Rust reference

Today I am sitting here feeling sorry for myself as both Sue and I are suffering from a stinking cold. It always seems to happen to us as soon as we get a chance to relax. In the past, it would be because we would work all year and as soon as we took the foot off the pedal, to wind down for Christmas and new year, we would catch something. Last year we had a busy year and we also hosted a family gathering on the 30th of December, so we had been full on for a few weeks. On new years eve, I sat down and said to Sue that we can now relax for a bit before getting on with the new workshop. That was it, almost immediately the nose was running and the coughing started. I think we are over the worst now, and work will continue with the garden buildings next week, weather permitting.

For now, I have been keeping busy doing my second favourite thing, research. For a while now I have been thinking about doing a spot of plastic scale modelling. Years ago, as a teenager, I was very keen. In fact my first job, after leaving college, was working for a publisher who published a model magazine. 

Looking at the the current model scene, things are very different now compared to my active days, fifty years ago! Today it is more about the painting than the modelling. There is a kit available for most subjects and with the mass of after-market accessories available, most things are catered for. Take a look on Youtube to see some remarkable creations in paint. Some of the rust effects look fantastic, but there seems to be one thing missing to me - they are flat. Take a look at the picture of a container below. The paint is flaking around the the rust and leaving a raised edge.      

Real rust!

An old-school method of doing this is to use salt as a mask. The model is painted in a rust colour first, and then the salt is applied damp in mounds. This is left to dry before spraying with the final finish, building it up around the salt. Once dry the salt can be carefully removed leaving the topcoat gently lifting around the rusted area. Today's chipping and weathering effects can be added to enhance the look. I intend to explore the art of 'grot' modelling soon. I will post the results here.

Ralph.