Weathering

Weathering is the stage after base painting and decals where a builder adds signs of dirt, wear, rust, fading, or damage so a model reads as something that has actually existed in the world rather than a fresh, uniformly painted shape. It covers a wide range of specific techniques, from a subtle panel line wash to heavy chipping and pigment work on a military vehicle meant to look like it just came out of the field.

Most weathering builds up in layers rather than being applied all at once. A typical order runs from a panel line wash for depth, to pigments or dry brushing for dust and highlights, to targeted paint chipping on edges and high-wear areas, with a clear coat often applied between stages to protect earlier work from being disturbed by the next. Reference photos of the real subject help keep weathering believable rather than random.

The most common mistake is overdoing every technique on a first attempt, since heavy weathering is much harder to walk back than light weathering is to add to. Starting subtle, stepping away from the model, and adding more only if it still looks too clean produces a more convincing result than committing fully to the heaviest effect in one pass.