Truck painting tips?

[diezmon]

I've read a few articles, and tried a few things, but I can't seem to get my trucks to look like.. NOT plastic.  I've tried painting with weathered black, and powders, but that ends up looking too grey.   

I'm kind of going for this color:



black, but dirty..

How's about some tips from the masses?

[Philip H]

I've had some success with brush painting (!) Polly S Tarnished Black, followed immediately with a thin wash of 97% rubbing alcohol.  Then a coating of rust from a Floquil paint pen, followed IMMEDIATELY with the same wash.  The Alcohol acts like a thinner, and the paint really settles in.  Plus, it dries a little weird, sort of suggesting some of the grame you see in your photos.

[diezmon]

I've had some success with brush painting (!) Polly S Tarnished Black, followed immediately with a thin wash of 97% rubbing alcohol.  Then a coating of rust from a Floquil paint pen, followed IMMEDIATELY with the same wash.  The Alcohol acts like a thinner, and the paint really settles in.  Plus, it dries a little weird, sort of suggesting some of the grame you see in your photos.

got a sample of this method by chance? 

I hear crickets in here... 

[Philip H]

I'll see if the digital camera will cooperate . . . .

[diezmon]

I had trouble deciding which of all the great tips I should try first :, so I just played around a bit.

First dullcoat, then a wash of rail brown, then more dullcoat, then some red chalk powder..





I also did the same on the pilots..


waddya think guys?

[Philip H]

That looks as good as anything I've done so far.  Perhaps the student has become the teacher!

[tom mann]

First, avoid chalks on trucks.

Second, I would use engineblack/grimy black mix on the trucks first, followed by a misting of undercoat grey from the top, followed by a little bit of rust/roof brown mixture in selected parts.  Then, spray a light coat of engine black/tarnished black to blend every thing together.  Use all polyscale paints straight (no thinning).  Finally, a wash of Ivory Black.

Stay cool and run steam...

[diezmon]

Stay cool and run steam...

LOL.. wha??   Who ARE you?   ;D ;D

[Sokramiketes]

Tan or orange is needed to match that lead truck.  Haven't seen anyone mention it in their color palette yet. 

I would start out with something way lighter than you think you need, like a dark gray.  Then work in the color of dirt and rust.  Then go back with your dark wash, not only to pull the colors together, but to reintroduce and strenghthen the shadows. 

It's hard to start dark and move toward light, because then the light washes will pool in the crevices that should be dark, leaving a weird MC Esher reverse 3D thang going. 

[CoalPorter]

The trucks look great - allot better than shinny Derlin 
I'd focus on adding some super details, like cab sun shades, which could easily be cut out of styrene and don't need to be overprice brass. Their omission, when viewing the proto photo, is rather glaringly obvious.

[diezmon]

The trucks look great - allot better than shinny Derlin 
I'd focus on adding some super details, like cab sun shades, which could easily be cut out of styrene and don't need to be overprice brass. Their omission, when viewing the proto photo, is rather glaringly obvious.

the model's not done yet 

[tom mann]

Tan or orange is needed to match that lead truck.  Haven't seen anyone mention it in their color palette yet. 

No, I did with my rust suggestion.

[diezmon]

First, avoid chalks on trucks.

Well, I took them apart and chalked the sideframes only.. without the mech there.. does that advice still apply?

[tom mann]

First, avoid chalks on trucks.

Well, I took them apart and chalked the sideframes only.. without the mech there.. does that advice still apply?

As long as you are carefully avoiding getting pieces of chalk in the detail parts.  I think you'll find if you use my airbrush steps, you won't need chalk and you'll have something that you can handle without smudging.

[Sokramiketes]

Tan or orange is needed to match that lead truck.  Haven't seen anyone mention it in their color palette yet. 

No, I did with my rust suggestion.

Oh, Sorry.   "Rust/Roof Brown" sounded really dark, especially over black.  You need to compensate for the background by using a light tan or light orange to get the look on the upper sideframe, just forward of the center bearing on the lead truck.