The blog has been quiet lately partly due to some difficulties with publishing posts and also because there has been so much else to occupy my headspace. It ranges from political mess around us; so appalling that I have decided (in a U.K. context) to disengage from the madness and concentrate on developments in my own country.
On the domestic front I am fully engaged in the drive to get the house ready for sale.
New flooring is ready to go down in the hall and kitchen, the fence and garden are complete and a new boiler has been installed and commissioned.
The lion’s share of what remains is decluttering and cleaning.
This of course means a lot of modelling stuff is going to need packing away soon but meantime I’ve taken advantage of some slightly slacker time to have a play with the new Accurascale HUO hoppers and PCV cement tanks.
This has given me the opportunity to try and develop some new weathering techniques, the results of which you can view below.
Also seen in the rather lovely Dapol Bogie Bolster E which scrubs up exceptionally well with the new technique.
I have another nine each of the Hoppers and Cemflos to do so I’ll see if I can improve the speed of production without compromising the quality of finish.
In short, my new techniques involve a preparation layer of varnish and white oxide.
Next, the first layers of acrylic paint then oils, followed or preceded by another coat of matt varnish depending on type of vehicle with enamel washes, further acrylics, powders, fixers and more Matt varnish.
The order of application is type specific and will probably vary as techniques develop with with experience.
The oils add a new dimension to a rusty appearance or a streaky, dusty one. Once I’m happy I’ve mastered the technical factors
Max Stafford's Kennel 
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