Panel Fade

Panel fading is an airbrush weathering technique that can add significantly to the appearance of your model. Effectively, it is a painting process that simulates the fading of paint near the center of the painted metal panels that make up the skin of an aircraft or armored vehicle.

 

I have to admit, first of all, that it is hard to find documentation that this occurred often in reality. Photographs of some of the aircraft that flew in the harshest conditions of the pacific theater do appear to show some fading, but seldom is it evident to the degree that it is often modeled. Nonetheless, it is a technique that adds loads of character.

 

The first step in preparing a surface for the panel fading technique is to apply an enamel primer.  Most fine pigment model primers are gray, which usually works very well under a panel fade because it is a neutral color.

 

After the primer has dried, the next step is to apply the basic color of the model at full strength using an airbrush to outline only the panels of the model. Keep your lines fairly thin for this step, and make the panel lines completely opaque, covering the primer below.



Paint the base color over the panel lines, keeping the color opaque

Next, load up your airbrush with a color that represents the base color hue after having faded. Thin the paint and use a wide spray so that the panel lines you painted in the previous step are still apparent under the fade paint. You do not want this color to be completely opaque or you will not be able to see the panel lines underneath. Go back over the model until you are satisfied with the result.
 

Apply the thinned fade color lightly over the panel line paint. This coat should be transparent so the
color from the previous step shows through.

 

Of course the degree of fading will vary based on your own preference. By applying more of the last coat, and only varying the hue of the faded paint slightly, it will be very subtle. If you apply less and really lighten the hue of the final coat, the model will appear extremely faded. You have control of how much or little to show. This technique looks great in combination with a panel wash.

 

To apply panel fading to decals, you can mix ground chalk pastels in a color several shades lighter than the decal color which you are 'fading'. Accent the panel centers by brushing this over your flat finish coat with a circular motion on top of the decal and then seal it on with more of your finish (dead flat finishes work best). Do keep in mind that as a painted finish fades the paint breaks down and the surface tends to have less reflectance, so a dead flat topcoat works best over this technique.