After the oil wash, I sprayed the model overall with Tamiya TS-80 Flat Clear (see Category: TIPS-TOOLS/FLAT CLEARS).  It takes a few passes, but a nice flat finish results.

After letting this dry overnight, I got into the final weathering by airbrush…

  • I took some ATSF mineral brown (my mixture using Tamiya paint), with a few drops of Tamiya XF-88 Dark Yellow 2 added, into a paint cup.  I made this a little more-than-normally thinned.  With low pressure and getting close (about 1 inch), I very lightly airbrushed this on the model’s mineral brown areas, avoiding the markings.  Not a lot, just here and there concentrating on the centers of panels/features.
  • I then added much more thinner and very lightly shot this over the markings to fade them.  It is easy to overdo this, so I go lightly checking the result after each pass.  I hit the chalk marks a little harder with variation and, in this case, avoided the reweigh dates as much as possible.

TIP: If the above airbrushing looks a bit harsh on the model, spraying a very light coat (one pass) of TS-80 Flat Clear will blend it somewhat into the previous paint.

  • Next, I took Tamiya XF-24 Dark Grey, normally thinned, and sprayed a mottle pattern on the underbody.  Not too much, just a little here and there.  I also sprayed the ends lightly, using an upward angle from the bottom, or track level.
  • Then I added much more thinner to the XF-24 and lightly sprayed the roof and upper sides (about 4-6 passes from 3-4 inches away).  I also made a couple of passes on the underbody.
  • I normally thinned some Polly Scale Oily Black and shot this as a mottle on the under body the same way as the dark grey.  Again, not too much, just a little here and there.
  • Lastly, I took some more-than-normally thinned Tamiya XF-57 Buff and under low pressure, up close I shot vertical wheel streaks on the ends.  Opening the tip, I lightly sprayed the underbody and along the bottom edges of the sides for road dust (1-2 passes – careful not to over apply).  I added much more thinner and made 2-4 passes (3-4 inches away) on the sides and ends for an overall slightly dusty effect.

I try to be restrained in applying the paint in all of the above steps.  But if I feel that I have overdone any of the above weathering colors, I load up some mineral brown (normally thinned) and touch these areas up at low pressure.  Usually this happens on the ends, as it did here too, where I have added too much grime for my liking.

If I think I need too, I make a final light pass with Tamiya TS-80 Flat Clear to blend things in. Not more than a very light pass as the lacquer tends to “swallow up” the airbrushed weathering! I can go onto the very last step in the weathering process right after this…

I very, very lightly dry brush the model overall l with Tamiya XF-51 Buff (see Category: TIPS-MODELLING/DRY BRUSHING). 

With the trucks mounted I give them and the couplers a quick test for function and another car model is done. I think this turned out ok…