Posted by charles daigneault on March 25, 2000 at 12:21:23:
Hi everybody.
on several PLASTIC models I have used the following technique but not on 1/350 TITANIC yet. first experiment on scrap stock. use a base coat a color of your choice, depending if you want a "new" or "weathered" look as for the color itself, the debate is still going on, do not use a color that might be authentic but look bad! remember you will have to cheat the color to keep a scale appearance (a personnal opinion) then you brush on semi-gloss WOOD STAIN to obtain a grainy appearance, the translucent quality does the trick, the secret is in the type of brush and brushstroke, it is imperative to experiment first! if done correctly, the stain will accumulate slightly on the raised ( or scribed if you go scratchbuilt) detail and create the illusion of planking. this is a difficult technique to master but if done correctly it is practically undistinguishible from real wood.
Don't go doing this the first time on your brand new decks! the wood stain is really difficult to remove.
always brush AWAY from details and lenghtwise. you can use either flat, semi-gloss. or gloss paint for the base coat, acrylic or solvent based paints work equally good.
happy modelling.
CD.