This is rust and corrosion!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Spotted at an exhibition, a few years ago….

Which do we prefer?

A fresh looking unblemished model or the rusty type?

I find it hard to decide!

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Another version by John Teal…..

Probably…..Just enough?

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob, That is fantastic weathering, and probably very realistic compared to the real thing. It APPEARS to be so over the top I actually quite like it!!

By contrast, the second boat does not go far enough, the rust, if it was there, as painted , would be everywhere else as well ?

Ashley (not known for rusty boats)

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

This is the real Maggie M

The above two photos were taken from Modelboat Mayhem……..Many thanks

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

As you know I don't like the rusting effect on models as I firmly believe that a model should represent the full scale boat in pristine condition just as it left the builders. You cant hide poor quality workmanship on a crisp, clean and rust less model.

Paul

[LARRY WHETTONParticipant @larrywhetton68737]

Hi Bob ,

give me the weathered look every time , after all they are working boats ,

[Terry PlumridgeParticipant @terryplumridge66794]

Personally wouldn't go as far as the first example, but it does give you the impression that if you get close enough you could actually smell the Diesel and fish.

Terry.

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I don't think there is a right or wrong way – it's simply down to personal preference. But if you do decide to weather your model then you need to get it right, many don't or simply use it as an excuse to cover some construction errors…

Colin

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Posted by Colin Bishop, Website Editor on 13/10/2012 14:23:34:

I don't think there is a right or wrong way – it's simply down to personal preference. But if you do decide to weather your model then you need to get it right, many don't or simply use it as an excuse to cover some construction errors…

Colin

I agree with all that has been said, and truly it is personal choice, that's why I like to build lifeboats these days, as they were kept in pristine conditions..the area inspectors saw to that.

However I have seen over weathered boats poorly built, win awards time and time again, purely because that weathering covered unishing of joints etc, and to me that is wrong…….the judges seem to get sucked in by such "catastrophic rusting" that would in realism, condemn a boat to the dockside as unsafe by the harbour master, lol

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

PS…….I have actually seen Maggie M MBE a good number of times, especially when she was working as guard boat in the Morecambe bay wind farm………….and NEVER EVER seen her in that state, either while fishing or guard duty.She was always kept in good painted order.

neil.

[LARRY WHETTONParticipant @larrywhetton68737]

Hows this for weathering ,

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Nice one, Larry!

A bit OTT?

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Nothing wrong with a bit of good honest rust!

As for "working boats" as far as I know they are all "working" Everything that sails the sea is "working!" I have never heard of a ship or boat that has been built to just sail around and look good!

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I think some of the motor yachts you see in Monaco might fall into that category Bob! And they don't sail around much either.

Colin

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

How about this one….

Colin

[RJRParticipant @rjr]

The question was asked … if you had rust in one place you would have it every where? I have spent many hours looking at pictures of Maggie M and she appears at verious stages of rust depending how long it has been since her last scheduled paint job. Some areas like where the trawl boards clatter rust more. This picture is a prime example of this.. Rusty back half Clean front As well as the amount of clatter damage some areas like hand rail joints seem to rust quicker than others. This picture shows her a little less rusty but rusty all the same

As for the use of rust to conceal poor modelling I would agree, I have always thought weathering is not an excuse for purposefully shortcutting. I would strive to build and paint to a pristine condition or as near as my skills allow before adding weathering.

As for the second picture Bob shared, it currenttly lacks a bit of general grime to tone down the newly painted look. But thats just my opinion, of my own boat

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Even the yachts at Monaco are working, and serve a purpose. Even if they don't go to sea, their owners entertain guests on them, so they are serving as high prestige private hotels!

At sea, there is always a certain amount of rust on metal ships after a few weeks. It is possible to keep painting them so that they look perfect (even if it is painting over the rust).

I do put rust on my models from time to time and I will admit that if I am intending to "weather" a ship, I do not put the same effort into the detail, but use the weathering to cover up slack workmanship. Here is an example, a shipwreck on the Skeleton Coast of South West Africa.

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

And here is an extreme example. HMS EREBUS (Franlin expedition) abandoned in the Arctic. Because all the deck detail was buried in ice and snow, I did not bother too much about "sloppy work!" The deck fittings under the ice were just vague shapes. But this model was one of my great successes. My most successful model ever (selling price) was Nelson's old ship HMS CARCASS stuck in the ice in a similar manner, but it sold for a fortune at auction in London!

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Real rust eating away the Duke of Lancaster in North Wales!

Bob

[DuckyParticipant @ducky]

Well Bob took these pix's whilst on holiday and at a distance thought it was OL2 but even though it was another boat it does show that whilst a working boat its still not covered with rust, in fact the front section is quite clean and only showing slight signs of rust and muck at the rear

Don't know how old this boat is but nice and clean, if not kept that way would not rust and muck hide some dangerous defects, its a dangerous way to earn a living without any defect!.

[Author]

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