I'm about finished assembling a laser cut wooden pier. Right now it has that "brand new look" about it. I would like some suggestions on weathering it so that it appears to have been in place for a while. I have only a couple of small scraps to do a test, so any help would be greatly appreciated. I most likely have enough weathering materials to the job; it's just that I don't want to have to take a chance on testing on the final product.
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All you need to know in Dennis Brennan's book.
Hi Bill
I painted my timber with Titanium White and then washed it with black washes until I got the look I wanted.
Pre-painting the wood with several coats of plain water opens the surface grain and splits were made using an Olfa draw knife.
Cheers
Max, thanks. That is what I was looking for. By the way, what did you use for the barnacles on the pier bottoms? It looks so real.
Bill
Steve,
The second picture you posted shows you are from Staten Island or you go over the Outerbridge Crossing and down Arthur Kill Road on a regular basis.
Alan Graziano
Max, a beautiful job on those pier supports. You totally captured the sun bleached, weathered look of old wood.
Bill, while you're waiting for Max's technique on the barnacles, what I did was to glue on some N scale ballast, then dab (pointillism technique with the end of a soft round brush) a light green on them. I then toned them down toward the bottom with a wash of A&I (alcohol and india ink).
While I'm waiting, I may have to make another pier. I just finished painting it with the titanium white when it twisted into a pretzel. In hindsight, I should have sprayed it first with a non water-based primer. At least I have enough materials to make another.
Hi Guys
Thanks for the kind words and likes.
Just got up this morning. Woodlands Scenics make a range of ground up foam in various colours. The base is Coarse Turf - Earth; with Fine Turf - Green Grass and FT - Yellow Grass on top. I painted the bottom of each pile with neat PVA glue and dipped it into the Coarse Turf - Earth, then sprinkled the fine ones on for effect.
Experiment until you get the colour and effeect that you like.
Cheers
I should have said that the whole structure is real wood. The piles are 1/2" dowel and the rest is oak and pine. The cross braces are popsicle sticks - don't know what kind of wood they use. 
It's important to open the surface so that the black washes collect in the grain. The tops of the piles were sculpted on my bench grinder and the rings are copper wire soldered into circles and painted flat black.
Max, your pier is much bigger than mine. My piling dowels are 5/32" in diameter. It is more of a residential size. I just remembered that I do have a variety of Woodland Scenics turf.
The good news is my pretzel pier returned to normal over night. Saved me from starting over. I will apply a non-water based primer before proceeding with painting and weathering.
I'm looking forward to the photos, Bill. 
Will do. This morning I painted it with an oil based neutral color. Drying time is 24hrs. Tomorrow I will start the weathering process, followed by some barnacle applications on the pilings.
Max, this is the best photo I can provide at the moment. I'm new to close-up photography and have not mastered suitable depth-of-field settings with my DSLR. However, at least one pier is in focus. Weathering is obviously an art form and I have a long way to go. Spraying it with matte medium spread some of the ground turf all over the place. I built the boat from a kit at the same time as the pier. It will be tied to the pier when placed on layout (must finish river first). Thanks for your help and advice.
Bill
Hi Bill
I'm not sure why you sprayed it with matte medium, as acrylic paints have a natural matt finish. The question is, "Are you happy with it?" I made many test pieces until I got the result I was after; but before that I went out and photographed my references. It looks like you have got a pretty nice first off result there.
Regarding the photograph, I use software called Helicon Focus. It's shot stacking software which allows you to merge many photographs of different focal lengths to form one picture which is all in focus. . All you need is a camera with a remote shutter release, a tripod and a bit of patience.
Cheers
I am aware of focus stacking, but have not tried that technique yet. In fact, I did not even think of it while composing the shot. Appreciate the software reference; it's on my list. I do have the necessary equipment. My task now is to get equipment and brain in sync��. It's time to start building up the river bank so I can "pour" some water.
Regards and thanks again.
Bill
Excellent!
My pleasure, Bill.
Cheers
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