How-To #1: "The Art of Turning Toys into Models" Booklet by
Richard E. (Ben) Bendever
The below information & images are an
abbreviated version directly from our
Doctor Ben's How-To
#1 booklet where we describe our Realistic Weathering Solutions
techniques. We share this information and technique with you both on-line
in our Blog (June
2015) and in the printed booklet format. The Doctor Ben's Realistic
Weathering Solutions are ready-to-use with no preparation necessary and all that
is required is an ordinary hobby brush and your active imagination.
Doctor Ben’s has one of the most
comprehensive selections of weathering products that you will find. For some,
the choices can be overwhelming. The following will provide a brief oversight
into each of the weathering products and provide some background, as well as the
benefits, of each. Additionally, each product line has a How-To booklet that
provides techniques that, by using them, enable the modeler to recreate the look
that is described in each booklet. In the event that you have a specific issue
that you are unable to resolve, please call or send us an email with your
questions, and we will be happy to assist you in your weathering challenge.
Ready-To-Use
Weathering Solutions
The Doctor Ben’s Weathering Solutions are
the original products that I used to describe in my weathering clinics many
years ago. Originally, I simply mixed the Industrial Weathering Pigments
(described in detail below) with Isopropyl rubbing alcohol and applied them with
a brush, allowing gravity and capillary actions to do most of the work.
The Doctor Ben’s Weathering Solutions
process goes a step further than either of these methods. The Doctor Ben’s
Weathering Solutions are colorfast like the George Sellios technique, but they
are refined on by the inclusion of the Doctor Ben’s Industrial Weathering
Pigments, which brings in a third dimension. When applying a wash of India
ink/shoe dye and alcohol to a model or detail, the alcohol will evaporate,
leaving just the color on the surface of the model. This third dimension that
the inclusion of the Industrial Weathering Pigments provides makes the process
not simply a color application (like the shoe dye/India ink methods), but it
also allows the modeler to build up a texture. This results in changing a
surface from one being flat and smooth to one having a sort of surface graining;
however, the Doctor Ben’s Weathering Solutions application is only topical and
does not affect the integrity of the surface of the model.
The Weathering Solutions ingredients have
built in adhesive polymers that enable them to stick to shiny as well as flat
surfaces. But the really neat thing is that, even though the Weathering Solution
is firmly adhered to the surface, if you do not like the results, the Weathering
Solution is easily removed with rubbing alcohol. This allows you to try
different techniques until you are satisfied with the results. In addition,
after the desired effect is attained, if the model is going to be handled a lot,
a simple spray with "pump" hair spray will affix the weathering in place. This
is an original technique of mine that many modelers use today. By using Doctor
Ben’s products to weather rolling stock and then sealing the weathering with
pump hairspray, they are able to sell them for big bucks without having to use
an airbrush! This technique is described later in this booklet.
Using Doctor Ben’s Ready-to-Use Weathering Solutions
This process is equally successful on
wooden structures, Thomas A. Yorke plaster castings, resin castings, plastic, or
metal; literally, any surface can be weathered with this technique. The Doctor
Ben’s Industrial Weathering Pigments used in the development of these products
have adhesive binders that enable them to stick to all surfaces, including your
clothing—so be sure to wear old clothes or protection, such as an apron or a
work bib. You will also find that you may not need to use any sort of a sealer
after you have completed the process, as will be explained later.
Step
1: Gather up some tools: Doctor Ben’s Realistic Rust Weathering Solution
(#1150), Doctor Ben’s Instant Age Weathering Solution (#1152), a little
Isopropyl rubbing alcohol, Doctor Ben’s Soot Black Industrial Weathering
Pigments (#1340) (optional), a ¼" round paintbrush, and a Doctor Ben’s Micro
Blaster (#1490). You may be able to get away with using a clean brush rather
than the Micro Blaster for this technique, but I have found that the Micro
Blaster is a tool that I cannot live without!
Read the complete story in this How-To
Booklet by purchasing this booklet (included in Weathering Solution Sets) or
following this link to the on-line Blog version
HERE.