Weathering Tutorial Part 1: Painting, chipping and scratches

So, now let's start with our model:

The process of weathering is achived by applying various layers of effects without covering the previous one totally.  They will superposed and not hides the previous.

On another hand, try to think at your model like if it is a full scale one. Use images or real vehicles to inspire you, think at how the crews will go up and down of it (creating worn effects etc) where the tools and other boxes can scratch the paint. 
The operational theatre where your model is supposed to be. Earth and dust aren't the same all around the world.  

I painted my Panther according to camo scheme used by the 1st SS Panzer Div. in the Ardennes during winter '44-'45.

I painted it with Tamiya acrylics paint.

I wanted faded colours on the tanks as well as some colours variation.

For the "Dark Yellow" I mixed XF-60 Dark Yellow with XF-2 White (mix ratio from 75-25 to 50-50)

For the "Red Brown" I mixed XF-64 Red brown, XF-68 NATO Brown, XF-9 Hull Red with XF-2 White (mix ratio of 75-25) I vary the brown used.

For the Green I used mainly XF-65 Field Grey and NATO Green with some drops of XF-2 white.

The next step is the chipping and paint scratches.

How did the Germans painted their tanks? The lighter colour first to the darker one. This will help too to chose the colour for the chips.

Theses chips and scratches are made with the base colour tone lighten with white. 

In terms of tools: Thin brushes N°1 to 000 and a sponge is all what you need.

Once dry, here we go for the bare metal chips. I mixed XF-1 Flat Black and XF-10 Flat Brown (mix ratio of 50-50% to 33-66%).

As you can see just by adding theses scratches and chips we already achieved a nice used effect.