Painting Tracks

[Antony Rowley]

Hi All,

Tried to do a search on the subject but can't find what I'm looking for. I've seen recently a few tanks with superbly painted and weathered tracks. Can someone help with the best process for painting metal tracks please

and no not just run them in as I don't like the standard colour that much. Just my personal preference.

Thanks Antony

[Adrian Harris]

I'm sure Tim Bowman has done a run through of his mehod for painting and weathering tacks, but I can't find it either.

I wonder if it was on the BKA forum ?

Adrian.

[Richie Wignall]

Hi Guys

Hep, it was on that Forum, he did a great Zim one too!! so don't go buying it until you have seen it!!!

Richie

[Paul Morris]

Hi Ant.

I have done this a couple of times, first one was my mid Tiger 1 the three colour one not the grey {we all know about grey mid Tiger 1's } The way I did it was to wash the tracks down with thinners and follow up with etch primer both sides then a mixture of sandy dusty colours blown over the top with some darker paint allowed to flow into the deep areas of the tracks and left to dry, I did then try some dry brushing on the sides of the tracks once fitted ...its looks great but not for long as you know from the tanks you have run once they get dirty? I can't see much point unless you are running in dry conditions all the time ... and that does not sound like our weather at all.
Adrian is right about Tim's method and as always with his work it was very good indeed.
Its great to see you back on the forum though looking forward to helping out with the little tank hunter hope you are well my friend.
I will give you a shout I have a project in mind that I hope you will be interested in ....should be some good fun at least and permanent
Cheers Paul

[Antony Rowley]

Thanks for the replies. I knew I had seen a tutorial somewhere. Pity the BKA forum disappeared.

I want to dress the tracks as they look too new as they are. Paul, I'll try your method up to the darker paint as I've purchase some AK Interactive weathering washes which I'm going to try. These include one especially for tracks. From running tanks over the last few years once the mud and dirt has dried and fallen off, the tracks are still the familiar colour which is why I'm going to paint mine from now on.

Look forward to hearing what you project is.

Thanks Ant

[Paul Morris]

Hi Ant.

No pobs mate let us know how you get on and wish you well, as for the project I think you will like it and you are on the list.
By the way and for anyone interested if you just want to dull the tracks down by a few shades morter stain remover or the stuff that cleans your patio will do this but do it before you make up the links its no good on the pins they will rust like hell, so wash the links after treatment once dulled the bright colour will never come back on the links even after you have washed them.
Cheers mate.
Paul

[Tim Bowman]

Hi Antony

Good to see you on here again.

Here's pretty much the same post that was on BKA forum. The only difference is that on Armortek links, base color is not needed as they are a beautiful grey to start with.

Scroll down and then actual weathering is on the next page. Hope it helps.

http://www.sixtharmygroup.com/forums/ar ... ct-21.html

Here was an earlier test too.

http://www.sixtharmygroup.com/forums/ar ... ct-18.html

Once this is on there as a base, real mud, dust and dirt add to it.

Best regards
Tim

[Antony Rowley]

Hi Tim,

Fantastic Thanks for taking time out to re-post the thread. This is what I remember. I really like the professional tutorial you create on these threads. I'm going to try this method today as I have all items available.

Thanks Ant

[Stephen White]

By a real fluke, I was just finishing the tracks on my Pz III as Anthony's post popped up. I've posted a bit on how I've done my tracks here:

http://www.armortek.co.uk/forum/viewtop ... &start=540

Tim made a good point that although "real" weathering happens as soon as the tank is run, it's good to get it out of the shop looking right.

There is a lot of stuff about track painting on the 1/35th scale forums. These are quite useful:

http://www.florymodels.co.uk/

http://www.scalemodellingnow.com/

http://www.ak-interactive.com/

Only comment I'd make is that the plastic model community seems obsessed with applying "rust" to their tracks, which flies in the face of reality. A working tank track will not show rust but will be polished where it's in contact and will otherwise be dusty or muddy according to the season.

Hope this is of use. Thanks to Anthony.

I wonder if it would be good to have a section of this forum in which to post technique guides so that they were all in one place?

Regards

Stephen

[John Fitzsimons]

I used some of the mig pigments as used in Tim's tutorial along with a little rust pigment. also airbrushed some earth colours and sealed with matt varnish. This will not last long but will be nice for some initial photos.

[Antony Rowley]

Following on from all the advice & help I've started on the tracks and below if the difference. Quite an improvement.



Still got to wire brush them a little (These are spare links which will be carried on the deck & rear plate) but I'm quite pleased with the result so far.

Thanks Ant

[Paul Morris]

Hi Ant.


Looking good matey.
Cheers Paul