Weathering tracks - Not the ones you drive on, but the extra's (for example on the turret or the sides)

[Marco Peter]

I just wanted to share how I have been weathering the extra tracks for my Panther, to hang on the sides.

First of all: Michal Matata (memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=178531) makes GREAT extra tracks for the Panther! Absolutely stunning detail. I own 3 real WOII Panther tracks, on of them being unused, and this is really well done when I compare them.




And this was my main reason to want them: the guide horns!

They weight twice as much too!





These are the steps of my process:

The closest three are finished results, the difference being the amount of rust.

[Marco Peter]

First of al: Red Primer. Could have been any color btw. You just need a layer for the paint to really stick to the metal.


Then my little secret: chalkboard paint! Very nice shade of dark grey and it dries really matte...




My wife is really happy I am doing this in the middle of the living room...

The end result so far:


Adding A&K track wash:


After wiping the surplus off and drying

[Marco Peter]

Next step: Dust!

This is what it looks like then but you need to brush the track off to soften the effect

Then: weathering pencils! I especially love the very bright 'aluminium'!

[Marco Peter]

I'm quite happy!


Another comparisation:


Now some experimenting with rust:


This is what it looks like when it dries, looks horrible...


Using my old trusty tootbrush again!

Now that looks better!


Too rusty for my taste but a nice experiment!

[Marco Peter]

The two different end-results compared:




I now also started adding more detail where the wheels rub against the metal, will upload some pictures of that too.

What do you like? How do you weather tracks? Any advice for me?

[Gary Phillipson]

Wow very nice job!.

[Stephen White]

http://www.armortek.co.uk/Forum3b/viewt ... 9f3a3d569d

[Marco Peter]

http://www.armortek.co.uk/Forum3b/viewt ... 9f3a3d569d

Yup I was aware of that excellent thread!

[Gerhard Michel]

If you are using steel track links, you don't have any problem with weathering. Simply put them into the garden for a month or so, and the weathering is complete.......

[Marco Peter]

I guess your workbench looks like this too hahaha!


More on the way:

[Marco Peter]

Experimenting with a slightly less rusty look:






To make the markings of the roadwheels


I LOVE weathering pencils for this!


After direct application


After rubbing it smooth


Sides too!

[Marco Peter]

The chevrons are done with the much brighter 'Aluminum'


Lower one is finished

Nice layer of varnish:





The result of the 'less rusty' ones.

[Marco Peter]

[Marco Peter]

I almost forgot about the track links!


I simply stuck them in a carton box and reversed them to paint the other half




I am not planning to do much weathering on these

[Marco Peter]

Just checking if I did it right!