Ares5000
New Member
Ain't patina on the surface. That's case color hardening, an alchemic technique in creating a glass-hard, high-carbon protective surface on low-carbon steel, commonly used on firearms at the time and is still used today. The rainbow of colors is just a byproduct and is often simulated cheaply using chemical etching. On non-ferrous materials, it can only be done through a laborious paintjob with air brushing and wet sanding. However I've a cheap way of simulating it with spray paint using several layers of base color paints (silver,gold,black optional red and blue) half dried then swirled around with a thinner soaked cotton ball. Shown below in my half-assed attempt without dry brushing all the grime and accents yet.
Wow thats a killer build & cool info on the coloring too! Can't wait to see it finished. I'll have to experiment with the thinner swirling cotton ball method...