Weathering a copper hull

[Ray1981]

Hi Folks,

 

I was thinking when I have painted the hull of my kit in copper and apply a matt finish I could weathering it with Humbrol Chrome oxide. This has a greenish color. I could even use a little yellow the sand weathering power to soften the green a little.

 

I would like to experiment a little with those weathering powders now I got them at home waiting for me.

 

Anybody has some thoughts about that?

 

http://www.humbrol.com/us-en/shop/weathering/weathering-powders.html

 

Grtz Ray

[PeterJohn]

Hi Ray,

 

I'm kinda new to the plastic sailing ship hobby. I just started my third, an old 1:96 scale model of the Cutty Sark, and painting the hulls with flat acrylics. But the thing is just looking too new!. I want to go for an aged, weathered look. There has to be a simple way, but I can't find whole lot of info about it.

 

Will you post the results you got with the weathering powders, and how you did it?

 

Thanks. Good luck with your build!

Pete

[Ray1981]

Hi Pete yes i will post the results. I had to work for a while so im not at home (i travell a lot for work) so please be patience and I will show if this is working. Further i recommend you to check the the Log from dafi on the victory and do a search on Le Superbe from BE you will get some nice ideas.

 

Im new to to this hobby and this was just something I thought that might work.......who knows

 

 

grtz Ray

[slow2cool]

Ray 

I also have never done any weathering.

Like Pete said hope you post how you do it and results

Joe

[Ray1981]

Hi Folks

 

I've been trying some things regarding this weathering of a copper hull. I've done 3 tests.

 

1) Using the Humbrol Chrome Oxide with a gloss verniz. The result is vissible on th etop right of the test plate I used. As you can see this is a dissaster.

 

2) I used the Humbrol Chrome Oxide with Decal soft from Revell so you get a wash effect. The procedure works better but it is not the right color (Chrome has a different color while oxidized as Copper so makes sense). Result is vissible on the right bottom side.

 

3) I took a turquoise enamel paint and applied the dry brush technique. This result is visible on the left side.

 

I think I will go for option 3 even though I really would like to use these powders as I have seen nice results but for this purpose I think it doesnt work. The turquoise has a much more realistic color for copper oxide.

 

 

But if anybody has other opinions or ideas feel free to give them.

 

Grtz Ray

[Edinrog]

I set out an empty cat box and collected some cat urine. I know it will turn copper green, but I've not had a chance to try it on a completed hull yet. A little goes a long way and you'd best do gthis outside! Edinrog

[Jaager]

I came across this product on Amazon:

 

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/8626-what-have-you-received-today/page-53#entry399523

[xken]

Try this it might work better and not smell as bad. My wife uses this all the time on her copper garden artwork.

Here is a link.

 

https://www.jaxchemical.com/jaxshop/shopexd.asp?id=19

[Bob Cleek]

If you are going to accurately "weather" a ship model that has a copper sheathed bottom, there won't be any copper color to be seen.  Even a new coppered bottom will, within a few weeks, turn to a verdigris green color.  Once the vessel has been in the water for a few months, that will remain to some extent at the waterline, but below that it will be fouled with a lot of dark green and dark brown growth which will look almost black from a distance.  For modeling purposes, if one wants the "used" look, rather than a pristine "as built" presentation, one might as well use paper sheets rather than the fancy copper foil the kit makers sell and paint it accordingly.  Trying to achieve a "patina" on a copper bottom by treating the copper is a lot harder than just painting it.  Even left alone, new copper will turn a pleasant, and accurate, brown color after it's been in the case for a few years.  Take a look at the pennies in your pocket.

Edited July 14, 2016 by Bob Cleek

[Robin Lous]

Another way...

 

Basecoat the copper plates black. Then airbrush the plates with copper (Vallejo Metal Color range is really good). Wash with emerald green and a wash mix of black and brown after that. Can highlight with the airbrush with copper again (very lightly..a thin layer).

[Fright]

I ran across a modeler who used Brandon Enterprises weathering powder on his painted copper hull. He used FF-162 kit which includes Old Yeller, Green Grunge, The Blues and Used Brick powders. Used sparingly! It looks pretty impressive! I plan on going this route with my Constitution build.