Making Scratches

There are many ways to simulate scratched paint, but a lot of these do not give satisfying results in smaller scales in my opinion. One method that I use is described below. It is meant to simulate worn paint, but not to the point of the effects of the "salt" or "hairspray" technique. It is very simple, controllable and quick.

Step 1:
Paint your model in the color that you want the scratch to be. (I used black in this demo for contrast, but a dark reddish brown would be a tad more realistic.) This paint needs to be enamel and must adhere well to the model. If you have large flat surfaces, you might want to add a second coat, "badly" sprayed so that it hits the surface of the model almost dry and leave a textured, grainy pattern.

Step 2:
Paint the model in the final color. This paint needs to be acrylic.

Step 3:
For very light scratches, sand lightly with very fine wet-and-dry sanding paper. Focus on the edges or wherever you want the scratches to be. If you have created a grainy pattern in part 1, sanding this area slightly will create small specks.

Step 4:
For heavier scratches, dab the acrylic paint with a stiff paintbrush, moistened with ethanol. This will create more specks.
Alternatively, moisten the whole surface with ethanol and after a couple of seconds run the tip of a needle or sharp knife over the surface.

Article Last Updated: 09 May 2015