7. Weathering

With the major assembly completed, the next daunting task for me was weathering the sub. “Daunting” because I had never weathered any models before, let alone a sub! Luckily there are numerous Web sites that gave very good examples of weathering this sub, from near-pristine to rusted-out hulks, and lots in between.

I used several different products for weathering this sub:

  • Rustall™ black wash and rust finish
  • Modelmaster enamel paints:
    • #2096 Schokoladenbraun (dark brown)
    • #2111 Italian Dark Brown (medium brown)
    • #1785 Rust (red-brown rust)
  • Tamiya Weathering Master Sets

Rustall™ black wash was used over the entire sub to accentuate the crevices and shadows.

Rustall™ rust was used primarily on the weld seams on the lower hull below the waterline, applied with a paint brush and allowed to run along the seams and accumulate in the corners. The more you apply, the more rust is deposited… a very good product.

ModelMaster enamel paints were used to create a variety of rust effects, particularly on the upper edges of the upper hull, inside the anchor cavity, and around the lower flooding holes. The #2096 dark brown colour simulates older rust, and is typically in the ‘core’ of an older rusted section. The #2111 medium brown was used on the outer edges of the dark rust sections, and then the lighter #1785 Rust colour was used on the outside edges. The colours were then blended together to produce the desired effect of layered, crusted rust.

For light surface rust, I drybrushed the #1785 Rust colour across the various parts of the sub.

Tamiya Weathering Master Sets B & C contain a very good variety of pastel powders that are very easy to apply with the included sponge pad and brush. Of particular use were the Gunmetal, Soot, Rust, and Orange Rust powders. These supplemented all of the other rust effects to simulate crusting rust, washes (down vertical surfaces), lightly rusted highlights, worn-off paint, etc..

Using all of these products and techniques I obtained the look I was going for: somewhere between subtle and over-the-top.

Weathering on port bow Weathering on port tower & upper hull using paint & Tamiya Weathering Masters. Rusting on lower hull welds primarily done with RustAll Rusting effects on lower hull primarily done with RustAll Top view of tower showing rusting effects from paint & Tamiya Weathering Masters. Weathering on wooden deck from light sanding, washes, and drybrushing. Heavy rusting effect on anchor and anchor bay. Anchor crusting rust effect created by surface coating of flour (after applying liquid glue), then painting and drybrushing, and finally using Tamiya Weathering Masters Weathering on rear deck using rust paint and Tamiya Weathering Masters Weathering on lower verandah platform and 37mm cannon