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Basic Weathering with Chalks

December 17, 2005

Basic Weathering with Chalks by Alan Olson:

Using chalks to add weathering is very easy and quick. It
also has the advantage of being reversible.
You will need some soft brushes to apply the chalks and a
can of Testors "Dull Cote" spray to use a fixative.
I suggest that you practice on an inexpensive piece of
rolling stock, something that you can experiment on without
regret. The best place to start is with the trucks - a
small amount of weathering here can make a big difference
and bring out the hidden details.
The chalks come in stick form and are sold at craft and
art supply stores. There are also sets of chalks that are
available at hobby shops that have a range of colors
suitable of weathering.
I recommend that you start with a stick of medium warm
gray to represent a mixture of grime and dust. Warm gray
has a small amount of brown mixed in with black and white
to give it an earthy tone. Ask for help if you are not sure
about the color. You will need to convert the stick to a
powder by rubbing the stick on a piece of 120 grit sand
paper. Rub the stick over a container until you have a
small supply of chalk dust.
Dip a small one quarter inch wide soft brush into the dust
and apply it directly onto the surface to be weathered. Use
the brush just as if you are applying paint and don’t be
afraid to put it on thick. This first application will give
you a good idea of how the weathering will look. Do not
apply any fixative at this point! If you do not like the
color or think that the amount of chalk is too heavy,
simply wash the part with warm, soapy water. The chalk will
come right off.
Compare a weathered part of the car with a non-treated
section so that you can determine if you have the amount of
color intensity you need.
When you are satisfied with the level of weathering you
will need to apply a fixative so that the chalk will not
rub off during handling. You will find that when the Dull
Cote is applied the chalk will disappear. Once the fixative
has dried the chalk color will come back but not with its
original intensity. Do not worry! All you need to do is
repeat the process of applying the chalk and fixative until
you are satisfied with the look. It may take several coats
of chalk and fixative to achieve a noticeable amount of
weathering.
That was easy! Now you can move on to other areas of the
car. Add some black chalk to the gray powder and apply it
to the roof or perhaps use some white and add streaking to
the lettering. If you would like to see all the different
chalk weathering techniques, then order “Weathering with
Chalks” by Alan Olson