Thanks gents this will get finished, just not how I'd origially planned

Hi @markh, good to see this back on track, you’re on the home straight now.

Thanks gents

I began weathering the box with rust chips applied with a sponge but I botched it, even after leaving it overnight I still did not like the look of what I'd done. Therefore, the black enamel paint came out, hiding the hideous mess I'd created. Once this dries I'll do a full rusty undercoat, then I'll spray on a coat or two of chipping fluid, then repaint it yellow. This should produce much better results.

I never have been very good with the sponge technique on large surfaces probably get too impatient.

2 attached images. Click to enlarge.

@markh - nice to something out of the ordinary. I’ve been following along since you started and this sure is looking great. I’m interested to see this chipping fluid works.

Thanks guys it's good to know you're interested

So, for no particular reason I did a bit of shading with some white lacquer rattlecan, then applied the rusty undercoat using Vallejo Dark German Brown. I'll let this dry for a day or so, and since I have no idea how durable Vallejo acrylic is I'll seal it up with some Model Masters clear flat acrylic which is as tough as rubber once dry. Then two coats of chipping fluid followed by the yellow coat which will be Mission Models yellow.

I have not made up my mind about Mission Models paints. They come in all kinds of nifty colors but are easily damaged, requiring careful handling of the model until one gets a protective clear coat on. With this project, however, that will work to my advantage as they chip easily.

2 attached images. Click to enlarge.

The shading looks very nice, Mark @markh
Looking forward to the chipping.

Thanks gents

Got the chipping fluid on, waited a few hours, then applied the yellow over it. I use my spray booth like a drying oven as I hae four sixty watt incandecent lights around it so I can see and it gets quite toasty in there. After givinig it this treatment overnight I took some pencil graphite, ground it up on 320 sandpaper, and applied it with a sponge to get that odd rust/polished steel look present on the inside of the box of a used dump truck. There's the strip on the bottom I've not done yet for the before and after effect.

So, with a soft chisel brush, I apply a bit of water on small areas and then stipple said areas with coarse, stiff brushes of various sizes and shapes. This is a much more controllable method of rust chipping, and tho I need to refine my technique I prefer it to the sponge method.

4 attached images. Click to enlarge.