[quote]Greg,
1)Take a look at this 24 minute video, "5 Weathering Techniques for Beginners" by Panzermeister 36, It's the best short, down and dirty generic video I've seen for explaining what to do:
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=top+5+weathering+techniques+for+beginner&view=detail&mid=E733570FF5FCEBA35357E733570FF5FCEBA35357&FORM=VIRE2)Get over to Hobby Lobby in Tacoma or Lakewood, they have "Masters Touch" oil paint kits on sale right now at 50% off--you can get a set of 26 oil paints with brushes (crappy brushes), pencils, a rectangular mixing tray, and a nice wooden box (which can be used as a diorama base!). These are cheap oils, but they are all you need for washes and filters, and work great. At 50% off-- the set will cost you about $13.
3)Pick up some Dullcoat, some Testor's Airbrush Thinner,and some Weber's "Turpenoid Light" while you are there, and some good camel hair or soft nylon brushes (small square tip, small round tip are best) if you don't already have them.
4)Proceed as follows:
a) Watch the video again.
b) Dullcoat your Lifecolor (or other paint) completely (this is an important step) and let it dry 24 hours.
(c)Squeeze out some of the oils on a paper towel and let it sit a few hours (leeches out the linseed oil).
d) Follow the instructions in the video for pin washes, washes and filters. Use the Turpenoid Light for thinning and washing. Don't be alarmed if your finish fades or "frosts" a little as it dries.
e)Allow to dry for a day, then Dullcoat everything again. The Dullcoat will correct any "frosting" or fading if it occurs.
I like to decant my Dullcoat into my airbrush and thin it about 70% Dullcoat and 30% with Testor's "red can" airbrush thinner (comes in a pint sized red can). It just provides a smoother more controllable finish that way. Dullcoating protects the underlying paint from the otherwise mild "Turpenoid Light), and a second Dullcoat finish will seal in the wash/filter permanently. You can also go over the finish with a second coat of filter/dulcoat if you want to increase the effects.
Over on Missing Lynx is a tutorial by MIG, but it uses their products, which is fine, but frankly, you don't need to go to the expense of buying Mig products for good washes and filters. If you want, here's the link to the Missing Lynx article, but the Panzermeister video is easier to follow:
http://missing-lynx.com/rareworld.htm Some folks swear that you can't use oils over flat finishes and recommend Future to seal in the base colors, but that's untrue--sometimes oils work best on flat finishes in washes, pin washes, and filters--watch the Panzermeister36 video and see.
Hope this helps.
VR, Russ
Is that the enamal dull coat or lacquer or does it matter ?