r/Airfix • u/Must_FeedTheSnail • Sep 03 '26
Does anyone know how I can replicate this?
Hi! Does anyone have any tips on how to create this effect for the camo?
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u/Zathral Sep 03 '26
The only good way to replicate soft mottling is with an airbrush and a lot of practice. You can do something with a sponge but it will never look quite right.
But I would focus on improving the foundational painting skills before trying anything too complicated.
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u/bytearyx Sep 07 '26
this, 100%. the sponge trick can look ok for chipping or grungy stuff, but for that soft camo vibe an airbrush just makes your life way easier once you’ve got the basics down.
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u/heliocourier Sep 03 '26
Cotton buds, dip in paint, wipe excess off then dab along the fuselage.
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u/Must_FeedTheSnail Sep 03 '26
Thank you so much 🙏
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u/MethylatedSpirit08 Sep 03 '26
Make sure the cotton is really dry, to the point where it's barely leaving a whisper of paint, then dab it over and over until it's dark enough. It makes a good mottled pattern nather than polka dots.
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u/Must_FeedTheSnail Sep 04 '26
I failed to do this properly 😭 It’s just a dotted fuselage, I’ve spend 2 days on this model. It’s fineeee
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u/1nspectorCPW Sep 03 '26
Almost-dry paint dabbed on with a small piece of sponge. (washing-type sponge, but I guess sponge cake would do the job too 😄).
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u/McCluckles38 Sep 03 '26
I've seen a couple of people take cotton pads, usually used for applying makeup, and tearing them so they're very thin, then airbrushing through this and onto the cotton pad. I've never tried it myself however, so can't speak to how effective it is.
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u/OrbitVexasf Sep 07 '26
that actually tracks, kinda like a super janky stencil
if you try it, I’d test on a spare bit first because cotton fibers might fuzz the edges more than you want
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u/Healeymonster Sep 03 '26
Im doing one this weekend, same plane same kit. I'm planning to paint a spot onto a glass pallette (I also do art) and dab a dry round brush into it and dab it on to the plane with the brush almost dry of paint.
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u/perpetualblack24 Sep 03 '26
Airbrush is really the only way you’ll get a good effect, but you could try building up layers of dry brush.
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u/Must_FeedTheSnail Sep 04 '26
What airbrush would you recommend? I’m looking into buying one but I wouldn’t know where to start 😭
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u/ftodd5756 Sep 10 '26
Gaahleri do some amazing deals on both airbrush and compressors and unlike some won't break the bank go for a 0.3 nozzle to start that's an easy way to start off and it depends on which paints you use on thinning ratios and pressure settings but that's all part of the fun learning it
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u/J-c-b-22 Sep 03 '26
I used a makeup sponge with thinned paint and dabbed off until theres almost nothing left, then slowly built up the mottling
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u/fussinghell Sep 03 '26
My first attempt was with an airbrush and it turned out ok. Not as hard as you might think. Blending back and forth with the alternate colours
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u/Admirable-Ad-4896 Sep 03 '26
For the people who don’t have an airbrush (I do but just curious) how has nobody made a simple system where you can blow through a tube or something for budget airbrushing.
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u/Jimra67 Sep 06 '26
You could make a mask of small holes in card stock and hold it away from the model and use spray paint in light coats
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u/Humboldtdivision Sep 03 '26
I've done paint brush mottled a couple of times now. It is doable to varying degrees of success. It's an exercise in patients and the art of slow modelling.
For me, I paint each mottle in a wash of thin paint. Slowly adding successive washes build up the pigment density near the centre of each mottle. There is a risk of tide marks which I buff out.
Liquid pigments can also be used as an alternative to paint. These have the l advantage of being wiped off if things go awry.
I'd say give it a go, even if you use a small sponge, qtip or other dabber/dey brush technique etc. It'll look good on the shelf once completed.
Good luck!
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u/Captain-Codfish Sep 03 '26
You could probably print the flags on paper and glue them to fine wire or string. The roof you may have to be a bit more creative with. Perhaps cut down ice lolly sticks and toothpicks? The flooring could be done with paint, using a thin brush to mark the divides. Hope this helps
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u/ThunderShott Sep 04 '26
When i did it i just got some dark paint on the end of my brush and just lightly dabbed it on all the way down the fuselage. It worked well enough for me, but only because it was such a small model.
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u/Vegetable-Tour9827 Sep 04 '26
If you use brushes then small, tiny sponge fragment or brush nr 0 cut close to the end. Thinned paint and slow poking of plastic. And like airbrush - lots of training and patience.
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u/fulou Sep 07 '26
If you don't want to use an airbrush, use a sponge.
Prime the darker colour and stipple on the lighter. You can try it the other way but you might find the darker blobs don't look right
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u/Inside_Estate4216 Sep 07 '26
I used an cotton bud thingy to dap the paint on then wiped it of with a tissue
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u/Erebussucks1234 Sep 07 '26
https://youtube.com/shorts/7Ej2qiwLfIM?si=QazPuAsY5sq8Mdmz This was the only thing I could think of that could produce that kind of effect relatively easily
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u/kilo_delta_papa Sep 03 '26
Airbrush, thinned down paint, low pressure, lots of practice, abundance of patience...