A technique that’s not been mentioned here is the ‘optical illusion’ method some modelers use on aircraft cammo – paint the scheme with a brush hard-edged, then mix the two colors in equal parts and paint a fine line between the color areas. From a distance the eye is fooled and sees a smooth graduation of color between the areas. I’ve never actually tried this method (I’ve been an airbrush user since 1979) but I’ve heard it said to work quite well. on the more rugose surface of armor I should think it’ll work better than on aircraft.
I agree, the airbrush is intimidating, it’s a long time since I last used mine and it’s taking courage to front up and get to work. But I just love that smooth finish!
More to the point,who cares!!! If you don’t want to AB don’t. If you can get the results you want then do it. What’s the difference who uses what? The question was asked and answered so either try something else, get an AB, or whatever.
I remember an article in FSM a while ago where they hand brushed a german aircraft with Ringed Camo and then took another brush dipped in thinner and fuzz around the edge of the camo pattern and some what blended the camo into the dark yellow base coat. Anyone else recall that? Give me two days I can find that issue from my two shelves of magazines.
If you need to do dots like on some German Armour than use pastels. Just rub it on with a Q-tip and your done. I’ve never really had problems with over-coating the pastels.
I think youe best bet is to use a combination of all these tecniques. Hope this helps.
Warren
You might be able to use oils like the figure guys do. Brush it on then when it drys dipp a wide brush in thiner and blend in the edges, brushing parellel to the edge of the paint.
Warren
if your painting three color scheme start with brush painting your camo by wiping the excess paint of the brush and gently dabbing the color on slowly building it up until you get the desired effect your after, then mix a slightly lighter base color thin it slightly and paint the entire model again covering your camo. If done right your camo scheme should just be visible through the base coat I used this on the Stuka Zu Fuss to brilliant effect. I even had it displayed in Beatties model shop at Xmas.
al is right
your looking for a factory new paint job forget it
most german and russian camo jobs where done in the field
that means 2 things
1 mops and brushes
2 paint for all this field work came in cans from a few different factories and many times the colors were a bit different in each can especially from the middle of the war on
so… use your brushes and keep up the good work[tup]
–==This may be a little long ODDBALL, but please, read it==–
Oddball, im right there with you. I posted a brushing topic a little earlier saying that i was going to brush a sherman and asking for tips. everyone was helpful for the most part, (more so then wat your getting now) but i got one very outstanding overall tip. no matter what was said, it generally hinted at thinning the paint. I use enamel paints, but ive had no problems thinning with my brothers tamiya acrylics either. (my brother uses acrylics with airbrush as to where i prefer brush and testors enamels) Well, i overcame the put downs and i put my tank together and started painting. I was originally going to make the whole tank olive drab like the originals … but no. i gathered up my courage and took on a camo scheme. its a basic 2 color camo, but still rather challenging. My results, however, r EXCELLENT. the trick was thinning the paint. I’m right there with you on the “no airbrush required” idea. wen i put a few more coats on it i will bring up some pics and see how you guys feel.
so overall, u can get very nice results with a brush
you have to thin ur paint properly and brush gently … however you will end up requiring at least 5 coats. no details will go away and it will almost appear airbrushed – by the way, if u think brushing is impossible check out “SASD”'s work. everything he does is brushed and his models r exccellent
for all you skeptics out there, i will have pics in a few days to show you up [}:)]
hehe[:D]
ps. please, do brush it and dont be intimidated, with 2-3 models your brushing skills will be very good, i guarantee it (no1 mastered the airbrush on their first try either ya know … )
-Kevin