I posted this thread in the Aircraft forum but there didn't seem to be any interest in it. Maybe someone around here could offer some advice.


I'm starting a new project today. It is an Accurate Miniatures Yak-1 with skis. According to the directions and other reference material I've been able to find, this plane left the factory with the standard camo scheme of black and dark green. In the winter it was coated in a casein based white paint applied with mops, rags, brushes or anything else that was on hand. There is significant wear and "bleed through" on the pictures I've found and that is what I want to replicate.
My question is what is the best way to achieve this? Should I paint on the black and green camo and then spray the white over top or should I paint the Yak white and then rub in some patches of green and black.........sort of like a wash?

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
Hermon

Hermon, I think you'll achieve the most realistic look by painting in the normal way, then spraying a thin white coat and 'polishing' afterwards with micromesh cloth to rub back some of the white without removing the base colours. This way you can control exactly where you want the white to appear thin or even absent entirely.

Vinnie

Hey thanks Vinnie, that's great!

One more question if I may. To use the technique you describe, would I be better off using enamel or acrylic paints? I have almost a full range of both.

Thanks again,
Hermon

Hermon, to use the technique I've described I would use enamels for the basecoat/camouflage and Acrylic for the white, as the acrylics will be much easier to remove, both to achieve the effect you're after and in case you make a mistake.

Vinnie

Enamel base and acrylic white coat. Got it!
I'm about a week from being ready for paint and decals so that'll give me time to do some test runs on an old junker kit.

Thanks again for your help Vinnie

Hermon