....One thing I found interesting in those videos, was how a RAL paints would not fade beyond the original colour. And what effect do we all try to replicate? Admittedly it helps with a scale effect but it's food for thought.

Reminded me of a conversation I had with an old Churchill driver at a model show a few years back and how he felt weathering, particularly rust, was over done and unrealistic on many of the models on show. I keep that in mind quite often in my builds.

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....One thing I found interesting in those videos, was how a RAL paints would not fade beyond the original colour. And what effect do we all try to replicate? Admittedly it helps with a scale effect but it's food for thought.

Reminded me of a conversation I had with an old Churchill driver at a model show a few years back and how he felt weathering, particularly rust, was over done and unrealistic on many of the models on show. I keep that in mind quite often in my builds.

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Yes-- good observation, as an old tanker myself, I find that modelers frequently overdo rust and weathering effects. Not that equipment doesn't wear out, and get incredibly dirty, but a lot of equipment isn't around long enough to get wickedly rusty. And some equipment isn't allowed to weather-- its repaired or replaced. When ones life depends on it, you tend to take care of it. That's not to say equipment doesn't take a beating, but making it a "rust bucket" isn't conducive to good operating order. Different "touch up" paint shades are also frequently overlooked by modelers who frequently go for the rust patches instead. Then one should also consider that for a lot of Axis equipment in DAK, , it was only in N. Africa for 2 1/2 years at best (except the Italians) and Allied equipment even less so(Americans). Commonwealth equipment might be an exception. So "rusting out" is probably overdoing it. I just saw a video and feature on another site this AM where the modeler heavily weathered the new 1/72 TAKOM V2, SS100 and Vidalwagen. He's obviously never read "Hitler's Rocket Soldiers". Those vehicles and equipment weren't around long enough to be that heavily weathered and the equipment was kept in top shape since the crews and equipment were considered "elite" troops. So your observations are correct-- a little well placed rust and dirt is OK, but one needs to consider the operational environment, usage rates and the environmental conditions as well.
VR, Russ