sandy

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

I am trying to weather my m1a1 abrams with a sandy look. I am using eath tone pastel chalks by powdering and brushing it on. It looks quit awsome at this point. Then I tried to fix it by coating it with testors flat enamel. After it looked as if it was never done. Can anyone help me fix the chalk with out lossing its affects?

2

I usually dust with pastels and then keep my grubby little paws off of it. It is the last step that I do to complete the model, never have sealed the pastels.

3

Thanks. I thought that i might just have to do that. But I would still like a way to seal it all up. In case some one fingers it. I like to be on the safe side.

Thank you.

James Simmons
Lcpl, US Marine Corps

4

Ah yes the age old problem of touchy - touchy - feely - feely. I have heard of some modellers that do seal their pastels but I am not sure exactly what method they use. I don’t worry too much about anyone touching my finished works, I threaten them as soon as they go near.

5

Try a fixative for pastels from an artists store or some hair spray. (try on scrap first!)

6

Will try.

Thank you

James Simmons
Lcpl, US Marine Corps

7

There was a tip in the November 2002 issue of FSM, they reccomended using a small amount of Acetone… I don’t have the issue in front of me, so I don’t know all the steps, but I could check, if you’d like!

8

Could you do that for me. I would be very thankfull.

Thank you
James Simmons
Lcpl, US Marien Corps

9

ACETONE???

Your model will be a melted pile of goo…!
I worked with acetone while working as a paper conservator. Acetone tends to react with plastic in unpleasant ways, even though its only a mild solvent. It may not completely dissolve the plastic, but any fine detail you have will be crazed by the chemical reaction.

Just my $.02

10

Thank you. It would have been sad seeing how much time I’ve spent on this.

James Simmons
Lcpl, US Marine Corps

11

have you tried to spray on the flat coat first then do a powder coat , as the wet flat coat would make the pastels stick and then you could seal it once it has dried.
just a thought?