Painting aircraft tires/wheels

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

Hi,

I have come to the conclusion that my depiction of realistic tire rubber on model aircraft leaves a lot to be desired. I would appreciate suggestions/tips in this matter on what other modelers have found to work for them.

Thanks,

Mike

2

Testors mm flat black…testors clear flat laquer (can)…wash with burnt umber artist oil paint (thinned of course)…let dry…there you go.

3

I use 1 to 1 flat black and Testors rubber (kind of a brownish) mix. Then weather with some gray pastels.

4

Depending on the detail of the tire. Some have recesed treads and others do not.

Usually with the recessed treads I will paint the sidewalls a flat black or scale black and the tops a lighter gray ( either gunship gray or a darker gray).

Then thin a the same color down as a I painted the sidewalls. Apply it to the part of the tire with the tread on it. Gently wipe it off only leaving the darker color behind that went in the recesses of the treads only.

This gives the tire a used look of being rolled down the tarmac and runway and the abuse they take on landings.

5

I’ve still got a couple of bottles of the old Pactra Hot Rod Primer that are still usuable. It’s a dark grey that’s a fuzz lighter than Panzer Grey. Have used it for years as my tire color.

6

I use Tamiya Nato Black. Nice greyish black color.

7

I paint mine a tannish-brown or a medium to light grey and weather them with pastels, but of course that’s for WWI aircraft. [;)]

8

I use Tamiya NATO black. Plus a tiny bit of drybrushing and there you go!