[Cavtanker]

Here's my latest completed build. It is the Italeri AH-1W SuperCobra. My question is to how to do exhaust 'burns' on the fuselage? I created this effect by smearing some flat black/flat olive drab mix on my finger and finger-painting away. Any advice is appreciated.

[johnnyboy]

I would suggest using Pastels that way if you make a mess you can remove them easily, When it looks right a coat of matt varnish and the jobs done!

[jim]

I remember the days of youth when I used the black smoke from candles to try to give the effects of exhaust and gun smoke. I thought the result was great after a coat of clear matt varnish but I was only 11 years old. I had a flight of heavy bombers hanging off the ceiling with balls of cotton wool sprayed black to look like flak bursts.

That just goes to show that this hobby can grab you at an early age.

[peewee]

Originally Posted by jim

I remember the days of youth when I used the black smoke from candles to try to give the effects of exhaust and gun smoke. I thought the result was great after a coat of clear matt varnish but I was only 11 years old. I had a flight of heavy bombers hanging off the ceiling with balls of cotton wool sprayed black to look like flak bursts.

That just goes to show that this hobby can grab you at an early age.

I too had used the soot produced by the candle smoke but found it hard to apply the soot in the proper locations. I thought that a burt stick match would work too. Scrap the burnt head onto the area of the fuselage that required the exhaust effect.

Try a Tamiya weathering kit.

Peewee

[VMF115]

A dry erase maker works fine or diluted acrylic flat black paint with water works ok also.

[roh_kudus]

If you want to play safe try Tamiya weathering master set: soot, snow, rust. You can use the soot to simulate smoke residue. But this is hardly creative...but sure it works wonderfully for me.

[no4mkit]

A simple solution I've used to good effect is soft pencil lead - a 4B or 6B, or even black art pencil. Apply the lead very heavily to a small area of paper so there is significant lead build up. Use a good quality Q-tip swab - the tightly woven brand name ones are best, not the cheap overly fluffy ones - and rub the tip of the swab into the pencil lead. Apply the lead to your model by brushing on with the Q-tip. If you don't like the results it wipes off easily with a small damp piece of paper towel. Once you have the effect you like, spray on your clear coat.

[VMF115]

Originally Posted by no4mkit

A simple solution I've used to good effect is soft pencil lead - a 4B or 6B, or even black art pencil. Apply the lead very heavily to a small area of paper so there is significant lead build up. Use a good quality Q-tip swab - the tightly woven brand name ones are best, not the cheap overly fluffy ones - and rub the tip of the swab into the pencil lead. Apply the lead to your model by brushing on with the Q-tip. If you don't like the results it wipes off easily with a small damp piece of paper towel. Once you have the effect you like, spray on your clear coat.

I have also tried that and it works very nicely too.

[no4mkit]

I should note that the effect works best on a matt finish. Also, as not all exhaust and gun stains are black, other color art pencils like browns can be blended. Colored charcoal or pastels could work with this technique too.

Here's a sample of engine exhaust and gun staining applied by Q-tip:

[mikeb1958]

Here is some "exhaust effects" I accidently ran into yesterday while at a deli.