Recently I have been preshding my models by painting them back first. I will be painting my fist lighter color model, the new DML M1, and was wondering if I should still use black for a base coat or should I be using a ligher brown. When I preshade I usually just give the whole model a coat of black paint not just certin areas. Has anyone used black? Do theyy like black better? Thanks all.

I would think that some sort of raw umber would be better, maybe not even that dark(about the color of a football is what I'm thinkin). The preshading color represents the most ingrained, permeated grime on the model. A tan color with black showing through would be a little too bold. Try to take a look at some modern desert builds and you can probably detect what color the preshading was on the models that fancy your eye more.

Sounds right to me , thanks!

I mainly build desert coloured kits and if i had to do pre shading, i would use burnt sienna or a dark brown colour as the first coat. Black colour might give too much contrast if not done right.

I do find that dark washes give a better effect however.

Hi,
instead of preshading try postshading It's easier to control when you can decide when enough is enough without to worry if actual sand color is covering everything.

Niko

Hmmmm...it may be off topic, but currently I´m building a field green (single colored) abrams... got any suggestions for a preshading there?
(its a bit darker than the common nato-green)
max

oh, P.S. if you check out my photos... there´s a original pic of the tank want to build...cheers

For dark green I would only preshade the panel lines and crevices black rather then the entire model. I would then probably either do the first coat in the color out of the bottle, or even add a little black rather then wasting time with a full coat of black. You will need to lighten the bottle color again for scale effect anyway, then once more for final shading the light areas.

sounds logic...
thanks max