Hello everyone,
I just started modeling seriously about a month ago and I want to do a Bradly fighting vehicle but i dont know how to do nato camo.[B)]please tell me how.
sincerly,
Will
You may be in store for some frustration, but the pay off is worth it. The more you do the better you get. Armor is a blast.
I’ll let someone with more experience answer your question. Welcome to Armor. The Dark Side.
I spray all mine free hand with an airbrush. The three colors I use are Testor’s Model Master Medium Green, Field Drab, and Flat Black. These colors give the faded appearance that CARC paint gets very quickly. It doesn’t stay bright and new looking long. The basic techniques I follow are to paint the whole vehicle in the Medium Green first. Next I spray the black areas, and finally the brown areas with the Field Drab. The key is to have a good airpbush using low pressure and your paints need to be relatively thin, about the consistency of milk. You can also use silly putty to mask off your different camo areas or even Post-It note paper.
Hope that helps.
Will,
It might help if you told us what type of modelling tools you have on hand or are able to aquire. Since you are fairly new to the hobby you might not have an airbrush and a compressor. You can pick up a decent brush for under 70 bucks and a good compressor for around 100.
I use a Paasche VL and a Craftsman 5 gallon compressor. Both work out great but you need to get some practice in with the brush to get good control of the spray.
If you are not up to investing this much money up front, you can do wonders with spray cans. You won’t be able to spray fine lines but they work great for base coats. You have to be a little more careful since the volume of output is greater than an airbrush but it is definitely much better than trying to use a paintbrush.
If I were you, I would build something with a one color paint scheme to start off. You would be suprised at what a good build can do to your confidence level. An easy paint scheme can help out a lot since it doesn’t matter how well you glue all the parts together if your paint looks like crap.
One thing I learned early on is that skills come with time and practice. You cannot expect to compete with some of the better modelers here when you are first starting out. Build models and try to improve on your last build. You will get better and things will look more realistic as you gain experience. Some of the guys around here have been building stuff all their lives.
You will probably want to start off building strictly out of the box. After you get a few under your belt you may want to start using aftermarket stuff like Photo Etch and Resin Parts or even scratchbuilding parts. Take it slow so as not to overwhelm yourself.
My biggest problem even still today is choosing when to paint. Ask around the forums and most likely someone else has built the kit you are that has some advice.
Will-
Welcome to the asylum! There’s plenty of help here for NATO armor, or just about anything else too!
Glenn
Hi
Painting camo depends a lot on what kind of tools you plan/have available to use. If you have an airbrush, then there are techniques associated with that. If, however, you plan to brush paint alone, then again, there are techniques for that as well. Let us know what you have to work with.
HeavyArty Said:
About how much PSI should you use when painting cammo freehand? I just connected my airbrush to my huge air compressor. I’m playing around with the pressure to get good clear lines with no over spray. See the link below to see the result of a frozen aircan.
Also, do you prime the vehicle body with auto primer before applying the cammo?(read this in an FSM article)
Will! Welcome to FSM forum, we have some folks here who have first hand knowledge about just about anything having to do with all aspects of modelling. I’m sure you’ll like being part of the forum. Semper Fi, Mike
Welcome to the forum Willjanuary. Click on the links to my photobucket pictures below to see the nato camo on my Leopard 2A6. I know it’s not the same but same idea. Play-doh will stick on the model when you pull it off but when it dries it comes right off. Good luck with yours and have fun too.
I use between 20 and 30 psi, sometimes lower if I am trying to get fine lines. Also, you should really have the compressor hooked to an air tank and paint off the tank. Straight off the compressor can cause the paint to spurt as the compressor pulses to push the air out. I do not prime my models before painting either. Hope that helps out.
welcome to the of plastic models and I agree what are working with as far as paints and a air brush ? For mine I just free hand the camo you can’t make it wrong os just have fun with it.
welcome to the of plastic models and I agree what are working with as far as paints and a air brush ? For mine I just free hand the camo you can’t make it wrong os just have fun with it.
[#welcome] you will not only get help but also lots of encouragement.[:o)]
an airbrush works really well for applying camo patterns on tanks and other armor. I would recomend getting an airbrush for this one. Since you are new to modeling, you should get an easy one to use, probably one of the testors brands. I think medium green and field drab are nato colors… Im not sure though
[#welcome] Will! I agree with the earlier posts about using an AB for camo. HeavyArty does some incredible stuff, so he knows what he is talking about. incredible!
be sure to keep us updated as your Bradley progesses.
Thanks for the compliments. I just build models as I see them, nothing more.
Welcome. It is good to have new blood. Mine is kind of thick.
thanks im trying to save money to buy a bradley.(the hobby stores only bradley is 50 bucks).I have a airbrush and a huge compressor.(my dad uses it at the houses he builds)does the same thing apply to airplanes to im trying to finish up my a-10 warthog(ill post picks)thanks for the hrlp
will
Welcome!!! Sounds like you’re getting some good advice here. The only thing I will add is if you’re new to ABing it helps SO much to practice on some scrap. Maybe just water on cardboard to get the feel. Then make the investment in some paint to experiment on plastic scrap to find out what consistency and pressures your brush and technique work best.
You can pick them up off of ebay for probably half that or less. I’ve scored some nice deals myself this year.