I need to tap the well spring of knowledge here.

Can I get some tips on how to paint the running gear to get it looking as realistically dusty as possible. I dont do a lot of Desert vehicles, and as i said Im just fishing for some tips...I would like to get this thing to look nice.








Thank you.

thinner with Mig pigments, or dust (buff paint) washes

puy some Mig Pigments gulf war sand and beech sand. Make a wash with paint thinner and beach sand and apply to bolt heads etc. Then take a stiff brush and chip some off to blend it in. at least thats what i plan to do on my abrams. Bill Plunk's panzer III might help too.

I would also recomend apply ing the above pigments dry with stiff and soft brushes. I like to use the stiff to really work the pigments in there but make sure your brush has only a small amount of pigment. Use circular motions on flat surfaces and downward strokes.

Make sure you look at photos - there are two or three decent ones of very dusty Merkavas here: http://www.twenot.nl/merkava.htm

I would consider going over your dark / black wash with a sandy coloured wash instead, especially on the suspension, wheels, side skirts and then up onto the deck, and think about where it might collect. Lessen the dusty effect as you move up onto the turret.

You could probably make up washes with suitable coloured oil paints instead rather than having to buy specialist pigments. You can see there is not necessariily a "correct" colour - these photos show a range: pale creamy yellow, or more orangey, or even almost pink shades of yellow brown.

Another possibility is pastel chalks (not chalks, not oil pastels, but specifically pastel chalks from art suppliers.) These can be ground up with a file then worked into nooks and crannies, and are especially suitable for dusty effects, since essentially you are applying real dust. It is possible to blend colours together, although you can buy sets with a good colour range for under £10 (so probably only about $5 in the US!!) These will also help produce a more matt look.

Dark washes don't always work very well on desert vehicles. Consider using lighter, earth-colored washes instead, and save the dark wash for actual gaps and recesses, like around the edges of the engine access panels. A light overspray of a dust-colored glaze concentrating on the lower surfaces will also soften the rather harsh contrasts in the model. Alternatively, dry pigments or ground up pastel chalks will work as real dust, and can be worked into nooks and crannies with a fine, dry paint brush.