I’ve tried several color combinations in an attempt to make the tire color on my planes look correct. I’m just not happy with any of them. I recently tried using the enamel ‘rubber’, but it doesn’t look quite right either. Looking at some of the builds I see on this site (which often just have me staring in amazement at the talent you all have) I’ve noticed a dullcoat brown-black color, and it looks great. What do you all use? Is it better to spray the tires or brush them? Thanks in advance for any advice!
Thats a very good question… Here is what I do; I first airbrush on Poly Scale Black which is water based and once dried, I go back over the black w/ Poly S Scale Black(RLM 66). BUT, I thin down the Scale Black more so it takes a few coats to achieve the look that I want.
Or once the Black is dried, I would use Dark Brown as a substitute for the Scale Black… To me this has better results…
I think that the Rubber colour by Testers is a little to brown for tires… Its more of a toned down black to darkish gray colour.
Then again, you also have to consider everyday use and weathering that the tires encounter. I hope that this helps you out a bit.
This is one of many ways to obtain the tire look… Hope this helps
The tires on your car aren’t really all that different from the tires on an aircraft - so go and have a look at the tires on your car…unless they’re brand new, they’re a matt dark grey.
I always use a very dark grey to paint the tires, a grey/tan wash in the treads, a light drybrush on the sidewalls with lighter grey, and a dark grey drybrush on the treads.
On your car tires, notice the actual void of the treads…they’re a lighter color where the dirt, dust and mud collects…and the surface of the treads (in contact with the road) ends up getting scrubbed clean and is black…hence the dark grey drybrush.
All too often people drybrush the treads a lighter color - it just doesn’t look right.
Hope this is food for thought.
I’ve found for a base color that a mixture of Model Master anthracitgrau (ral7016) and a few drops of semi-gloss black make me happy. A little weather washing overtop does the trick.
My favorite color for tires is the old Pactra Paints Hot Rod Primer. Although it was discontinued back in the 80’s I still have a couple of bottles that are still usable. It’s a blackish grey (or a greyish black?) just a little lighter than RLM 66. Going to make a color chip from and try to make a mixture that matches it before they run out…
I use Floquil Grimey Black for a base coat on most of mine, then dry brush with a slightly lighter grey & finish with some pastels on the treads to show wear. Color depends on the enviromental conditions being portayed. Be aware that in the WWII era, the rubber didn’t have as much carbon added as modern tires, especially true for German tires, so the tires weren’t as dark a grey as on modern aircraft.
Judging from the responses so far I’m guessing that you are referring to tires on aircraft dated post-1930’s. WWI aircraft tires are a whole different ballgame.
No I’m not. I’ve worked around aircraft for 24 years and all the tires I’ve seen are black. Every once in a while there would be one that is slightly gun metal / off black color. Never saw a tire what had grey, brown or any other color in it. I do 1/72 scale and flat black it the perfect color.[;)]
I like Xtracolour Tire Black (or “tyre black” in the Queens english.) Like others have stated, this too is just a really dark grey. Its also good to airbrush on for exhaust stains.
Great suggestions! Thank you all. I’m looking forward to trying some new techniques out to make my builds better. I’ll be using it when I build a P-61 shortly! Thank each of you again, your help is greatly appreciated!
I discovered something interesting about late war Luftwaffe aircraft. Carbon (which was used to make tires black) was in short supply so tires tended to be lighter in color.
I generally use a dark gray, after dry brushing it usually comes out kind of light but I like that “worn/faded” look on my birds.
