Preshading

Hiya..

In it's simplest terms, pre-shading is basically just highlighting the panel lines by spraying them (roughly is ok) with a darker colour (ie. dark grey, brown or black, depending on the final colour of your model) after the primer coat (if you use one) before you spray the final colour/s. In the areas where you have applied the "shading" remember to "mist" the final colours over it so as not to fully obscure the shading effect.

Have a look at the demonstration here: http://www.scaleworkshop.com/workshop/video4bg_2.htm

Thanks. Began digging through old posts and have been reading the tips. Question though: how would you preshade a Panzer III that's painted in the overall dark grey scheme? Would the dark base color necessitate using a lighter top coat for a "faded" effect for the shading to be seen at all?

QUOTE: Originally posted by cheeser51 Question though: how would you preshade a Panzer III that's painted in the overall dark grey scheme? Would the dark base color necessitate using a lighter top coat for a "faded" effect for the shading to be seen at all?

It all depends on the effect you're trying to achieve. Preshading is one of many weathering techniques BUT remember that it's not necessary to incorporate all of these techniques into one model.

If you drive a tank, even a dark grey one, over rough ground for even a short distance, the first thing that happens is it gets covered in dust - it gets everywhere - over all surfaces and into the tiniest of spaces. This means that instead of appearing darker, the dust and dirt accumulated in the gaps and spaces on a dark base colour actually appears lighter than the background. Having said that though, there are some areas (eg. intake/exhaust grilles) on a tank that will benefit from pre-shading to create an impression of depth.

Have a look at this article about weathering vehicles at Armorama

Does the method in the video get used for 1/48 scale aircraft? I have only ever seen that techique used on 1/32 scale. Not much room for error on 1/48....or 1/72.

Rich

I think it's actually a bit easier on smaller models. If you spray it on too heavily, the extra shadows will help give the 1/72 kit a better sense of scale. Generally, the smaller you go, the greater contrast you need for shading -- that's just one school of thought though.

I find that techniques like pre-shading or panel washes tend to be pretty transferable across scales.

Nathaniel

Interestingly, I have just pre-shaded my 1/72nd scale AV-8B Harrier and happened upon this topic while taking a break. I agree with nathaniel in that the pre-shading theory can be more or less more liberal with smaller scales. However because I know the final camo colors will be a Medium Gray over Dark ghost, I plan on lightening the como colors with white, so as to not completely hide the pre-shading. When these colors are dry, I will lightly over-spray various panels with the base color lightened a bit more with white to further highlight individual panels and subtle contrast. I'll do this with with my fine-tiped HP-C airbrush. When this is all done, I won't even have to apply a panel wash. The pre-shading did all the work for me. I'll simulate fuel streaks with artist oils. I'll post pics of the finished model when complete.

hi, just came upon this while trying to figure out how to shade my 1/72 F-16. The problem for me is that, the topside fuselage has a lot of panels. small rectangular, well kinda rectangular panels. and man, when i look at it, i'm thinking "nightmare!!!". so any ideas? or just ignore the small panels n do random sprays?

I've tried this on more than one occassion.  What I do is, after spraying the Gunship Gray camouflage on the top of the F-16, I came back with a lighter shade of the Gunship Gray, lightended with white.  I thinned the mixture generously to approx 1:1.  I then sprayed the very thin mist just inside the panels on the top surfaces to give the impression of wear.  To finish the effect, I when over the panels with an acrylic "sludge wash" and later sealed the aircraft with finishing flat coats.