Academy 1:35 Abrams Tank WIP

disastermaster

 

Antennas....... ?

  Hmmmmm ......got a cat?

 

Toshi

M. Brindos

You're not quite done with that yet Toshi. You have to scrub some of that off again to get the effect. You only did the first half of the job.

Like panel line washes on aircraft. ;)

 

P.S. If you lose those decals you'd be better for it at this point lol. I have better ones that I can send to you if you're interested. Since those didn't work out so well to begin with.

 

Toshi

This is your first armor build and you chose the venerable M1 Abrams. I want you to be proud of it when you're done. :)

Well if you change your mind, I do have a lot of spare decal sheets with all sorts of markings. Some of them are pretty old, but they'd still work.

You have a great evening my friend. :D

M. Brindos

This is your first armor build and you chose the venerable M1 Abrahms. I want you to be proud of it when you're done. :)

Well if you change your mind, I do have a lot of spare decal sheets with all sorts of markings. Some of them are pretty old, but they'd still work.

You have a great evening my friend. :D

 

Toshi

I have to admit that my suggestion of the sludge wash knocked you off course, but I will guide you back to a recovery that should get that straightened out.

Normally we do modulation before a sludge wash, which I should have better explained how to do. Your wash was too heavy and I take it upon myself as to the blame for that. I should have explained how that wash should be done before throwing you into it.

However this is also a learning experience I can show you how to recover from and that's just what I'll do. I guided you in, and I'll guide you out again.

**************

What I would recommend doing next is using the original color, lightening it up with a few drops of white, and adding some modulation to the centers of the panels. You don't need to hit every little sectioned off piece, just the main areas. That should lighten it back up and make it look a bit dusty over the dark and dirty that you've already got going on.

Try going over it lightly at first. You want to build up the effect slowly so you don't overpower it and end up with a total repaint.

You want to dust it. Going over the sides, but concentrating on the upper surfaces. Staying away from painting over the wash in the panel lines. It will be fine if you spray over them a little and if you accidentally cover them up you can just do a panel line wash like you do with airplanes to correct it later.

Just relax and take it easy. Let your artistic nature guide you. Do a little at a time, taking short breaks, recline in your chair and just look at how the light falls on it. It will guide you as well.

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From what I can see in that last picture, you're close. A little dusty highlighting and I think you'll have something to be proud of on your shelf.

Unless you plan on hanging this one from the ceiling as well? lol

As I read your explanation I was drinking a seltzer.  When I got to the end of the thread, in regards to hanging the M1 to the ceiling seltzer blew out of my mouth and nose.  I could not stop laughing!

You are not to blame, as you correctly stated, this is a learning curve for me.  I can see where this is going, no problem.  I can make this happen.  Thank you M.Brindos!  You're a phenom of a human being and a good friend.

Toshi

You are being overly kind, my friend.

Sorry about the seltzer.  ':/

I did take a break and took my time.  I must confess, I've never sprayed my models with a AB at that low of a PSI.  It was somewhere between an 8 or 9 PSI.  I used a Mac valve.

I have a question, is this technique similar to what you would do with aircraft panel lines?  If it's similar, I now understand the basic concept.

Boy, what a night and day scenario!  I'm still going to lightly go over the M1 body again.  Then it's off to the turret.  Thank you sir!  

Toshi

Yes! That is the effect you are looking for. Since the sludge wash was so dark and prominent you have used it as a sort of post shading. After you finish the turret, lighten up that color just a bit more and go over it one more time, keeping to the centers of the areas you just did and see what happens next.

You've got the idea. Roll with it, nice and easy.  :)

Oh, and yes, this is what I do on my aircraft lol.

M. Brindos

Yes! That is the effect you are looking for. Since the sludge wash was so dark and prominent you have used it as a sort of post shading. After you finish the turret, lighten up that color just a bit more and go over it one more time, keeping to the centers of the areas you just did and see what happens next.

You've got the idea. Roll with it, nice and easy.  :)

Oh, and yes, this is what I do on my aircraft lol.

 

Whats fantastic about this is that it's a tank that I learned to weather in this fashion and not a aircraft of which I kept trying to no avail.  Every time I look at the tank, I'll remember this day and how M.Brindos guided and helped me to get this far.  I will now take a break, listen to some music and have dinner.  Then I'll work on the M1A1 Abrams.  You don't know how excited I am!!!

You sir, are "THE MAN"!  Thank you so much.

Toshi

I am happy I have guided you to something new and exciting. A mistake turned into a fortunate event. :D

After this next round of further highlighting I will tell you how to make a better wash and guide you through it properly this time. Which should deepen the panel lines and bring out your detail level even better.

You should pull that decaloff of the side skirt though. Its really dragging down the presentation factor.

I think, once you get through this you will have a much better understanding of how to make solid colors have more vibrance and tonal value. I'm kinda excited for you lol.

One question; are you using acrylic paints for this? It looks like you are getting a fair bit of spattering with the low pressure, which I commonly see on my own work when the acryllic paint is not mixed quite right.

I can tell you how to fix that and get a finer spray pattern if that is the case.

M. Brindos

I am happy I have guided you to something new and exciting. A mistake turned into a fortunate event. :D

After this next round of further highlighting I will tell you how to make a better wash and guide you through it properly this time. Which should deepen the panel lines and bring out your detail level even better.

You should pull that decaloff of the side skirt though. Its really dragging down the presentation factor.

I think, once you get through this you will have a much better understanding of how to make solid colors have more vibrance and tonal value. I'm kinda excited for you lol.

One question; are you using acrylic paints for this?

 

Oh, I forgot.  Testors Aztek Model Master Acrylic Thinner.

Toshi

Okay. I haven't used those particular paints yet, but I'm sure this trick will still help.

I'm going to request that you try something different and out of your current comfort zone.

Do you have any Dawn dishsoap?

M. Brindos

Okay. I haven't used those particular paints yet, but I'm sure this trick will still help.

I'm going to request that you try something different and out of your current comfort zone.

Do you have any Dawn dishsoap?

 

Now, before you spray the model again we're going to try an experiment.  :)

If I remember correctly, you are using a top loading AB, correct?

All you will need to do for this experiment is to add a drop of Dawn to a medium sized paintbrush and stir it into your paint.

Add a few more drops of water and spray on a test model or piece of clean paper to check how the paint flows.

Is it soft-edged, or does it still splatter?

Just so you know, this is something I just learned not too long ago as well. It didn't work at first because I didn't have the proper ratios, but once I added a drop of Dawn to the paint in the bowl it worked like a charm with regular craft acryllic paint. Works with Vallejo as well.

M. Brindos

Now, before you spray the model again we're going to try an experiment.  :)

If I remember correctly, you are using a top loading AB, correct?

All you will need to do for this experiment is to add a drop of Dawn to a medium sized paintbrush and stir it into your paint.

Add a few more drops of water and spray on a test model or piece of clean paper to check how the paint flows.

Is it soft-edged, or does it still splatter?

 

Just so you know, this is something I just learned not too long ago as well. It didn't work at first because I didn't have the proper ratios, but once I added a drop of Dawn to the paint in the bowl it worked like a charm with regular craft acryllic paint. Works with Vallejo as well.

 

Toshi

Thank you for letting me give you some instruction. If this works out well for you I guess we can expect some really interesting aircraft paint jobs in the future.  :)

Let me know if things work out well, or if they don't work so well. I can help make adjustments.

Have fun, Toshi! :D

disastermaster

 It will work just fine when diluting with water.... distilled works best. I use the cheap $1 dish soap from the dollar tree.
 

 I've been doing the same thing for many years. None of the local club members will try it. When the guys in the club ask me how I do things and I tell them, they don't want to try it. I can't understand that. 

 

Thank you sir for your support as well as the read and reply.

Toshi

The Dawn worked fine.  It resolved the splattering issues, WOW!

I know there's still much to do, but this is as far as I got tonight.  

Now that is a lot better! :D

Next round simply needs to be lighter and smaller patches in the centers of what you've already done here. I think maybe that'll do it.  :)

My first time try the Dawn trick didn't work simply because I didn't use enough of it. I was skeptical and thought it was a bogus idea so I tried using a drop in my water resevoir. Needless to say it really didn't do anything.

The time after that I thought I'd just give it a good "honest" try and I added a drop to the paint in the bowl. That fixed my problem right away. No more splattering at low pressure.

Enamels are easier in that all you have to do is add a drop or two more of thinner and you're good to go. Just all that messy cleanup afterwards lol.

I am glad to see you are enjoying yourself, Toshi. The tricks you'll learn while building armor can be used on your planes and vice-versa. No need to keep them separate lol.

M. Brindos

Now that is a lot better! :D

Next round simply needs to be lighter and smaller patches in the centers of what you've already done here. I think maybe that'll do it.  :)

My first time try the Dawn trick didn't work simply because I didn't use enough of it. I was skeptical and thought it was a bogus idea so I tried using a drop in my water resevoir. Needless to say it really didn't do anything.

The time after that I thought I'd just give it a good "honest" try and I added a drop to the paint in the bowl. That fixed my problem right away. No more splattering at low pressure.

Enamels are easier in that all you have to do is add a drop or two more of thinner and you're good to go. Just all that messy cleanup afterwards lol.

 

I am glad to see you are enjoying yourself, Toshi. The tricks you'll learn while building armor can be used on your planes and vice-versa. No need to keep them separate lol.

 

 

Toshi

That's why experimenting is so necessary. If one method doesn't work for a build, then try a different approach, or do things in a different order. Every time you try something in a new way you get slightly different results. That's one of those fun parts we all enjoy so much. ;)

I've heard of using diluted coffee for staining effects and I'm not yet brave enough to face that idea just yet lol. There is a time and place for everything you hear about. You just have to figure out when to try something and trust what you have already learned to recover if you should fail. Or, as is sometimes necessary, start over and try it another way.

Anyways, you got this, my friend. Enjoy the new technique and play with it as you choose.  :)