Would normally be quite happy with this but it dies not really match the other one, which is a little richer in brown. From this stage you can play around with the shades and colour depth if you are not completely satisfied. I would like a little more brown so first off a light dry brush of Faded Sinai Grey and a wash of Agrax Earthshade. Don't forget the sides of the deck with each colour application.

From a wet mess we have; The 'new' planking is darker in appearance to the naked eye but I am going to add a flat wash of Agrax Earthshade to the decks to try a pull a little more brown out of the wood. Once dry tis will probably be followed by another wash of Nuln Oil to tone down and 'flatten' the shine of the Agrax, pics to follow.

A good splash of Nuln Oil wash. Doesn't need to be full coverage, this is down to how you like/want the appearance. I try for random pooling as well as full coverage. The full coverage is to give the deep well used but cared fir appearance. The newer planking seems to have pulled nicely the 'graining' effect but we will see in a few hours.

Couldn't real resist, so I have added a couple of replacement planks to some of the decks or at least started the process. This is just a very thin coat of light wood A.MIG 0038 to individual planks and the ends. Thin coats that are not uniform in colour strength give a reasonable appearance of graining. We'll see how well this holds after another wash or two. Next up once totally dry will be a wash of Nuln Oil.

Lol Mr Wolf sure am!! Next apply a decent amount of gun metal dry brushed and don't forget the edges. It is quite hard to this stage if you miss it but if you add too much colour it is easier to lose that. This will now be left over night or so to ensure dry and fixed as sometimes it is possible to remove or resite the metallic elements if the paint, even thought dry brushed. Ready to add the sky blue and purple sparkles ✨ 😉

Citadel washes applied. First Agrax Earthshade the Nuln Oil. Quite thick waves, leaving even uneven colour.

I shall have start posting some misdirections for fun 🙃

And so the various coating begins; Two more older wood, hopefully to match the first set and two in newer wood. All decks are going to be the same style of dark used wood.

Sounds like a book could be written with all of these experiences. The one I recall is winning an auction for an Aberdare. Then when carefully putting it in the to do loco kit box it was placed next to the other one already awaiting the build. Did even have it listed 🫣