ive decided to do my first ww2 tank, ive done 1 modern apc before but no weatherin or real detail, and i was wondering, how do i do weathering that everyone talks about? i plan on having it in with some troops on a road, oh and by the way, its a panzerIV

well, there are many techniques for weathering a tank. one is the "dunk tank" for that dryed on level look you see on some vehicle, simply place the tank in a tupperware bowl filled with your mud mix. make sure it's a little larger than the tank. other ways include sculpting the mud on the tank with putty and them washing with various mud colors. and for subtle weathering of just plain road dust i shoot the tank with an airbrush from 8 inches away and let the dust mist and settle on to the tank. my centaur will be going to the rivet reveiw board here shortly, and it was weathered with the last method. good luck stug

Do a search in the forums for drybrushing, weathering, and washes.
I know the great artists here have posted a number of detailed posts on each of these techniques.
Basically, what I do. Is construct the AFV. Do a base coat. Then apply a wash, then add a coating of weathering such as mentioned - light spray of tamiya buff. If you want to add dirt, you can add putty of various types to the roadwheels, running gear. Mix a bit of your dirt color in first then just apply to various parts of your AFV. You can mix in some static grass or snipped brush bristles into the putty to give it more character.

stugiiif
The Dunk Tank sounds interesting. I haven't heard of this technique before. Is the mud mix dilute? How far in do you push your AFV?

I would be interested in hearing more on the "Dunk Tank " Technique.

Hi LWF,

This is what I do to weather ing a tank after I painted all the camos and applied decals.

1. I seal it with a gloss coat.
2. Once the gloss coat is dried. I apply a wash with oil diluted in turpetine.
3. Once the wash is dried. I spray 80% Dark Earth + 20% Flat Black on the lower chasis of the tank.
4. Spray Buff on the upper structures.
5. Spray diluted black on gun muzzle and exhaust to simulate fume
6. Then seal with dull coat
7. Once the dull coat is dried, I brush the vehicle with pastel chalks.

HTH.

thatnks alot guys, but one thing, i havent got an airbrush, and we cant really aford one soooo......are there any other ways to do this dust and stuff without one? oh and i would also like to know how to make it look scratched, ive seen that done, like a silver paint chip sort of thing, well, thanks anyway, cheers

Hey Davidus what does the oil and turpintine do?

Mike, the oil color and turpetine mix gives the AFV model a wash, it darkens the color of little gaps etc, so makes it look like accumulation of dirts and things.

for instructions on the dunk tank see the dunk tank thread. stug