How to Make Plastic "Rubber" Parts More Rubber-like?

Poly Scale also has a "scale black" that is a good gray-black and looks good.

Eric

Try Polly Scale-Grimy Black, thinned with Windex. That's what I've used recently. I also referred to the article, "Brush Painting Basics," in this month's issue of FSM. Very Helpful!
-Cheers

Another possibility is Floquil's Weathered Black or Grimy Black. Both have grey in them but are still pretty black. Old Floquil paints would eat plastic, if brushed on. I understand the newer type won't do that. But they are still lacquer based and therefore need lacquer thinner for clean up.

I like to used Gunze's Tire Black MAH077 for painting rubber parts such as road wheels, airplane tires. Dries nice and dark gives a rubberized appearence.

Cheers

In my humble opinion....sorry ed, Testors rubber is too reddish. I think a dark almost black gray is best with a slight sheen to the edges.... just my 2 cents

I use the Testors rubber paint with success. If I need more realism i.e. "chunking" the rubber on the road wheels which happens on real tanks with regularity, I will paint the hole with a flat back mixed with a little gray. On brand new road wheels the rubber surface is actually a little glossy, but after a few weeks in the field, the bearing surfaces take on a slightly lighter hue.

Testors does make a color 'rubber' available only as a 'square bottle' enamel.
it is pretty good looking, and i use it myself.

but i have also used flat black,
flat black w/ some grey
flat black w/ some grey & some brown
a Sharpie (followed w/ dullcote)

after flats, dry brush for tread or wear, wash, weather, many things look pretty good.
i guess i would recommend experimentation,
and balancing the effort/result ratio to an acceptable level.

Several companys do make "rubber" color paint but I always use black. after weathering it looks fine.