Here's a tip for creating chipped or worn paint when weathering vehicles. I used it to weather whitewash camo on a M4 Sherman, So I'll use this experience as a basis and example...

Step 1: Use an oil based paint for the base coat or for the primer coat.
I used an MM Olive Drab to base coat the finish on my Sherman.
This step could also apply to doing the vehicles primer color or bare metal color if the paint wear is going to extend to that depth.
I then weathered is using acrylic washes.


Step 2: Use Tamiya (or other alcohol/ water based acrylic) for the overcoat. In this case, I brushed the white wash coat over the base color. I only did one coat because I wanted it to be thin and easy to chip.

Step 3: Get yer self some denatured alcohol and a variety of tools. Paint brushes, cotton swabs, toothpicks, etc...

Step 4: This is the chipping part. Starting with cotton swabs, rub a bit of denatured alcohol in a small area of the model until the top coat of paint starts to weaken and come off. WARNING: cotton swabs are quick to become over-saturated with paint. When they do, they will just smear the paint. Since this isn't the effect we want, frequently discard and replace the swabs.

Step 5: When satisfied with the large weathered areas, we can start on the detail areas. swab the area lightly to get the alcohol into the paint. Now use a toothpick or stiff bristle brush to wear away smaller chips or cracks in the paint.

Step 6: Follow up with external weathering.

With some practice it's easy to recreate the kind of scratching and damage common to military vehicles and utility vehicles. And it's fun too!




It's important to use the two different types of paints in this process. Oil based paints are not removed by denatured alcohol. This allows the base coat to remain undisturbed when weathering the top coat.

Thanks for the info! As with me, I do paint chipping in a different way (spray paint, overcoat then body paint). You can check my paint chipping on my T-72 in my website gallery.