I'm still a little confused on the exact process of finishing a model. I'm on my very first model (Italeri M1A2) so bear with me here. I've gotten the base of the Abrams put together, with the exception of the tracks, wheels, and the whole upper part of the tank. I guess you could say I haven't gotten really anything put together yet. The problem is I don't know where to go from here. Could someone explain the steps for painting your armor or a model in general? I plan on a tan camo when it gets time, so would I use a white/grey primer, then apply a basecoat, then paint? I don't quite understand the steps in proper painting of a model. Thanks.

- sean

First of all I'll suggest you to read this:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net//features/34

then try to have a look here...

http://www.missing-lynx.com/articles/other/awpaint/awpaint.htm

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2003/01/stuff_eng_tech_afv_weathering.htm

or here:

http://www.missing-lynx.com/rareworld.htm (this is a series of articles from Mig Jimenez)

Hope this can help...
Ciao



P.S.: Gosh I almost forgot... WELCOME ON BOARD!!!!

Thank you scoccia, those links helped me greatly. I'm sure I'll have more questions for you guys in the near future. I appreciate any more helpful links or help from anyone as I'm still new to all this.

- sean

Alright, after researching and reading the above links, I still have some simple and basic questions unanswered. First, priming and applying a base coat, is it normal practice or personal preference? Also, how do I determine what colors to use in this? My armor is just about ready to paint (I think), so would the correct process be a primer first, then a base coat, then the ultimate colors I will use? Sorry if all this doesn't make sense, I'm trying to understand it all myself.

- sean

I think that to prime or not to prime is a personal choice. I used to never prime anything, just shoot my base coat and add camo colors later. Now, before I apply my basecoat, I do shoot a coat of flat black on my model. By applying black first, I am able to use it to preshade my kit. I have only used this method on five or six kits, but I do like the results so far. But to answer your question, if you feel that your paints are giving you opaque finish that your are looking for, don't prime. The beauty of this hobby is do whatever makes you feel good about what you built.

Patrick

Usually I prime my models for a simple reason: I like to scratchbuild as much as I can details using a wide range of different materials like plasticard, brass copper, and other odd stuff. Priming allows to get the various item omogeneous without the need to exagerate with the base or camo colour later on.
For what concerns the base coat I only give it when I have to do some hard paint chipping work later on...
Ciao

Dreamer-I take it you got the assembly taken care of. Ain't the internet great!
As far as what colors to use--it depends on what you are shooting for.
An old rule of thumb (before the use of black for pre-shading) was: if your main color was light then the primer should be light also. Sometimes it is hard to cover a dark base or primer with a lighter color. Example: trying to spray, or airbrush, desert yellow over black could take more coats then it would take to paint the desert yellow over a light gray primer or basecoat.
Painting gloss white on the underside of a model of a 1950's bomber can be a real battle of wills between the painter and the paint.
As for myself--I haven't tried the black-as-a-preshade-agent yet, but I will on my next kit.
Normally I do one coat before the main colors, i.e. dark grey as a primer and a base coat.

Do you have any older kits or spare parts you could practice on?