A sneak peak at another Abrams build I have going on.

Going with another concept idea of the tank being on Russian ground city fighting.

Trying an idea spin on German ambush camo.

Hydro dip? Why not? Pretty dang cool idea. Not to mention that that particular camo does look like it'd work!

Mike

So strangely cool....

This ones coming out pretty good so far for me. But, I am hitting a wall on where I am going to go with its weathering.

choices pondering:
1. Roads thawing from a hard winter,causing mud
2. Traveling dirt roads coming out of the 2017 2018 winter while still in winter scheme.
3. Inner city battles with concrete rubble dust.

Leaning towards number 3 right now. As the other choice will probably be used on other builds.

Innovative and clever!

Pardon my ignorance on two counts.

What is hydro-dip ?

Is this a what-if camo svheme ? Its pretty cool looking.

Is a technique where a film or a light layer of paint floats on a water bath, then immersing the piece to paint, the film stick directly to the object .... it's easier to see a video than explains it ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hwnMsDVwmk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEY8KTOt6h8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwz1K9qfdKE

you can buy film with every pattern you need,camo,wood,flags,etc...

http://www.hydroconcepts.com.au/patterns.htm

it's awesome i see put a camo on a huntig rifle of a friend once and looks magic!..

Was the film used??? I would really like to try this!!!

I will try and answer any question about hydro dipping.

In the pic I dipped the frame. However its has been hand painted over the film to change the pattern as you would buy. Just take away all the white dots and you would have the film and the white basecoat I sprayed.

It can be very useful and I have a few more builds planned for it. You will need to take different approaches to building your model in steps, as dipping has its own set of pitfalls and learning curve. Doing it can be just as arrg as learning airbrushing. I've done hundreds of items.

This is a drone frame I did years past for another flyer.

The pattern you used for your drone flyer would be perfect for early French St. Chamond tank camouflage during WWI, just not in those colors! I'd never heard of this technique until your post, but I too would like to try it-- if only there were some true-to-life camo schemes. I can think of a few schemes this would be perfect for-- late WWII German "ambush" schemes maybe? WWI aircraft lozenge patterns? How does it do over detail? Is the paint coat a thin coat or thick? What type of paint is used?
VR, Russ

Does it fill into all the panel lines???

There are quit a few patterns in film that could apply to past and modern armor. I have 3 planned for the future.

This started with me wanting to do it on a Mark IV. With its flat sides it would be easy for a first time try'er of it. With so many captured by the Germans its easy to even do what if's of them.

The above videos are good examples of showing how. But there is still some minor things to know that are not being shown.

I might do a future post of the pros and cons of doing it.

Things that can matter. Model surface prep, film quality, how you handle the film, dust getting on the model or film, water temp, temp of water during rinse off, time you leave in water, time you wait before rinse, quality of activator, making sure you keep the activator nozzle clean so not to create air bubbles. Air temp your are dipping in. Its not major stuff, just stuff you would also need to be aware of that would effect quality air brushing also. Just pointing out some factors.

As far as the video just using spray paint. I tried it once on a drone arm. Its an okay technique, I would just never use if for modeling. It leaves the paint to thick on the object. It does give a cool van halen look though.

Rich, this is a close up pics of the rear top of the abrams. The white part of the film is actually clear on the film. So where you see white is also the same thickness as any other colour on the tank. There are areas one may have to go in and touch up where the film was not able to get into.

You can see the ridges and bolt heads are still defined.

How easy or difficult is it to remove ?
What solvents or cleaners will attack it ?

tonight the abrams gets its clear coating.

I have given up on PB so hopefully I am doing the Kitmaker site right to show pics.

Remove would be as much work as taking any surface primer off.

I treat it like any acrylic paint. Thats not saying its the same, just I assume anything will mess with it like that.

Alcohol will remove acrylic .
so that will do it ?

For sure. As that is how I striped my green/white camo Abrams back down to bare that was just acrylic. However, expect way more scrubbing with the hydro. It so depends on the time it has set. I have never tried removing it anything past 10 minutes once it was applied.

When I did remove it. It was when I was doing drone frame or radio covers. So I new then if I didnt like the look it had. I never waited longer than 10 minutes. I attacked it with just water right away under the sink. But again, very strong scrubbing. Nowhere near as easy as when I soaked the Abrams in alcohol.

OK
Thanks !

for sure, no problem.

Another pic before the pin washing, decals, weathering begins. Also need to do all the bags and other extras to go on top.

Building an extra barrel for inner city combat. To help with the tight rotation spaces.

some more details before the main weathering starts with the CROWS, main gun, and wheels.

Still experimenting with gear color.

finished up the CROWS, mounts tonight. Build might be finished this week.

I think I will call it done for awhile. I have some other builds I really want to focus on.

I have another hydro planned a soon as I knock out my other urban ideas.


Here are a few pics of urban camo that helped to influence this.