What do y'all do for fades? I've tried a few different whites, and most recently Createx Transparent White, and still ending up with really blotchy/frosty/speckled looking coverage on dark cars. I dilute. I make light passes. I thought this car came out ok (and the well behind it too), the pic makes it look worse than it does in person, but then when I sprayed the darker car behind it, it looked like I dusted it with flour. I have a few darker containers I did a week ago that I'm similarly unhappy with. I'm really frustrated and its killed my motivation lately. Tell me your secrets.
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C&Omtman gave some great pointers.
There are no secrets and I’ve mentioned that a few times over these pages. I started out writing my formulas down for each car so I could repeat it. You know what, every model is different and may react differently than the results you got using the exact formula on the previous car.
Frustration reigns surpreme. Don’t let a fade you don’t like get to you.
I always start out washing down the car. Most of the time with a drop or 2 of Dawn dishwashing soap but only because I think that is all my wife has ever purchased! Probably any brand will work. Clean and rinse in lukewarm water. I have found that the cleaning releases the mold lubricants that CAN affect the fading process.
If you go back to the early pages of this thread I give my process. But here is my latest version:
I use Tamiya Acrylics thinned with Isopropyl Alcohol about 10 to 20% flat white paint to the thinner. I spray below 20psi and I will spray, wait a minute or 5 and spray again doing as many as needed. I have over the years had many models coming out looking frosty, flour looking, hazy or splotchy white. I walk away…
But come back another day. I’ll remove the fade with either a high pressure (45+ PSI) air brush filled only with Isopropyl Alcohol or I’ll spritz it on, let it sit a minute and remove with an Isopropyl Alcohol wet mop brush.
Let everything dry, take my fade mixture and add a similar but lighter color than the model and add 1 maybe 2 drops and start the process again. Mix throughly!
Another way for the yellow car is find a yellow color similar to the model. Mix a drop or 2 of white to lighten the yellow in your bottle then add the thinner and spray.
I think if you ask 50 folks how they fade their models you’ll get 30 different answers. Most though are just differences in formulas.
I know nothing about Createx paints.
Light passes are required but you know that already.
For your yellow Centerbeam, yes I agree with you, too much white but I’d leave it. Spray the car next with your grime color. Treat it like adding the fade, 10 to 20% grime color to your thinner. Spray thinly, let it dry than decide on the results or spray again.
Ok, I went and looked up Createx paints. They are water colors. I don’t think my process would change but I’d make sure you use the thinner that Createx suggests for their paints.
For my paints I have:
Tamiya Arcylics that I thin with Isopropyl Alcohol. But I do have the Tamiya thinner
Vallejo paint. I use Air, Model Color and Panzer Aces I mostly thin with tap water. BUT I rarely spray Vallejo but use it for hand brushing. When I do spray Vallejo Air even though it says it’s not needed I thin it with Vallejo’s thinner.
Ammo by Mig. I have only use the thinner from Ammo
Craft paints, mainly thinned with water
Badger, Tru Color and others I use Mr Hobby thinner
I love yellow to weather. I dislike brown or dark green.
Moonlighting…
Just keep asking questions. Adjust your PSI, play with thinning the paints, write it down. You’ll find what works for you.
