How to Model Peeling Paint

This video shows you how to create an amazing peeling paint effect in just 4 easy steps. The secret ingredient is hair spray!

Peeling paint is all around us on dilapidated and not so dilapidated buildings. It only takes a few years and the elements will easily attack a thin layer of paint causing it to peel off.

There are so many techniques for peeling paint but this one uses hairspray to act as a resist. You paint the wood colour and then add a coat of hairspray. After a while spray another thin coat of paint. Using just water and a brush (although I’ve used a scouring pad when the paint was too stubborn) you can remove the final paint layer. Depending on the paints used, you can get varying effects.

I find Tamiya is much more resistant so gives a very different effect to Vallejo. That’s why my base coat is always Tamiya as it stands up to any scrubbing.

The Real World

If you look at peeling paint then exposed surfaces and areas where water rest will peel first. The area under the eaves is often more protected and so peels less than more exposed walls.