You know that almost all the Russian tanks have a long log in the rear… but how to paint it to make it look realistic?.. i have the T-80 and I’ve been thinking about purchase a T-72M2… another thing… The ESCI T-55’s log is hollow and too short, so I replaced it with a wooden rod of the same diametre, but with the right lenght… how to paint it?.. the same as the plastic logs?.. Thanks in advance.
Actually, many tanks in Soviet service, from the T-34 up to the T-72 and beyond, carry a log for the purpose of “unditching” - it’s also a common accessory provided with many models. I did take a look at the T-55’s as you suggested and you can see what I’m referring to in this pic, http://missing-lynx.com/gallery/modern/t55_wilder2.jpg sitting across the rear panel below the fuel tanks.
(EDIT: And another - T-72 this time http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/modern/cpt72-8.jpg
If it’s real wood, I’d suggest using a light wood stain (walnut or oak perhaps) rather than trying to paint it using model paint. Actually - the logs in the two pics I have linked to in my preceding post both appear to be real wood.
Cool Phil, I learned something new. You found one of the couple of pics I didn’t look at there. Most were front or side shots, and the closest I saw to a log under the fuel tanks was painted to match the vehicle and looked like a cleaning rod canister. I have never seen logs mounted there on any of the Russian armour images I have seen. Although I admit that almost all of those are WW2 vintage. As I stated, the fact that he said almost all have them was what threw me, that is the first one I have actually seen.
So zeroenna using a piece of dowling would be the easiest way of getting a log. Some thin washes of dark brown or black to stain the wood can bring out some of the grain detail. For plastic ones, if they have bark textured on them, start off with a dark brown and follow by dry brushing lighter shades of brown and tan. If it is a smooth log i.e. bare wood I put a little light brown or tan on my palette, then use a toothpick to put a tiny bit of dark brown or black into the tan. Don’t blend the colours, but use the toothpick to swirl the darker colour through the light until there are thin little swirls in it. Take your brush, dip it in the mixture and paint it using lengthwise strokes, wiggling the brush a little to make the streaks wavy and irregular. The other alternative is to paint the plastic log tan or light brown, then with a very fine brush paint the ‘grain’ details with lengthwise strokes. Remember that logs with bark can range from black to brown to grey, just dry brush with a lighter shade. Weathered logs can be dark brown to black as well depending on a lot of factors too. So there are no firm rules for what colours to use. I apologize for the confusion.
I always replace the plastic kit parts with a piece of real wood. Just look around outside for something suitably straight, then debark it, allow it to dry up, and stain it with a series of thin black and dark brown washes. if you wish afterwards, you can drybrush it with a mid-brown colour.
I use plain ol brown shoe polish on a wooden dowel, you can nick it up alittle to give it a worn look.
Jeff