Need a tip - weathering decals?

[Jantrix]

I'm building a couple of rat rods and I want some old flames or door art and I want it faded and a little scuffed. Before I waste paint and decals experimenting I was wondering if anyone had done this before and could give me a pointer or two please.

[Scale-Master]

If you use gloss paint as your base, and get really good adhesion of the decals to the paint, you can scuff them with very fine sandpaper once they are fully dry and the decals will react much like paint. Then shoot some dullcoat over them to kill the gloss. I hope that makes sense...

Edited June 9, 2011 by Scale-Master

[torinobradley]

I did some on my Bully rat rod. I did the gloss coat where the decals would go, then put little dabs of rubber cement in various places. Then, apply the decals over the rubber cement and once dry, you can rub off the cement with your fingers. That will do the chipping. Then, using some fine sandpaper, start sanding areas of the decal, some more than others to make that area more faded. Once your happy, a coat of dullcoat will make it all look better. Hope this helps, it worked for me.

Post the results!

[Jantrix]

Thanks gents. I'll give it a go. The paint itself is going to be very flat, but I'll shoot some acrylic clear where the decal is going to go.

Edited June 10, 2011 by Jantrix

[spad007]

I used 4 ought (0000#) steel wool once on a model plane and it worked a light touch is needed.