Weathering Question

Hi all,
I just received my ASOK CC helmet and its awesome. This is my first helmet and everything. I have a question about the weathering process. I know how to use the layering method with masking fluid and even tooth paste ha, but i'm just stuck on how do you make those sharp detailed marks? do you let the masking product drie and use a razor and cut the design? or does it naturally peel off sharp and jagged?
Thanks for reading guys

You have to paint it on like that. The masking fluid isn't magical or anything. You paint your masking fluid on and let dry, spray paint a layer and let FULLY cure, and then peel up and you get the design (weathering) you painted by had with masking fluid. If you gob it on you get globby weathering. You have to make all the detailed peeling yourself when you do your masking. I use the tips of q-tips that i roll into pointed tips to paint with (no ruined paintbrushes) and just sit there spending hours reproducing it by eye or use a stencil and stay in the lines.

I think some people (Terminal Fettler) like to do a detailed mask and then peel back a little more paint with a razor knife or compass point after the mask has been painted over and removed but to me it seems like it would be too easy to scrape all the way through both layers into the CC or resin and getting in-accurate deep marks. I would experiment on some scrap before touching your new bucket. Good luck!

Apolifka is spot on. The masking layers are what is the most time consuming on a layered paint up, and you pretty much have to mask it in full detail ( of course, the edges of the detail are the most important, once that is done, you can fill it in pretty easily). Some super fine areas and scratches etc may pose very tough to mask, so these bits of detail may have to be added in with a seperate mask, or a fine brush later. the good thing is about masking fluid, is once its dry, if you have painted some bits out of your stencil lines, you can finely peel bits back with a compass point. but there is no real quick way to do the masking - im always spending hours on each layer, using toothpicks and fine brushes..

You also need to use very, very fine brushes to get those jagged edges you describe. I also use small paper clips and toothpicks to apply the masking fluid depending on the shape I need.

A trick I use is to peel back the edge of the liquid mask once dry if you are not entirely happy with it and redo until you are. Also on super detailed areas mask and paint small areas a bit at a time ie upper right hand mandible under the visor... I never interfere with the paint edge once the masking comes off!