Thanks guys.
i did upload the pics to the gallery, they look better in there, i will change them soon and add some more - the upload straight to post option seems to make them grainy...
i paint the red onto a devlan mud washed layer of bolt gun metal and leave the edges bare, it takes better to that than black primer anyway and only takes 2 coats. then i go in with a little bit of bolt gun again and pick out the little scratches and so on, then a bit of mithrel to make them fresh looking. its actually really quick, i think there was an article on weathering tanks in
WD that i picked it up from ages ago, not sure i have the copy anymore... but anyway turned out to be more useful for orks than for tanks!