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Below is a WIP picture I took of my 2 land raiders. I wanted to do a Winter Camo paint job on these, and tried 2 different method.

Left Tank:
1. Assemble tank as shown.
2. Primer black.
3. Cover random patterns with modeling clay.
4. Spray with grey primer.
5. Cover random patterns with modelling clay.
6. Spray with white primer.

Right Tank:
1. Assemble tank as shown.
2. Primer black.
3. Cover random patterns with masking tape.
4. Spray with grey primer.
5. Cover random patterns with masking tape.
6. Spray with white primer.

Comparison/Observations:
* It was harder to get a good seal with the masking tape than the modelling clay. As a result, there were places where the spray got under the tape and caused the lines to lose their sharpness is a few places. It was relatively easy to touch up.
* Both the tape and the clay were easy to remove. The clay did leave some residue in some of the seems on the tank, but it was easy to simply "dab" the clay off using another fresh piece of clay.
* I'm not 100% happy with the clay method. I think I should have made the covered sections smaller and more frequent. I'm not sure if I'll get that great of a look, though.
* I'm very happy with this first attempt on taping. On my next try, I'll look for narrower tape and put some "V" patterns on center and sides.

Any comments or ideas on how to make this better would be appreciated (Using clay, tape, or other media). I have a few rhinos that will be getting this treatment in th near future.

looks great i might have to try this out

I think a slightly finer pattern might be more visually appealing, as you suggested in your modeling clay recap. I've always been partial to the worn and spotted whitewash applied in the field look seen on countless WWII tanks. Tons of military modelers have done tutorials on their chosen methods, but I imagine that would involve more work than you want to expend, considering you're working with spray paint.

What I might suggest as an expedient improvement is to soften the transitions, a bit. Perhaps a quick stippling/drybrush around the stark lines would suffice? Sponging black intermittently on hard edges is a quick way to simulate wear and chipping on the "after market" camo job.

Thanks, Oadie. As I said, I'm not 100% happy with either. I'm hoping to find a way to salvage both of these tanks and make any future ones look better.

I like the stripey one more. Always cool to see a degree of cammo on a marine tank.

I like the masking tape one. I used to do model cars, I know how annoying masking straight lines can be.

I remember reading an article in a modeling magazine awhile ago about doing tank camo. The writer used ladies fishnet stockings. He base coated, then stretched the stockings over, and sprayed a color over top. He then put another pair of fishnets over and sprayed with a different color. The effect was really spectacular, and I have always wanted to try it. Sadly a quick google search found nothing, but you might want to try exploring this idea.

I wouldn't do black and white. Right now they look like big armored cows.

They need more cowbell...
Right now I think the taped one looks better, but there is not much colour variation on either of them and it does not look too much like camo imo.
If you want to make it look less like a "cow" then try a camo scheme like this.

Or this.

Both could be done using clay.

I did a winter camo on a Landcruiser way back when and remembered using white, black and a shade of gray, maybe two....
Then may I also suggest making either patern more to scale? smaller stripes or shapes....
That is about it... cool idea, very cool.

kronk wrote:Thanks, Oadie. As I said, I'm not 100% happy with either. I'm hoping to find a way to salvage both of these tanks and make any future ones look better.

I would go with less color/stripes. The only need to be there to break up the outline of the tank. Too many or too large dark areas would stand out on a white winter background.

Also, the scheme you went with is closer to a naval camo scheme from WWI. Winter camo tends to use blotches of green or brown...like patches of grass/earth on a snowy field.

I really like how both methods turned out. Never thought of using clay for blobs. As far as tape, you have to prep the tape lines before an initial painting because it will seep through. Next time, if you basically drybrush some paint over the edge of the tape, itll prevent paint seepage. Sure its a little more work, but it will keep you from doing touch ups. Also pro painters (as in house painters mind you) suggest you remove the tape while the paint is still wet to keep super crisp lines. Dunno how/if that would on something as small as a model, but just throwing that out there



Also, Im hearing plenty of cowbell

Thanks again for the feedback, guys. It's very much appreciated! I wasn't trying to invent the Bovine Patterned Land Raider Crusader, but it happened.

I'm not sure where to go from here with these. I'll take a look for some existing pattern. Perhaps going back over these with the fishnet method Praetordave mentioned would finish these off reasonably. I don't want to put much more paint on these, though.

Here are some close-ups of what I have so far. I put on the sponsons and the Multi-Melta gunner. I'm going to follow ya'lls advice and look at existing camo. Maybe I can come up with something that will salvage these and work well on future thanks.

The Bovine Pattern LR Crusader





The Striped LR Crusader

no offense,but they look like cows

id say go with the masking tape,but dont just spray straight lines.

here are some camo schemes from gw,just change the colors if you see one you like

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?catId=cat440173a&categoryId=400032§ion=&pIndex=2&aId=2400009&start=3&multiPageMode=true

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?catId=cat440173a&categoryId=400032§ion=&pIndex=1&aId=2400009&start=2&multiPageMode=true

http://domhyde.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/snowlambo2.jpg

or google winter/snow camo

and for very few exceptions space marines dont use camo.just sayin ^_^

Shut up. Is that a Lamborghini with a roof rack?! And now I have officially seen it all.

I did this with a stencil printed on adhesive backed paper and layered with rattle can paint and minimal masking.

THAT looks sharp! Thanks Lucas.

If you're using a clay then you need to spread it out more, camo has three parts: A main color, a middle color, and an accent color. I'd suggest looking at some google images of snow camo if this is what you're going for.

Another idea for digital camo is to lay out a few pieces of tape and cut them only at right angles and straight lines. One thing I did incorrect on that model is slanting the masking. Digital camo goes straight across and up and down, there are no odd angles.

Perhaps something that looks like non-permanent camo? After all, snowfall can come and go without much warning. Take Forgeworld's Malcador diorama for example:





It's a summer camo tank that's been hastily whitewashed to help it blend in.

Use this:


print it on a sheet of label paper and cut it out with an exacto knife. If you use label paper you need to remove the decals before they get too dry or they will fuse to the paint. If you can get some vinyl label paper it'd be better as you wouldn't have a strict time limit on the removal and could let everything dry properly.