SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Digital Camo

5106 views
16 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Saturday, April 11, 2009 1:17 PM

I agree with model on the leg work, paint looks better than decals to me 8 or 9 times out of 10- actually it wasn't me, it was redleg who found the ACU decal, he's got a Stryker build on here with the crew and some packs made up with decal uniforms (ACU and Woodland). Here’s his thread. Actually in 1/35 scale, the decals aren't too bad. The patterns so small it's hard to see any seam change in direction. But I think I’ll give the paint a go around first.

As far as the dio goes- I’m sure you can beat me to completing it model! haha this shot's been in my reference pile for a while... Sigh [sigh] you know my speed Zzz [zzz]

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Saturday, April 11, 2009 12:00 PM

Someone makes an ACU decal .... I think that psst foudn it a while back. The only problem that I have with a decal for the whoel uniform is that you have creases and seams to deal with. The pattern changes direction almost everytime you hit a seam. Also, the figures that I've seen with the decal used, just didn't look convincing.

I like shortcuts as much as the next guy, but the bottom line is that nothing compares to a nice, patient, brush job. The only thing hard about painting the ACU/ MARPAT is literally the patience involved. And the best way to tackle that is to paint a small section at a time. Anything more than that and you'll drive yourself crazy and you'll end up working too fast.

Just my two cents....

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by reddog-03 on Friday, April 10, 2009 8:54 PM
Has anyone considered drawing the ACU/MARPAT pattern in Corel, Powerpoint, Paintbrush or some other computer program?  You could then print in the appropriate scale onto decal film and decal the uniform.  I haven't tried it yet but I think it would be the easiest and most accurate way to do those patterns.  If you decide to try it, let me know how it turns out.

Airborne-All the way!

Doug

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Friday, April 10, 2009 5:13 PM

OOOOooooooo ...... Damn-you, Chris!!!!! That's going to make a nice dio .....

... and research begins ....

... i hate you.

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Friday, April 10, 2009 3:19 PM

haha oh I know, and I do. My issue was I tried to mix the paint the same time every time and keep track of what colors I used. Now I just wing it every time, it actually turns out pretty similar, which is a lot to say seeing as how I rarely use paint OOB(ottle).
If you look at that paint card, you’ll see it is the three tone ACU, in his WIP he only showed the two colors (which might have been all he used on the helmet) but he definitely went back in on the BDUs and added the third darker gray.
Hope you find a mix that works! I think it really depends on what your photo ref looks like.
Don’t forget the camo is designed to mess with your head, the spotter looks kinda sandy gray green and the sniper looks bright Easter egg green. You can count that to lighting or folds/shading of the uniform or wear and tear or dirt or whatever... but this stuffs pretty versatile in the field from what I can tell.



And this is in the same photo, two uniforms practically touching, imagine two different cameras/weather conditions/locations/cleanliness... it goes on.
I highly recommend you find a nice shot of ACU that you like the look of online, then take it into PS, grab the average colors, and see what exactly they really are and what makes them up, anything from a gray-blue to a brownish-green by the look of it will still be accurate.  Oh yeah- and a lot of grays!! Most of the spots I clicked on in neutral areas (I was just looking at the extreme examples) did come out mostly gray. So good call model!

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Friday, April 10, 2009 2:57 PM

Nope ... tried that one. Didn't work for me ....

Like I said before. Just b/c he pulled off the paint sceme once, doesn't mean he , or anyone else, could do it again .... but people still feel the need to make paint cards! How stupid....

Mix you own, paint your own ....

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Friday, April 10, 2009 12:49 PM

Aw man! Will do-

Even he uses mostly grays, little hints of OD now and again...

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Friday, April 10, 2009 11:34 AM
I was going to say on this one ... if you find a mixing ratio where green looks right with the ACU "greys"  .... PLEASE let me know. If you knew how much paint and time I wasted trying to mix in a green tint ...... RRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..................

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Monday, April 6, 2009 10:06 AM
hahahaha it's 1/35 it's tiny!!! lol but yeah, I think I'll throw in a thrid color when I attempt it in the small scale.

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

  • Member since
    March 2008
  • From: East TX
Posted by modelchasm on Sunday, April 5, 2009 11:01 PM

WHAT THE HECK!?!?!?! TWO COLOR ACU PATTERN!?!?! WHAT THE CRAP IS THIS ALL ABOUT!?!?!?! BLASFAMME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I actually saw the same thing before my OIF figure, but I just thought that, while it looked good, I just thought that the 2-color ACU just lokked like there was something wrong with it. Like something you just had a hard time putting your finger on, but you could still tell it was different.

Two-color ACU pattern ..... who are you kidding buddy!?!?! Mischief [:-,]

"If you're not scratching, you're not trying!"  -Scott

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 1:16 PM
model used all grays in his OIF figure- I think it's the way the color looks when you scale it down, it's a very grayish green and in 1/16-1/35, I think it's close enough to where you get the eye tricked into thinking it. You might try mixing in a tiny bit of green- I'm sure your eye for color can figure it out!

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 12:05 PM
y, btw, is he using gray? i know there is a light gray color in the arpat...but its a sand/green combo not gray! i assume after washing the uniform the color can fade and appear grayish...hmmmmm....!
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 10:39 AM

Yeah I agree- when he was doing the step by step on the helmet I only saw the two colors... but upon close inspection of the finished figures I can see hints of a darker gray in parts, I think he must have gone back in during the refining stage and added some in for good measure. Couldn't hurt- a slightly darker base color- especially in the shadows.

haha hope model wont be too upset! lol

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 10:18 AM
i think he'll (model) will see it for what it is...DAMN THAT GUY!!! Laugh [(-D]. but as with you this is going into my storage for future use!!! really looks great! and like the figures i think the scale doesnt require a 3rd color!!! very effective and will be utilized!!! Thumbs Up [tup]
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Colorado
Posted by psstoff995 on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 9:36 AM
Very nice! Wow... he makes it look so easy, and it's only a two-color scheme. Thanks a ton Eric! I finished my MARPAT camouflage- but this will be great for my 1/35 ACU projects.

What do you think camo? Looks dead on? I think the scale might have something to do with the lack of the 3rd color and an overall complexity that the finished figures possess having had such a simple 2 color pattern applied. I might try and add the third color and see how it looks then, but that’ll be a ways into the future lol

What do you think model’ll think if he sees that article after he’s finished his OIF guy? I guess this is 1/35 so I don’t think he’ll be too upset...

Thanks again 6! Smile [:)]

-Chris

US Army Infantryman

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: clinton twp, michigan
Posted by camo junkie on Monday, March 23, 2009 9:57 PM
awesome...will definately give it a try. thanks!! Thumbs Up [tup]
"An idea is only as good as the person who thought of it...and only as brilliant as the person who makes it!!"
  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Central CA
Digital Camo
Posted by Division 6 on Monday, March 23, 2009 6:19 PM

Just found this artical on doing digital camo.

Thought some of you might find it of use.

 

Eric... 

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.