This is a hoist house of a mine shaft. I don’t see it as having gotten a lot of non-functional upkeep.
I was thinking along the lines of a light grey wash. Patches of white corrosion and dabs of rust.
use an orange for new rust, and dark brown for older rust, also, if it’s a mine of some sort it should be covered with the appropriate dust( coal,gravel,etc)
http://www.bragdonent.com/weather.htm
they work great , and there is a 12 color set available
If I recall correctly, I used vinegar to slightly etch the metal so paint would adhere, then used different colors of diluted Apple brand acrylic craft paints from Wal-mart, such as black, red, green, yellow, etc., applied each day and spread around with a small brush and water until I got the desired effect.
Others have tried the acid that you use for printed circuit boards, though I seem to remember this stuff in high school and it was a little caustic to mess with. I think as stated vinegar is similar but not as strong, better control etc. It will eat away the thickness of the foil so I would test on aluminum foil from the kitchen first. I plan on doing this to the foil culverts I made.
Chip, when you do it, post a little pictorial for us scaredy cats. [:I]
David is right about the printed board etchant. Our club has used it and vinegar to eat away some of the edges of the foil, or really eat it away for a more weathered effect. after that applied some Floquil weathering colors and applied to the building. The effect is outstanding.
IIRC, the FSM buildings with corrugated tin roofs , their instructions have a few very good suggestions on doing just this. If you could locate a set of instructions I’m sure that would help immensely.
Chip,
Send me a blank tape and I will tape for you how George Sellios does it and also weatheres his track & buildings. It amazing. I did it with outstanding results.
I start by painting the entire “metal” area with Tamiya’s “aluminum.” After that dries, I drybrush on some rust colors, then hit it with a light wash of black or dark brown to tie it all together.
Are you talking VCR? Email me your snail mail address.