Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hey all, I'm starting to work on my Blood Ravens again and finally finished (mostly) the first Tactical Squad yesterday. Now, they need a vehicle to get them around. I'm wondering if there are any tips more experienced painters can give when it comes to painting a vehicle but with the restriction that I don't have an airbrush. I looked for tutorials but I did not have much luck. My main concern is brush strokes (which I fear will happen anyway with my slightly used brushes), and being unsure how to thin my paint.

Wide brush, I use a chisel/angle tip brush, I wanna say in the size 8 range. And thin your paint! It's worth doing extra coats to get a smooth finish. There is no reason you have to have an airbrush to do vehicles.

Thin your paint a lot. Milk consistency and apply a good 5-10 coats. Or spend a measly $200 for airbrush and compressor and do it much faster and much better.

The best I could give you is to go buy yourself an airbrush!

In the mean time, try reading this article: http://fromthewarp.blogspot.com/2012/01/7-tips-for-painting-vehicles-without.html?m=1

Only tip I can suggest besides the usual big brush, thin coats is to paint each coat in one direction, let it dry completely then paint the next coat in perpendicular to the last. Basically if you paint to the left for one coat paint up for the next, then right for the next than down for the next, repeat. Dry layers help to make sure the paint levels correctly and perpendicular layers minimize brush strokes.

If you're paint more than couple please just save up for an airbrush. Even a cheap one just to do base coats. You'll hate yourself less.
The Master series is great to start with (basically clones of brand brushes decent reviews)
http://www.tcpglobal.com/airbrushdepot/abdbrand.aspx

Or even look into colored primers and spray paints.

I think where most vehicle / large area brush painting goes wrong is choice of color of the primer. If you are painting a light color, it is best not to paint over black. In an effort to cover the black, the temptation is to either not thin the paint enough or if thinned, not waiting long enough to apply more coats.

GW has recently posted a vid of brush painting the Imperial Knight and he achieves a smooth paint-job. He is painting over black but the base color is designed to have quite a bit of pigment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pB-0089Cc4&list=UUwdh3MTrFq3sXlB4ct8B-Fg&feature=share&index=1

I watched another vid recently that displays how to apply a wash like Agrax Earthshade without leaving those blotchy marks that are a typical complaint for vehicles that you may also find helpful.
http://youtu.be/Eo97yCgUlko?t=15m8s