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Brief tutorial on a quick technique to add depth to scale model paintwork.
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PAINTING | The 3-Layer Blend
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Depth. The more I model, the more I’m convinced it’s the key to the whole show. It’s why we buy resin - for greater depth of detail. And why we by photo etch - for scale thickness that’s its own kind of depth.
But depth in the paintwork is, I think, more important than perhaps any other aspect of modeling. It’s what elevates an ancient kit above its decrepit molds and what turns the state of the art into a masterpiece. Nothing screams “toy” more than a uniform slab of paint. Depth is, in essence, realism in scale.
This tutorial is about one quick and dirty way of adding depth to your paint jobs. I call it the Three-Layer Blend.
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The Three-Layer Blend consists of - shocker! - three layers of paint: a base layer, a lightened layer, and a blend layer. This process can add depth to just about any scheme and can be used on its own, or in conjunction with other techniques like pre-shading and salt weathering. Here’s the 1-2-3:
1. Paint your base layer2. Paint your lightened layer (50% base color + 50% white) in
panel centers and streaks in the direction of airflow, avoiding panel lines
3. Paint your blend layer (base color, highly diluted) on top, building up slowly until the lightened layer blends into the base
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Base Layer
The base layer’s easy. Just lay down the paint as you normally would.
For this example, we’ll be using a Tamiya Spitfire Mk.VIII with a base coat of Model Master RAF Middlestone.
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Lightened Layer
Next, spray the lightened layer (50% base + 50% white) in panel centers, generally avoiding panel lines.
This will look like absolute crap. Don’t panic! It’s supposed to at this point in the process.
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Blend Layer
Now go back to your base color. And thin the snot out of it. A ratio of 75% thinner to 25% paint is a decent starting point, though you can push certain paints far thinner.
Spray this thinned paint in layers, slowly blending the lightened coat back into the base coat.
The thin layers give you control to gradually build up the blend, so it’s hard to accidentally overdo it.
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The final effect is a paint job with more depth and character than just going all-in with a single color.
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Protip: When you think just one more pass, stop. Subsequent clear coats and weathering will blend the colors further and obscure the effect.
