How to paint tanks?

[Triggertimeman]

Hi there, I just started painting my Basilisk. The scheme is supposed to be a solid Catachan green with a weathered look.


Anywho, as I said I started painting it and I seemed to have over-done it a little. Would an ink help maybe?

Does anyone have any tips and pics on how to paint this thing(and others) the way I\'d like?

Here\'s the pic:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f391/Triggertimeman/000_0057.jpg


Thanks!

 

[darkartminiatures]

Hi. It looks fine to me so far. I wouldn\'t say its over-done. to add more depth to this piece you could apply a controlled wash around each nut/bolt and all the recesses. I hope this helps

Edited: heres the pic for all the lazy ones

 

[generulpoleaxe]

use glazes (thin the paint till it looks like muddy water) and then start to place it into the crevices dragging the brush towards where you want the darker shades to be.

it will take a while but will add the extra depth that you want.
you can create rust spots etc around the edges of plates and rivets to add character to the vehicle as well.

have a look in the article section, there are some very good ones on weathering.

hope that helps.

 

[Aidan K]

Looking good, but a bit of rust, soot/oil and dirt would help keep the weathered look going. For the rust I use bestial brown watered right down, and a stipple of whatever earth colour you use on your table and bases for dirt. Good luck!

 

[MPJ]

Actually the paint job looks quite nice. As far as weathering goes on tanks it\'s quite difficult to go \'to far\'. Tanks take amazing abuse and get about as dirty as can be.

 

[Jaws]

I have a tank related question, How am I supposed to give flat surfaces a 3d look?

Ok that didnt sound good since it\'s a 2d surface and supposed to look 2d.

What I mean is how do I paint flat surfaces so they make the overall looks of the tank look more 3d?

Just drybrush all of it like the OP has done?
Seems pointless to me, might as well just paint the whole thing in a lighter shade to begin with and then wash the crevases.


Is there really nothing to be done?

I don\'t mean on the edges where the surface ends, and I don\'t mean the nuts and bolts and stuff that sticks out from the surface.

I mean on the flat part itself.


I\'ve been reading the articles here and googling and reading tutorials at a site for real world combat vehicle model painters, and I\'ve found nothing.



Is this why all the tank guys do all the battle damage and rust and stuff?

The imperial guard might get away with their vehicles in that shape, but I have a marine army, crap like that would get my mechanic guy and his servitors into a world of pain.

 

[Evil Bones]

try www.hyperscale.com

these guys are amazing with vehicles and aircraft weathering.

some of their mods and tutorials are great too.

Evil:beer:

 

[Jaws]

Thanks, but I\'m not gonna weather my tanks.

Again as I said I want my tanks to look like theyre in tip-top shape.

 

[GreenBladeRising]

Theres a fantastic forum for tanks, I learnt alot there that is useable for other areas as well, dreadnoughts, warmachines etc etc.

www.missing-lynx.com

 

[freakinacage]

@jaws. i would just drybrush and then wash. or you could always layer your highlighting towards the edges to get a smoother result than drybrushing but that\'ll be a right pain in the arse!

 

[Jaws]

Originally posted by GreenBladeRising
Theres a fantastic forum for tanks, I learnt alot there that is useable for other areas as well, dreadnoughts, warmachines etc etc.

www.missing-lynx.com

Aye, that was actually one of the sites I looked at all night last night, couldn\'t find their tutorial section.

I\'m a schmuck but their site isn\'t the easiest one to navigate.

Originally posted by freakinacage
@jaws. i would just drybrush and then wash. or you could always layer your highlighting towards the edges to get a smoother result than drybrushing but that\'ll be a right pain in the arse!

I think making that look good on a perfectly flat surface is waaay outta my skills range, I dont even think I\'ve seen that done anywhere so it looks good.

Closest thing I can think off is that line of highlight some people put on all edges, like a perfect 1mm of a really light highlight on all edges to make the vehicle look cartoony.


I\'ll just browse around till I find some tanks with good paintjobs on them in the gallery and try to copy their style.

I\'ll let you guys know if I by a miracle stumble on some really easy technique that also looks really good, but don\'t hold your breathes.

 

[airhead]

Darth, tanks almost self-destruct in the field.
They get mud and sod in places you didn\'t know there were places.
Crews climb in and out and leave \'trails\' on the deck plates and grab rails.
Grease leaks out of everywhere. If not, it rusts.

All of this seems to happen almost overnight when you are in the field.

Crews start strapping on all their personal gear to the outside as there is no room inside for things like bedrolls and spare socks.


try Fine Scale Modeler or Military Modeler

 

[Sand Rat]

You might also try looking for the books of Sheppard Paine - wonderful techniques for doing armor.

 

[Jaws]

Originally posted by airhead
Darth, tanks almost self-destruct in the field.
They get mud and sod in places you didn\'t know there were places.
Crews climb in and out and leave \'trails\' on the deck plates and grab rails.
Grease leaks out of everywhere. If not, it rusts.

All of this seems to happen almost overnight when you are in the field.

Crews start strapping on all their personal gear to the outside as there is no room inside for things like bedrolls and spare socks.


try Fine Scale Modeler or Military Modeler

If were talking german tanks on the eastern front in 1943-44 then I agree.

If you mean modern tanks of today, I disagree.

I watched a documentary about A-stan yesterday and there was this stryker that got stuck in mud, and it wasn\'t half as muddy as most WH40k tanks I\'ve seen that have had that battle damage/muck added to them.

And I\'m sure someone grabbed a hose and washed it off when they got back to base.

 

[Arma]

I bet they didn\'t have Heavy Bolters either though?