Chum444
Thank you for your advice, I so love the tug it looks well worked,
Fred

First, thank you jump for your vote of approval for my weathering. I’ve been fortunate to be around boats all my life so I have a feel for where things get dirty, rusty& worn.
Think of it this way Fred. Wherever water drips or accumulates it gets rusty. It gets dirty where hands and feet come in contact. Wherever things rub together it becomes worn. Where there,s smoke there’s grime.
Visit a harbor to get a feel for how real boats weather or look at photos of workboats. There are many many online sites to give you ideas & techniques. Go easy at first, then expand as you feel comfortable. I use thinned water based paints so I can wipe something off if I don’t like the outcome. A finger covered with charcoal dust & rubbed on surfaces creates excellent grime on flat surfaces. When done spray a flat coat of clear on everything.
Read some online tutorials, look at real workboats, experiment & you will get the hang of it.
A couple more photos.

Thanks, Jumpugly & ColRay, for your thoughts! I can’t take credit for the build; that’s all thanks to the original builder. I’m just mending the parts that were broken or missing.

Regarding the rust in photo 2, it’s just a test run. I’m aiming to make her look more like a working Puffer by the end of November.

I am going to rename her “Puff Alot” as by the time I get her to the pond from the car park I will be puffing a lot,😁

I also am going to fit a smoke unit that I have put together using an ultrasonic mist maker, a 12/24 volt converter, a 12-volt computer fan, and a sandwich box.

Fred

Fred Now that's one cracking looking puffer Col

Awesome work Fred! Great color with excellent chipping. I might add some pooling directly below on the side rails and a touch on the tops of the rivets. I'm a big rust fan! Keep going!
I am dragging my tug through the rust work now. A dirty wash is next...i think.
Hopefully Chum444 will touch base, he is a master of rust and weathering (second picture)!
😉