I`m interested,how do you do your textures on Russian tanks...ideas,pictures would be welcome. I am building a IS-2 and I have made some surgery which has destroyed the Tamiyas surface texture,so I`m in a dillema what to do,recreate the same effect if possible or redo the entire tank...

There are many good ways to recreate the cast surface texture on armor kits.

I usually use automotive glazing putty (also called spot putty), thinned with Testors liquid cement, to reapply surface texture that has been lost. This method allows a good amount of control, as you can thin the putty to whatever consistency you need. You can apply the putty with whatever tool you choose to achieve the look you want. Heavy cast texture, light texture or in between, this method can do it. It can also be used for replicating weld seams and the like. The only downside is that the process can be a little time consuming. The Testors cement is slow drying and you can only work a small area at once, especially if you want to avoid sticking your fingers in a freshly textured surface.

I have sometimes used Gunze-Sangyo's Mr. Surfacer 500 and 1000 for the same task. The idea is similar, although both G-S products dry more quickly than the glazing putty & liquid cement. For more on using Mr. Surfacer, check out this article.

In my neck of the woods, glazing putty is much cheaper and easier to find than Mr. Surfacer. A trip to the local auto parts store can net you a big tube for a few dollars, and it lasts a long time.

I'm sure a lot of modelers out there use a different technique so don't be afraid to experiment.

HTH.

-YL

The glazing putty or Mr. Surfacer techniques will work. Another home brew solution is thickened enamel paint. Just add ordinary talcum powder to a cheap bottle of Testors paint until it thickens up. It can be applied to the surface and textured by stabbing at the surface with a Testors nylon paint brush. If you are unhappy with an effect, it can be removed with a little clean thinner.

Another method is to use only liquid cement, brushing it to a smallish area at a time, waiting a moment for the plastic to soften, then stabbing the surface with a stiff brush or pressing with sandpaper to get a texture. When the cement has dried, the surface can be lightly sanded if unwanted coarseness is present. You could also carefully brush some cement on again to tone down the texture.