How to do mild weathering?

[Kit Basher]

I'm looking for advice on how to make a car body look used. I'm not looking for "rusty and crusty". I want it to look like a 5-6 year old car where the paint's a little faded and it hasn't been washed in a while. I've started by rubbing out the paint to a sort of semi-gloss level (3600 grit paper and a white abrasive pad). That looks pretty good, but I'd like to add some dust, and smears from rain. Maybe dirty up the windows a bit too. I'm thinking of using the dull side of aluminum foil instead of BMF for the trim. Any suggestions?

Edit: I should add that I want the car to look like it is driven daily, not sitting and collecting dust, leaves, etc.

Edited August 24, 2015 by Kit Basher

[chunkypeanutbutter]

I think Tamiya has a set of weathering powders with "dust." If you'd rather make your own, I think white chalk or chalk pastel rubbed on sandpaper and cut in with a little yellow would make a good dust look.

Try it on a test body first. A good spray of dullcote will seal powders well.

[Foxer]

Powders will dull down and "dirty" it well as Miles says. Just use the BMF and use a simi-gloss or Dullcoat over it to tale shine away .. use a brush so it gets a spotty look .. still some shine is some protected areas.

[Kit Basher]

Thanks Miles and Mike. I think I would like to stay away from Dullcote if possible. I want the car to look faded, but not "flat" overall. Is there some other sealer for the powders that might work? How about Future? Or how about a very thin white/gray wash?

[snacktruck67]

Future will make itg shine too much for what you want.  I would go with the semi-gloss.

[JTalmage]

a flat clear acrylic spray applied with a few light dustings will also create a dusty/dry effect. 

[LoneWolf15]

A pastel chalk set would probably fit your needs .......

[Kit Basher]

Thanks guys. I do have a set of pastels, as well as regular blackboard chalk. I can play around with that, especially since I can wash it off if/when I need to. If I get a look I want, how do I make it permanent? Mike and Mike suggested a semi-gloss clear. Any suggestions about a good one to use? I do have an airbrush if that helps.

[chunkypeanutbutter]

Well, a good SG clear would be Krylon Matte Finish. It says matte but shows semigloss in daylight. Maybe decant it and airbrush it if you'd rather, but experiment with the rattlecan.

[Kit Basher]

Thanks, Miles. The model is painted with Testors enamel. Any chance the Krylon would be too hot to go over it? Is that what you used on your Scout and Datsun?

[chunkypeanutbutter]

Yep, I used Krylon on the Scout. I did on the Datsun, at first, but some people said it had too much shine for what it was so I used Dullcote.

[Jantrix]

I did this with an weathering kit I purchased at my LHS. It uses a chalk that has some sort of self adhesive in it. As you burnish it the chalk adheres more. I don't remember the company right now, but I'll check it out when I get home from work tonight. It was easy to use and I used a flat clear over it, no problems.

[Jantrix]

www.bragdonent.com

[Kit Basher]

Thanks, Rob. I will check it out.

[chunkypeanutbutter]

Yep, that's the powder system I have as well.

[slusher]

Thanks, Miles. The model is painted with Testors enamel. Any chance the Krylon would be too hot to go over it? Is that what you used on your Scout and Datsun?

Hugh i use Krylon and Rustoleum all the time and its safe with or without primer...

[Kit Basher]

Thanks, Carl!