Hello everyone.

I have a big paint job coming up at Easter and I need to make some tough decisions.

basically, I have a technique I use to paint armoured vehicles and achieve a level of quality in the finish I am happy with. However, I do not use MIG pigments, never have. The vehicles I am painting are 3 tone camouflage ASLAV's in IRAQ so dusty finish will be order of the day.

I am entering the diorama they are going on in a competition in June. I have seriously modified the three vehicles so that none are stock and have significant superdetailing. I dont want to screw the paint job up but here is my dilemma

Do I do the painting the way I am used to and therefore get a satisfactory competition grade finish, or,

Risk trying a new technique (MIG Pigments) and possibly get a superior finish?

If i stick with what I know I am safe and I usually score very high in paintwork. If I risk new technique I possibly could waste alot of time fixing things, and I have yet to make any purchases of the pigments - but the finish of models with the pigments can be just amazing.

So what would people who compete say about trying a new technique before a show? Remember three vehicles that have to painted at the same time as they will all be on the same diorama and wearing the same camoflage (in a convoy/ patrol). Should I risk it ? Is there a steep learning curve with the pigments? I am resonably experience modeller so picking up a new skill doesnt bother me too much, just in this case i have invested alot of time and money to risk it on testing a technique now.

link to the diorama, page 1 has the 3 vehicles, pages 4, 5 and 6 have examples of my paintwork on buildings etc
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/170525&page=6#1453169

Your help would be appreciated!

Adam

hey Adam, im a bit like you bud i do most stuff with paint ( or used too) i have started using pigments and the new AK stuff but i wouldnt do it on something you entering in a comp, play with old models forst like i did that way you get the hang of things in your own time an dont screwing up something that matters.
just my opinion for what its worth, have a look on my site http://s756.photobucket.com/albums/xx202/Kiwi_Modeller/Halftracks/
the first 2 pics are a winterised M2 i played with, they have pigments for snow and dirt etc, the 2nd 3 are all paint for dusty look.
while pigments have there place i still prefer paint for dusty affects, but thats just me since i spray paint for a job to me its easy.
cheers,
Graham

nice job on that runing gear. very nice. thanks for your advice.

I just know that desertised dusty vehicles need a wash that is opposite to the traditional one. that is, a dusty wash which deposits "dust" coloured paint onto the crevices and nooks that dust collects in real life. The traditional (AKA verlinden) way of doing it would be to dark wash with oils and then drybrush the higher details witha lighter colour - followed by dustcoats with the airbrush, just wont achieve that look.

Anyways I have some time to ponder but your input is greatly appreciated.

Adam

Well Adam

I'm not as skilled as so I' think i can't give you any advice,anyway, in my opinion you should try on an old model. If you'll be satisfied with results, you'll be able to try on your Iraq diorama
Actually pigments are very effective, sometime they are indispensable

Probably you've already read it, anyway these are some useful link

http://www.migproductionsforums.com/phpBB3/
This is the MIG modeller forum.There's a lot of pigment applications

http://www.missing-lynx.com/rare_world/rw05.htm
a Jimenez article about pigments

http://migjimenez.blogspot.com/2010/08/painting-bt7-without-pigments.html
Mig juimenez's blog

I hope that's be useful for you

Regards

Is your goal to get good markings in the competition, or is your goal to try something new?

If your sole goal is to get good markings/score at competition, stick with what you know, and try pigments on the next project.

If you want to try something new, just go for it, and see how it shakes out.

My goal is to get great marks in the comp. But also I want the models to look realistic - I am getting impression that testing is going to be necesary - and that i dont think I have time.

adam

Adam I've been watching your Aussie's in Iraq thread (unbeleviably impressive by the way!) and the buildings look suitably dusty and weathered already and I'm thinking you probably didn't use pigments on them? In which case I reckon your current techniques without pigments are definetly up to the job.

However, if you want to venture into pigments, and I urge you to do so at some point as they are good, then practice is a must, like people have already said. But you mentioned you may not have the time. You really don't need all that much time though. If I want to practice a technique, painting, weathering etc, I use a scrap piece of plastic card- paint it the appropriate color(s) and weather away, takes twenty minutes if the paint dries fast. You can also glue scrap pieces of card at angles to try out pigment deposits on edges and raised detail etc. It shouldn't take that long.

But also- pigments are quite forgiving. You can brush them away with some thinner if they don't produce the effect you require.

Anyway, good luck whatever you choose to do.

Hey Adam,
why not do both? i don't see why one technique should exclude the other...
just do what you're used to first, then heap on some pigments towards the end... just to tweak some of the effects that are easier to achieve using pigments...
anyway, try it out on a scrap piece of plastic first...
btw. love your diorama work, was already wondering why you didn't paint those aslav's yet

Cheers, Max

Thanks for the feedback folks.

I am sorely tempted to do what I know - and then do something really silly like just go for it and use pigments. i wont though, but I guess I should order some and do a test run on some spare vehicles.

I have played with pigments but not MIG ones. I was at my artists supply warehouse (where I get alot of my stuff -much less expensive than hobby shops and better range) and bought 3 120ml pots of pigments for $15 each! great value. I use those on running gear for rusting etc. but not the techniques used for applying MIG products.

I need to learn to use them as I believe it is next step in expanding my abilities, along with modulation....

Will save modulation for a non cam pattern vehicle methinks. I just call it preshading myself, but anyways.

BTW waiting until easter to paint the ASLAVs as I am waiting on some spares and corrections from the manufacturer before I start painting - also external stowage.

Adam