ldf333

Hi everyone im larry and im new . Anyway ive painted a few models before... mainly cars and some figures but now tanks have caught my interest.

I was wondering what types of paint (matt, satin, normal, and gloss) you use and when, when it comes to tanks (im using humbrol).

I recently got myself a tiger 1 and am unsure as to what to use and where. With cars i just used the normal glossyness but im not sure about tanks. I was thinking perhaps satin would do the job. With matt for the clothing of the figure coming out of the top hatch.

Any comments or/and help would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks, larry

GEEDUBBYA

Howdy larry,

Welcome to the forum, we're glad you are here. Feel free to look around, jump into any conversations that interest ya, ask questions, give advice or look at photos. And be sure to post some photos of your work too, we love pictures of members work here.
Now, onto your question. personally i would use a flat or matte finsih paint because most military colors unless they are on something like a flight team aircraft are flat colors, the flat prevents any shine coming from the paint thereby destroying the camouflage paint job.
However, most model instruction sheets tell you to apply the decals on a smooth finish...and flat finish paints arent the smoothest. So most modellers will paint the model in flat colors, apply a gloss clear coat, apply the decals, then apply a "dull coat" clear finish over that.
However, you can get away with applying the decals on flat paint, the gloss overcoat prior to the application of decals only supplies you a smooth finish on which to place the decals. they will stick to flat paint. But, f you have access to a dull coat, i would atleast apply it over the decals and entire model when finished to help "smooth out" any lines where two or more colors meet and to knock off any shine that may come from the decals. Testors, tamiya, humbrol all make a dull coat overcoat i am pretty sure ( I know for certain testors does, thats what I use).
I hope this answers your question and if you have anymore questions dont hesitate to ask.

have a good day and again, welcome to the forum


Greg aka GEEDUBBYA (GW)

Bunkerbarge

Hi Larry and a warm welcome to the forum. I think it is worth bearing in mind the scale when painting such things as military vehicles and hence how the paint finish would look. The real vehicles would be painted with a paint that has a satin or semi-gloss paint finish and so for a large scale model such as 1/16th or 1/35th I might use a semi-gloss paint. For a smaller scale though such as the old Airfix HO-OO stuff a satin finish would look odd and too glossy so I would use a Matt finish for those.

GW is obviously quite correct in his warnings regarding transfers though however, especially with small scale models, you might want to paint the area of the transfer only and not the entire vehicle with your gloss coat to prevent filling in detail. A very popular medium for this is Future/Kleer floor polish, which is basically an acrylic gloss coating. Paint that where the transfers are to go, apply your transfers with a softening solution such as Micro-Sol, coat with a setting solution when they are dry such as Micro-Set and finally a dusting with a matt clear finish such as Humbrol or Testors. You will have to coat the entire model at this stage to prevent slightly differrent surface textures becoming noticeable.

Figures very definately Matt, there is nothing worse than a slightly glossy army uniform!!! You can also experiment with slightly different texture with clothing by adding such things as talcum powder to the matt paint for one garment.

I hope this is usefull for you.

__________________

“Dirty British coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack, Butting through the Channel in the mad March days"

sacrsja

It's worth researching the actual type of tank to find out if the paint was matt or shinier.

British tanks for example, especially in peacetime, are often a glossy dark green, but after the 1950's gained a matt green camouflage coat, then a green and black camouflage scheme, all in matt. Today they are green or desert brown, all matt.

A Tiger 1 was almost certainly painted a matt 'dark yellow' (it's available in Humbrol, as well as many other paint ranges). A very early Tiger might have been painted the 'panzer grey' used earlier.
Over this yellow, the Germans usually used a red-brown and/or green camouflage, often in a large 'splinter' pattern (mostly straight lines).
Some internet photos may show this, but usually German tanks have camouflage made from branches or camo nets, obscuring the paint and frustrating modellers.

I hope this is useful.

tigertc

I think its all down to personal preference.
All the big ww2 tanks ive seen in real life have had a more or less matt finish, any satinny portions i would have put down to handling and age (ie. edges where hands have been, or where oil/grease has once upon a time been splashed.
From experience of 1/16 stuff i much prefer the full on matt finish, for me they look less plasticky if you know what i mean. The only tank i finished in a satin (completely by mistake, after applying a "matt" varnish which turned out slightly satin!!) made it look plastic.

__________________
The artist aka GREY WOLF I

ldf333

As this is my first project in a while i have decided to go with german grey (matt), or something close made by Humbrol to keep it relatively simple. This is also because i wanted to do the early production Tiger 1 and the first few hundred were painted in this way. Meanwhile the interior of the turret which will be ever so slighty visible will be ivory. Im still not sure what ill do with the commander but he'll definately be matt...

Thanks for all of the replies... i just couldnt seem to get my head around this one for some reason .

flycop2000

Hi,

just joined this forum today, my main interest is RC Helicopters but decided to try out building a tank. I have a Tamiya Leopard 1/16 and plan to airbrush with Tamiya acrylics but was wondering should I use surface primer prior to applying the camouflage colours or can I just spray the colours as the plastic is already dark green?