Weathering

[seaviper]

I don't usually weather my birds. If I do, then I keep it light and minimal. The full sclae birds I have been around in my career have always been rather clean. Even if they had some faded paint, they were rarely ever filthy, especially the military ones.
Rivets are usually flush and almost unnoticeable. Panel lines are there but very very thin.

I like the RC Geek's take on weathering techniques.