Thoughts on AK Interactive Easy Cast Texture? How much texture is too much?

[pr154]

Hi Folks,

I’ve seen a few armour modelling tutorials and build logs which use various methods to enhance the texture of moulded parts to represent cast armour. Some of you have used putties, others have used polystyrene cement, either way to excellent effect…

Would love to try this out on a future build, but am concerned about making irreparable damage to the model by using the aforementioned techniques. I came across this product from AK Interactive, which is an acrylic product that appears a bit more user-friendly and easier to correct if the finish is not satisfying. Have any of you had experience with this product?

AK Interactive Easy Cast Texture

The other question, is how much texture is too much texture? Granted a flat surface isn’t all that interesting, but I can’t help but feel some modellers end up overdoing their armour texture particularly where the original armour is supposed to be rolled steel plate. This is possibly a result of modelleres taking inspiration from 80-90 year old museum pieces, some of which have been left in the elements for decades or abused as range targets before undergoing restoration. Between the ravages of time, weather, and wartime-quality steel milling, this is bound to attract pitting and additional texture that we wouldn’t expect from a vehicle in service that’s undergoing regular maintenance…

Panzer IV Ausf F in Moscow’s Victory Park - Much of the additional texture here is likely a product of decades of corrosion and pitting rather than a reflection of its condition in 1941

[stikpusher]

Cast armor can have various amounts of roughness, from minimal to quite crude looking. It all depends upon the vehicle type and circumstances. Some had time for more finesse in the casting process than others.

Rolled/pressed/stamped armor plate on the other hand usually has minimal imperfections in it. Again it depends upon the manufacturing process. Wartime hurried production stuff will be more likely to have the flaws. Modern post WWII stuff is usually pretty smooth, at least the stuff from western countries. Soviet/Eastern bloc stuff was a bit more rough.

[Ranger_Chris61]

As was previously stated, it depends on the manufacturing technique used, the time period, and the manufacturer. This does lend to alto a variety even among individual vehicles. So as with most things it comes down to checking references. Though this stuff does seem like it will allow for some decent artistic license for a variety of applications, so personally I may need to look into it.