Weathering Tank Tracks

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

Trying to find some info on weathering tank tracks for the first time.

Ive looked around at the different sites, so I thiught someone out there

might have a good basic remedy. This is 1/48 tiger tank. First tank

instead of airplanes.

2

I’m not sure which type of track you are using-link & length, 1 piece vinyl, individual link plastic or metal-but I always start with painting the entire track a base coat of steel, then a heavy coat of a darkened version of the ground it will be on, then lightly drybrush the base color over the raised parts. Last but definitly not least I give the completed tracks a thinned wash of a black/light brown(dirty white if you are doing a winter scene). You will get the appearance of a used track with shiny steel showing where the track would contact the hard ground, and dirt & debris(and/or snow) packed into the hollow areas. I am not a pro at this seeing as I just returned to the hobby a couple of years back after a 25 yr absence, but I learned this method by doing exactly what you did-asking it here in FSM Forums.

Here are a few pics of a Panther tank in 1/35 I recently completed (1st tank since coming back) where I used a set of Friulmodel indi-link metal tracks. I used the above method on them and I was quite happy with the results.

I hope this helps, and [#welcome] to the dark side!

3

Check out doog’s tutorial here…

TUTORIAL

4

I am using the lnk and lengh that came with the kit.

I am bulding the 1/48/ Tiger. With this wash, I was planning to use

pastels, what should I use for the wash? I am using acrylics for the

paint. I dont want the was to react with the acrylic paint.

5

With acrylics use an oil wash. Artist oils thinned with mineral spirits. Or make a wash with chalk pasels ground fine, mix with water and a few drops of dish washing liquid.

6

I use Tamiya acrylics myself so before I apply the wash I always seal everything with a couple of coats of either future or dullcoat. After it dries for a day or three I do the wash. For the wash I prefer to use oils thinned with mineral spirits.

7

If I am using pastels,do I still need to spray future before application?

If I use artists oil with mineral spirits, then spray with future before applying

the wash is that correct? I have been reading about MIG pigments, what are these and where

can I buy this product?

8

Thank you for the info, that helps. My next question for you,

I have been using silly putty to help with laying out the patterns for multi-camo

schemes. My question is, after looking at your how do blend the paints together

so you don’nt have those demarcation lines that you get with silly putty?

Do you use some type of fade to blend the colors?