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Opaque Ready Mixed Rust Effect Liquid - 18ml Plastic Pot - (Code 49302)

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Images lower down page

George Dent/Model Rail - click wagon image to open review (large file, may be slow to load).

What is Rust Effect

  • A realistic Rust Effect.  Fast and easy to use.

  • Apply using a brush straight from the pot and a realistic Rust Effect forms when the liquid dries. Dries to an opaque (solid colour), not translucent. Covers dark surfaces.

  • Best applied in small areas, panel lines and recesses. Don’t paint onto large flat areas.

  • Works on almost any surface at any gauge.

  • Do not apply with an airbrush.

  • Water soluble. Wipe off using a damp cotton bud or brush

  • Don’t dilute rust mixture with water or it will dry to a powdery finish and not fully harden.

 

Before Starting
Before starting always practise using Rust Effect first, even if it just on the corner or hidden part of a model. Alcohol in Rust Effect can sometimes cause damage to some printed finishes and paintwork. A coat of matt varnish will help protect surfaces. Rust Effect will stick much, much better if matt varnish has been applied to a surface first. Always clean railway tracks before applying Rust Effect, some tracks have a coating of oil on them which will prevent Rust Effect from sticking.

Will The Model Be Weathered?
Modelmates Weathering Liquid will stain Rust Effect. Do not apply Rust Effect directly on to Weathering Liquid. Rust Effect will absorb weathering liquid and this will change its shade/colour. If weathering liquid has been sealed with a matt varnish, then the varnish will act as a barrier and Rust Effect can be applied over the top.

How To Apply
Make sure the pot and model are at room temperature, and not cold. Shake the pot very well every time you use it, so that the ball bearing rattles for 20 to 30 seconds. It’s very, very important to shake or stir Rust Effect before every application, even if it has been sitting unused for just 30 seconds. Rust Effect dries fast. Do not leave the pot lid open otherwise Rust Effect will dry out. Do not empty Rust Effect into a different container or pot unless it is the same size or smaller and has a sealable lid.

There are many ways of applying Rust Effect liquid. The effect is slightly different depending on the method used.

  • Dab on using a stiff, short haired brush applying only small amounts at a time. This creates a lighter shade of rust because thinner coats are being applied. The liquid dries fast and panel lines and indents are not normally filled. Re-apply to darken the colour or apply a thicker coat in patches over the top to darken the colour.

  • Paint larger amounts using a soft round brush. This creates a darker shade of rust because a thicker coat has been applied. Panel lines and indents can sometimes be filled when more liquid is applied and some detail can be lost. Some areas can dry to a cracked crusty finish, but a very large amount has to be applied for this to happen. The colour is usually darker when larger amounts are applied. Reapply to darken the colour even further.

  • Paint fine lines using a fine detail brush. Use small amounts at a time. Wipe away excess using a damp brush, cotton bud or kitchen roll.

 

Rust Effect is water soluble. When fully dry, Rust Effect can be wiped off a surface in two ways:

  • Using a damp cotton bud. Only dampen one end of the cotton bud, wipe Rust Effect with the damp end first, and then with the dry end. The wetter the cotton bud, the more Rust Effect is removed.

  • Using a sheet of kitchen roll (absorbent paper towel) on metal panels, such as the sides of metal railway wagons. First paint Rust Effect onto the panels so that they are fully covered, and leave to dry. Flatter one end of a piece of kitchen roll, and dip this end into water. Now remove most of the water off the flat end so that it’s only slight damp. This can be done by pushing the flat end against other dry pieces of kitchen roll. Gently press the damp flat end of kitchen roll against the dried Rust Effect, and twist the kitchen roll. Keep the kitchen roll in one place, do not wipe side to side across the surface. Some Rust Effect is left on the model and some removed. Some Rust Effect will have been wetted by the damp kitchen roll and will change shade to look darker, just like old rust. The wetter the Rust Effect gets, the darker the shade. Practice first to check how damp the kitchen roll should be and how much pressure to apply.   

 

As noted above, Rust Effect dries to a lovely dark "old rust" shade after being wetted with water.

Dab Mud Brown Weathering Liquid directly onto the rust to make it darker; this creates a really nice effect. Another option is to apply Mud Brown over Rust Effect using an airbrush, as George Dent does in the images below.

To make a darker colour, separate a little Rust Effect and leave it uncovered so that it dries slightly. This might take a minute, but is very dependent on room temperature. After slightly evaporating, Rust Effect will be a more concentrated, darker, richer colour.

A coat of Matt varnish will make the effect more permanent but will change the colour. Some varnishes can make rust effect a more orange colour. Test varnishes separately before applying over a completed model. George Dent uses a varnish in his review (Alclad2 clear varnishes are available from Relish Models. Web: www.relishmodels.co.uk).

Below is a copy of the article written by George Dent/Model Rail. July 2012 issue of Model Rail.
Click here for review - large file, may be slow to load.

 

 

This demonstration is on black plastic undercarriage. Matt varnish painted and printed surfaces before applying rust effect.

Stiff Brush Technique - Apply Smaller Amounts - Lighter Colour / Shade


Clean Wagon – I washed this to add the Rust Effect Liquid. This is a great wagon to use for weathering and has been at several exhibitions to demonstrate weathering. It cleans up really well.

Apply with a firm brush and let it dry at room temperature. Apply smaller amounts using a firm brush, dabbing it onto small areas at a time. Almost a "dry-brushing" technique. To preserve detail, apply less. The brush is just slightly wet with Rust Effect, not soaking.

Stiff brush

It looks like a dark liquid at first, and then dries to a rust effect.

Still drying

Almost dry

The shade is much lighter when small amounts are applied. This is now dry. I will now add some interest by applying a little more over the top. This second coat will dry slightly darker.

Second coat using firm brush.

Now there are darker patches and more contrast.

If you would like the rust to be in recesses and not on the projections, take some off using a clean stiff brush, slightly wet. Clean the brush often while doing this. You can also use a damp cotton bud or damp kitchen roll.

Taking more rust effect off. Let some patches get wet. When these dry they will be darker patches. The wetter the patches, the darker they will dry.

This is the model after the water has dried. Some of the rust effect has come off the projections, leaving it trapped in the recesses. I made some areas very wet, and they have dried quite dark.
 

This is where I stopped for this demonstration, but I could more off or add some more. Varnishing the model after using rust changes the colour of the rust effect. It’s best not to apply vanish over rust effect.

 

Brushing onto the underside of the wagon


Clean underside of wagon, (a little dirty due to previous weathering)

Just after brushing.

This is the underside of the wagon after the rust effect has dried.

 

Soft Brush Technique - Apply Larger Amounts - Darker Colour / Shade


It also works well if larger amounts are painted on, but it can flow into fine groves and panel lines and fill them. It looks like a dark liquid at first, and then dries to a rust effect. The colour or shade will be darker because a thicker coat has been applied.

Applying using a soft brush.

It looks like a dark liquid at first, and then dries to a rust effect.

If a large amount is applied rust effect dries to a thick layer that cracks, but a very large amount has to be applied for this to happen.

Enlarged view of dry cracked rust effect.

Another part of the wagon

I am painting another coat in patches over the top to make some areas darker.

This is the thicker, cracked layer on the underside of the wagon.

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