Question to painting optical equipment on modern AFV's. Russian T-90.

I paint them all.  To me, the clear periscopes and such are a gimmick.  They do not look like actual periscopes if left clear.  On most modern vehicles, the optics appear red/gold/purple since they are coated with anti-laser tint anyways.  On older (non-coated) optics, they look like dark slits with a green tint as well, not clear.  Painting them as opposed to leaving them clear looks more realistic to me.

Hello Gino,

Thank you for this reply!

I am testing with Tamiya clear acylics, painting the inside of the optical items.

Should I back them with something, like chrome-color or alufoil?

The Tamiya clear is not covering very well.

Or have I taken the wrong approach?

Svenne

I install the optic, then paint over them with the hull color.  I then start by painting them black.  If non anti-laser coated, I will then apply a couple coats of clear green, followed by a couple coats of clear gloss.  For anti-laser coated optics, I cover the black with a couple coats of clear red (for US red anti-laser) and then a couple coats of the clear gloss as well.  This method works for me.  

This one has the optics around the commanders' cupola done as non anti-laser coated in the green tint.

Hi Gino,

Thank you for sharing this!

This will most certainly be me option for the smaller optics, like hull/turret periscopes.

I tried to paint and mask them before but that was a disaster 

The T-90 has some big items and I am trying something different.

Left hand, painted with Tamiya Clear Red
Right hand, painted Tamiya solid gold, not going with this...

Big one center, backed with NUTCUP cholate envelope.

Svenne

Svenne Duva

Right hand, painted Tamiya solid gold, not going with this...

Start with the gold on the optic as a base, then overcoat it with clear yellow. Recoat until you get the desired depth of colour.

First off, that is not a T-90, but a BMPT "Terminator" which is an armored fire support vehicle built on a T-72 chassis.  It is designed to support tanks, APCs, and infantry in urban areas.

I agree with Phil as well.  I prefer paint over colored films and such.

Correct.

I am about to enter with the Terminator in the Modern Armor Group build.

The problem is the same though, the optics are very prominent.

Here is the T-90. Here  you have the added complexity of the two infrared jammers of the Shtora-1 (Штора or "curtain") system.

These are sometimes depicted in glowing red, do't think that is correct though.

Anyway, I will elaborate with your suggestion for the periscopes, this will allow me to speed up the assmebly significantly, and play arround with Phil's suggestion s well.

By the way, the Zvezda kit shares a lot of components between the T-90 and the BMPT-72. Lower hull is identical. Which means hat the BMPT-72 has the same problem with the stance the kit beeing to high.

Thank you for taking interest and time to comment.
Very much appreciated!

Svenne

The same technique for the optics can be used on larger optics as well.  Here it is on the ISU of an M7A3 Bradley.

On the T-90, when the Shtora-1 system is turned on, they do glow red.

The T-90 is also built on a T-72 chassis.  It is really just an upgraded/modernized T-72B that the Soviets/Russians (developed under Soviet rule, fielded after Soviet Union fell in Dec '91) renamed to make the west think it was an all-new tank.  That is why it has common parts w/the Zvezda T-72.