I’ve watched numerous videos on YouTube showing how to airbrush armor models according to the color modulation technique. The idea is simple enough–I get it.
However, in every single case the model was plain green or plain yellow or grey. To modulate the color the modeler would play with darker and lighter shades of the basic color.
What if they model is supposed to be camouflaged with a complex pattern? How to apply the modulation principle then?
I would assume that you could modulate each color of the scheme, just make sure that you plan out how you’re going to lay out the different shades and be sure to modulate all the colors the same way.
Could see having to mask each colour separately. Some don’t, and you can tell when masks aren’t used because the camou shapes have dark outlines. You see a lot of this happening on aircraft models.
Another method would be to paint the entire vehicle in it’s base colour and modulate the whole thing. Then bring in your camou colours in lighter coats in hopes the modulation still holds through.
regards,
Jack
Simple - DON’T!
Why would you want to? Real armored vehicles do not have “Modulated Colors”. It is an artistic, unrealistic effect. I don’t see the utility in using it unless you are doing an artistic, unrealistic finish. If that is the case, then who cares how you do it as it will not represent any real vehicle anyways.
Have to agree with my younger brother Heavy…modulation is an artistic technique to add depth to a “single” color. Now as a realist…both camo and solid colors do not “modulate” in real life. If you like the technique on solid colors, have at it (not my cup of tea). For camo patters the “modulation” is the different colors in the camo pattern.
Rounds Complete!!
You’d probably be better off with some oil dot filters to vary things.
Wouldn’t that system be more useful in a diorama type setting than a static display? I would seem that in that case you would also have to use the same technique on everything in the diorama as you would be making the subjects appear to receive light from a single direction.
I’m guessing here, I’ve never heard of this technique before today.
This will complicate the painting job exponentially, increase the difficulty to the 10th power. I was afraid somebody would suggest it.
I cannot deny that we will never represent real vehicles unless the next model from Trumpeter China is 1:1 scale. However, because replicating the real vehicle is impossible in such a small scale, for that reason I believe the modulation effect works well.
I still don’t follow your reasoning, but whatever works for you. Modulate away!
Well of course if you think it looks fake or hokey you shouldn’t do it. But if you want to try it here’s my advice for what it’s worth. You really need the advice of a better modeler like The Doog, but I’ll toss in my two cents.
I’ll use about five shades or so on a single colour subject, on something with multi-colour camo it’s probably a waste of time to go with more than two or three. For a scheme with large blotches I’d mask the AFV off with Silly-Putty or something similar and then modulate each colour- again two or three shades are probably all you need.
If you’re doing stripes and small blotches like German Second World War armour I’d modulate the base mustard yellow or whatever you’re using and not bother with the camo at all.
Anyway that’s my two cents for what it’s worth.