Any ideas on how to make an engine look old and dirty

[KyModelMan]

Does anyone here have any ideas on how to make an engine look grimy and dirty? I'm currently building a 1964 Chevy truck into a salvage yard truck. Its not going to look like a total junker but I don't want the engine to look brand new either. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[CAL]

Does anyone here have any ideas on how to make an engine look grimy and dirty? I'm currently building a 1964 Chevy truck into a salvage yard truck. Its not going to look like a total junker but I don't want the engine to look brand new either. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Ink washes and Tamiya dirt chalks.

[KyModelMan]

Ink washes and Tamiya dirt chalks.

Thanks CAL....I'll give that a try

[Lyle Willits]

I use washes of water based acrylic paints, like Polly Scale or Testors acrylics. These are flat paints. Used watered-down metallics, browns, dark grays, etc. depending on how grimey you want it.

[Eshaver]

I use the Testors Rust , it comes as a color in theirsmall bottles. I usually thin it and apply it .to the engine. I also use the Cheap acrylic paints from Michiels Art stores. The water paints are flatter and to me replicates the rust better to me any way. Old used thinner is also a favorite to me too. you can incorperate that into the engine for a semi gloss shine to depict oil leakage. Ed shaver

[59 Impala]

I use a combonation of testors paint, tamiya paint and grunge to try and create an old, well used engine. Here are some of pics of a 53 Ford Flathead I did.

Dan

[Olle F]

I did this when weathering the engine bay in the picture below:

I painted everything flat or satin enamels (IMO, any glossy finishes will look out of place), and used washes to simulate dirt and rust. It doesn't show in the picture, but I also used some glossy, black wash in areas where you usually find oil leaks. Some parts that usually rust (like the generator, inner fenders, radiator support etc.) were stipple painted flat black and rust colored paint to give them a rough finish, then dusted with rust colored pastel chalk. To simulate paint flaking off of the radiator, I painted it a brass metallic, masked with liquid masking, sprayed a thin coat of black and then unmasked it to reveal the "brass" underneath. I made my own weathering powder from dry pastel chalks, I happened to have a large set with about 100 different colors, and it sure came in handy. You can buy them in any good crafts store, they come in just about any color you want and they are way cheaper than special weathering powders.

My best advice is to take pictures of engines in real cars and study them thoroughly, so you know where to apply dirt, rust, chipping paint, oil leaks and other details. It will also give you a good idea of what colors you need to use. I'm definitely not an expert on this, but I would say that most of the realism lies in applying the right finish in the right place. Simple and easy details like a slight oil leak around a leaking valve cover can add a lot of realism.

[MikeMc]

Does anyone here have any ideas on how to make an engine look grimy and dirty? I'm currently building a 1964 Chevy truck into a salvage yard truck. Its not going to look like a total junker but I don't want the engine to look brand new either. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

if you want old and greasy start with flat primer and go from there. BUT it is a salvage yard truck and they just got a totaled 454 Caprice SS in, and that big motor would fit so nice..........

[gkulchock]

Rust-All system and pastel chalks work great for me.

[Raydee]

Drive it until it is old and dirty!!!!

[bobss396]

Put your household pets to work for you! Feed them nothin' but Taco Bell and White Castle for a week, put the engine in the cat box and let things happen!

Bob

[drekcreg]

after the "usual" weathering techniques(powders, chalks, paint, etc.), ive also had realistic luck with real sludge. simply go out to ur personal vehicle in the drive(unless its brand new), and swipe ur finger along the oil pan, block, etc. apply to the engine and there u have it. oh, and please dont do this right after driving the car. i shouldnt have to say that, but theres always that ONE guy out there... haha hope this helps.

[cruz]

Rust-All system and pastel chalks work great for me.

Hey, stop using real car photos to explain your techniques!!!! Remember, we are talking 1/25 scale cars here!!!

[slowly]

Go to your car and swipe a fingerfull of oily residue Other than that I just smack on some tamiya smoke and while it is still wet sand up some chalk pastel or charcoal and drybrush it into the smoke in all the usual places. or you can paint the engine whatever colour you want, fill a small container with very fine dirt mixture and shake away! Another thing I do is go and snap some rust off the car in my garage waiting for a restoration, grind up the rust and pretty much use the same technique as with the container of dirt, then add tamiya smoke over the top of that and let it all soak in... hope this helps!