Happy Sunday. I need to depict two mortar damaged periscopes similar to the attached photo here. I don't think the old technique of using an xacto knife to cut spider cracks will work here. What do you guys think?

Bob

No, I think I'd still use the point of an exacto knkife (or better yet, a carbide scriber) to put in the cracks, but use lots & lots of them, not the standard spiderweb. Then dig out a small divot in the surface where you'd like the fragment to have hit. Then shoot a very small spot of clear flat right on that impact point so it obscures only s small area around the divot leaving most of the cracks visible on the remaining glossy surface.

I haven't done this , but it might give you the effect you're looking for.

HTH

Paul

I would try spackle for this effect.

Darren,

I'm not sure spackle would do the trick. I;ve seen periscope lenese like this beofre and the vast bulk of the surface is still quite flat & shineym just lots of cracks, They usually lose a little material at teh impact point and have super heavy cracking right there.

Paul

Hmmm. I don't know... By the way, the Academy periscopes are regular solid plastic, no clear plastic provided. But I can cuto size no problem. I guess I will play around with some clear plastic and see what I come up with. It's a small area to depict anyway.

Bob

Could using a small amount of an aggressive solvent on the surface create the crazing?

I remember with cockpit shields, any modelling glue did a similar effect, though it wasn't desired as in this case

I remember editing a feature some time ago now but cannot remember its title or who it was by but here is what I do remember. You paint the surface in the case of glass with a clear varnish and then apply (spackle from memory), this product makes the paint crack and split which I thought would meet the desired finish.

Hmmm, maybe we're talking about different products, then. Over on this side of the pond, spackle is a brand of premade wall plaster compound used to fill nail holes & cracks in walls.

Sounds like you're talking about some sort of decorative paint finish product for making "crackle" finishes on stuff.

Paul

That is correct Paul and it was written by an American. as I said it was some time ago now and it could be that spackle was not the term used. I will do my best to find the feature again.

I think you might be talking about this ( CracklePaint ) crackling paint finish? I know there are spray cans and bottles both for this you can get at craft stores.

Spackle, Crackle, Toll and Trouble. Thank you I was at least close.

LOL, very close. Glad to help (if I did)

Hi Bob, I'm assuming this will be in 1/35. At that size aluminum foil (from the kitchen or consumer food packaging) might work for this effect.

Crumple the foil with your finger tips then straighten it back out. The surface will have a spackle ... oops I mean crackle effect. Mark this up with blue markers and highlighters to get the desired color effect. Below are a few images of what I came up with real quick...







this last image is under clear plastic sheet

Nice suggestion KoSprueOne as I like the effect.

KoSprueOne I'll have to keep that technique in mind if I ever need to represent damaged periscopes.

I will do some experimenting and let you know.

Bob

cool everyone, hope it is helpful