I have found a new way to add anti-slip texture to modern armor. I wanted to add the ant-slip to my new Academy M1A1 OIF kit hull so it would match the Dragon M1A1 turret that I am using to correct it with. I was going to try Mr. Surfacer, but was leary about pushing it through my airbrush and ruining the airbrush. I have heard some horror stories on that. I decided to try something I found at the local home improvement center. It is a product called Terra Cotta under the American Accents brand made by Rust-oleum. It is a standard spray can that imparts a rough, sand texture on whatever you spray it on. I first taped off the areas I did not want the anti-slip to be on, then simply followed the directions on the can and gave it a few light coats of the Terra Cotta finish. It worked perfectly.
Here are the results:
It only cost me about $4 as well and I still have nearly a full can of the stuff. I am happy as to how it came out and I didn’t ruin an expensive airbrush in the process.
Give it a try if you want your modern armor to have the proper anti-slip coating. It would work great on the new Tamiya M1A1/A2 that doesn’t have it as well as any other modern piece of armor.
Another great tip, HeavyArty, thanks for sharing it with us. It’s amazing sometimes what you can find to adapt to this hobby just by wandering around one of those big craft stores like Hobby Lobby or Micheal’s.
Gino
I have two Tamiya M1A2s in the coset now and have been holing off on building because I was weary of trying the Mr Surfacer anti skid method. I think I might have to tear in to one of them now. Thanks for the tip.
Good method heavy arty. There are alot of “texture” spray paints out there if you look for them. In varying thicknesses from fine like primer to very sandy. Some of the underbody automotive spraypaints are very coarse. Not good for models but useful in some dios I have done.
EDIT: I understand your concern about Mr. Surfacer and your AB but it works fine YMMV but I’ve never had a problem. Your method is better anyway though
If I am not mistaken, Mr. Surfacer is also sold in a spray can so as to avoid the airbrush issues. So we have at least two good methods now for anti-slip texture.
[8D]Here in England we can get “Miniature Stone Coating” in various grades and colours. It is sold in craft shops that deal in Dolls houses. I’ts a bit rough on your paint brush but it can do the job!..Kenny
From what I have seen, anyway, Mr. Surfacer looks just fine when it is brushed on by hand–long strokes first with Mr. Surfacer 500, then stippled with the end of the brush, providing both a cast metal texture and a primed surface (see “The Modeler’s Guide to the Tiger Tank”, page 97 and various other parts of the book, for a great description of the technique). The results are really quite excellent, I think. No need to muck up your airbrush, and you can still throw on a coat of primer color of your choice over it.
Looks like a great idea. I have a can of this stuff and the texture on the lid looks just right. Does it adhere to the plastic well? Also, do you know how this material holds up to laquer, enamel, or acrylic paint? Will it lift off if coated with something incompatible? My usual method involves priming with Tamiya spray laquer followed by basecoating with acrylic from my AB. The acrylic and lacquer are fine together but how about the lacquer and the terra cotta? I suppose I could just try it out on a sheet of styrene.
What other armor/apc’s have the non-slip coating on them? I have an M1A2 and am considering getting a Bradley.
Haven’t had any problems with paint/lacquer or any other producs incompatability. Sticks to the plastic just fine. Basically, all modern armored vehicle have some amount of anti-slip coating added to them. Definitaly on the M1A2 and the Bradley.
Has anyone tried the metal anit-slip plates, n. 1 online for 1/35 scale models? Are photo etched as a metal sheet, but can’t tell from picture what kind of texture (there are 3 textures available). Will probably try in future. Also have several other ideas for anti-slip surfaces—will experiment on Abrams models and post results if are useful.
