Westlake Publishing Forums

General Category => Painting & Weathering Techniques => Topic started by: Gordon Ferguson on November 21, 2010, 05:25:39 AM

Title: Leather ?
Post by: Gordon Ferguson on November 21, 2010, 05:25:39 AM
Afternoon,

I am in the process of building a 7/8ths critter (1/13) and need to provide it with a "well worn leather seat"

I have modified a kit seat, with standard alterations, soften up seat cushions odd tear, etc  but am now trying to get a satisfactory leather finish. I would add that I  gave the surface a rough sand with sandpaper and deliberately left some of the sanding scratches to add to the surface texture.

I would like to tell you in detail all the various steps i have done so far but I am not as organised as some in this forum but roughly this is what I remember doing ........

Dark red base , brushed out oil paint, Burnt Umber  left to dry and then sealed with dullcoat , sponged on highlights of Burnt Sienna, again left to dry and sealed. It has then had various steps of oil glazes, etc, etc
Have also added some highlights of the Ranger crackle paint ........ i was trying to show that worn cracked look I think you get on old leather.

I was looking for a sheen rather than a shine and again tried various glazes mixtures of varnishes but none looked right to me ....... finally gave it a coat of dullcoat and then buffed surface with my finger tips which has given it a soft sheen on the higher surfaces.

Grateful if anybody could give me feedback and what they do to simulate leather in the larger scales, I have traditionally used inks as glazes in the smaller scales  but that technique does not seem to work for me in this size





Title: Re: Leather ?
Post by: marc_reusser on November 21, 2010, 10:30:26 PM
I think it looks splendid.

Marc
Title: Re: Leather ?
Post by: RoughboyModelworks on November 21, 2010, 10:34:39 PM
They look great... the cracking is a nice touch. All that's missing is some horse hair...  ;)

Paul
Title: Re: Leather ?
Post by: marc_reusser on November 21, 2010, 10:46:00 PM
Quote from: Roughboy on November 21, 2010, 10:34:39 PM
All that's missing is some horse hair...  ;)


I have an idea for what to use for that.. ;) ;D ;D

M
Title: Re: Leather ?
Post by: shropshire lad on November 22, 2010, 12:09:23 AM
Quote from: marc_reusser on November 21, 2010, 10:46:00 PM
Quote from: Roughboy on November 21, 2010, 10:34:39 PM
All that's missing is some horse hair...  ;)


I have an idea for what to use for that.. ;) ;D ;D

M

  Marc ,

    Would you use "gathered" or "freshly plucked" ? And does the slap in the face hurt for long ? ! ?


  Nick
Title: Re: Leather ?
Post by: Frederic Testard on November 22, 2010, 12:11:54 AM
It's wonderful. I once used true leather to model a derelict truck seat, but while I liked the texture the cracks pattern was too big. How did you alter the seat to give it its worn look?
Title: Re: Leather ?
Post by: finescalerr on November 22, 2010, 01:04:51 AM
You know how old, dry leather sometimes cracks? Maybe that crackle paint some of you guys have been messing with could also represent dried out leather. -- Russ
Title: Re: Leather ?
Post by: Gordon Ferguson on November 22, 2010, 01:59:43 AM
"Have also added some highlights of the Ranger crackle paint ........ i was trying to show that worn cracked look I think you get on old leather."


Russ .....Is it me or is it you  ::) ::)


Frederic

Not sure if I am answering the right question, the seat was first locally heated underneath with a small flame to soften the plastic which was then pushed in from the top to give some of the sagging. After that it was given a hard sand with coarse sandpaper, leaving some of the scratches on the surface so that the subsequent paint picked this detail up 
Title: Re: Leather ?
Post by: Gordon Ferguson on November 22, 2010, 03:02:24 AM
Just to close this thread down before we all go off on wild goose chases or should that be horse chases ....

Local horse was friendly and willing to help!

Title: Re: Leather ?
Post by: Andi Little on November 22, 2010, 04:59:59 AM
Excellent Gordon...........

It looks all the better again for being mounted. I particularly like the way it appears that the leather has stretched leaving it loose against an apparently compressed stuffing - both the back and the seat - very good.

All told a really nice piece of modelling............................... just got to get you to do it in a proper scale now! - [winky smiley thing]!!
Title: Re: Leather ?
Post by: Ray Dunakin on November 22, 2010, 07:43:21 PM
That looks just about perfect! The little bit of exposed stuffing really makes the whole thing "work".