The Ship Model Forum

In 1/350 I use a fine synthetic white thread for flag halyards. If the ship is freshly painted I leave the thread as is, however if the ship is weathered I soak the thread in coffee about a minute to "age" it. This really takes the "edge"off the white.

Jim

I soaked cotton cloth in weak coffee to take the starkness out of the white when using it for sails for the Golden Hind. That was 15 years ago, and they still look exactly as they did when it was finished.

Never used it for anything else though. If I did use it on a solid surface, then I'd be adding some detergent to break the surface tension.

Generally, though, I'd be sticking with conventional paints and other more usual weathering techniques.

Regards,

David Griffith

I have considerable experience with storing food in several types of container for years, and somehow it always spoils. And adding coffee to models may increase the odds I start eating it.

But in general, applying coffee, ready-made-rust, and instant-weather-your-model products is for people who should practise their paint skills first. If you know how to handle an airbrush, apply a wash, do a dry-brush, or even paint wet-in-wet using acrylics or oils, you can do everything. I recommend washing first, might resemble coffee and is quite easy to do :thumbs_up_1: Takes a few years, but then can you far exceed the effects of those ready-made products. If you think that takes to long, you picked the wrong hobby :big_grin:

[quote="Timmy C"]Wouldn't it be a wonderful place for bacteria or fungi to grow on?[/quote]

Barnacles! Hadn't considered the biologic aspects. Perhaps an overspray of dullcoat may preclude a biology experiment?

Wouldn't it be a wonderful place for bacteria or fungi to grow on?

I was thinking that perhaps a cup of black coffee may prove interesting for weathering. Before I screw up my battleship, has anyone ever tried this? Just Curious, thanks!