"SALT TRICK" Paint-Flaking: Bench Tests
Searching for a method to depict chipped paint on my Type 96 Nell build - though, in the end I did not use this on that build - I was able finally to test out this long-pondered technique:
Learned right here on this Board (Thanks, Dave!), this technique employs ordinary table salt (NaCl):
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My first test of the above used truly "generic" table salt, as shown; the kind with tiny, uniform (if you were to look at them closely) rhomboid crystals, and differed from the original example in that: 1) I did not use a brush to arrange/clump the grains (see below), and 2) I did not use a blow-dryer to dry the salt, but simply allowed it to dry overnight:
I tested out three types of undercoat (top); from left-to-right, respectively: Testors® 1290 Chrome, Pactra® RC262 Indy Silver and Tamiya® TS-17 Gloss Aluminum - all from rattle-spray cans:
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The lineup was then sprayed uniformly with Testors® 1910 Dark Green (FS 34079) - again, allowed to dry overnight - after which as much of the salt as possible was broken free. I say "as much as possible" because the first (unexpected) observation was that the salt did not want to come free; even after using the stiffest toothbrush available, vigorous buffing using a paper towel was resorted to - already inducing the Pactra Indy Silver undercoat (center) to separate - and in all three tests leaving pitted/bumpy textures embedded in the paint finish; creating an impression more of corrosion than of paint flaking. Of the three, the least "corroded" appearance was retained by the Testors Chrome example (leftmost), and by far the most exhibited by the Tamiya Gloss Aluminum (rightmost).
Suspecting my repeated wetting-and-sprinkling to get larger salt clumps as the cause of the above (undesired) results, I tried again, this time starting off with larger/irregular salt chunks:
Click on Image to Enlarge
After spraying a uniform overcoat of Testors Dark Green, I then extended the test to include addition of a second topcoat color; a brown consisting of a mixture of Testors® 1955 Afrika Mustard (FS 30266) and 1954 Light Earth (FS 30140):
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The result (bottom and 2nd from bottom): the latex masking (of the blue stripe) was 100% successful - notwithstanding the very same "corroded" textures from the chipping - again, the salt bonded into the paints - as well as some separation of the Pactra Indy Silver base coat. At bottom, closeups of both the Pactra (left) and Tamiya (right) examples show the appearances as clearly as possible.
I concluded that neither of the above variations on the "salt-chipping" technique is acceptable for my current application - nor, indeed for 99% of all aircraft "weathering" - however it appears very promising for depicting substantial corrosion such as along waterlines (along with barnacles, etc.) on ships, or especially for depictions of wrecks.
If anyone(s) knows any other variations on this technique(s) involving salt - or what I may have done "wrong", in producing the above results - please don't hesitate to sing out!
Cheers,
-Matty
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