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Forums - Modelling / Painting |
The painting forum is for the discussion of techniques on the painting, decalling and weathering phases of AFV modelling and the tools and materials used. |
| Topics | 1410 |
| Messages | 7213 |
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| Subject: | Scale effect? |  |
| Date: | Dec 30, 2000 |
| From: | Lynn Kessler | |
Ok, here we go, the old saw . . .
I must have had this discussion at club klatches at least a dozen times -- what
constitutes "realism"? Are we creating the real tank in miniature, or are we
creating a representation of the real tank?
This question arose most often in relation to shading techniques -- heavy
drybrushing a la Verlinden technique, or panel fading, a la about a dozen
treadheads. One fellow held the opinion that he shouldn't drybrush at all, since
the real tank (a Sherman, in this case) was monotonal, and the shadows cast
naturally against the model's surface would cast "realistic" shades and shadows.
His philosophy was of the first school -- we are creating a real tank in
miniature, therefore full-scale laws of light and shadow would apply, only scaled
down to a miniature size, and hence, to a miniature effect. He supported his
argument by citing how, if you viewed a full-size person wearing BDUs who was
standing far enough away from you to approximate the exact size of a 1/35-scale
figure, you wouldn't be able to see the pocket seams on the BDUs. Therefore, why
outline pockets and other seams?
My own contention was the opposite -- that we have created only a representation
of the real tank (again a Sherman). Now a new set of laws apply concerning the
effects of light and shadow, and since light can't be scaled down to the size of
the vehicle (I know, it sounds preposterous since light has only one "scale", but
what the hell), the effects of light and shadow have to be scaled up -- hence the
reliance on drybrushing and panel fading.
A great part of this logic, admittedly, lies in what we expect to see. We expect
to see variations in tones and shading; we expect to see seams in shirts and
coats; look at your own shirt sleeve now. I'll bet you see a seam where the sleeve
meets the shoulder. Wouldn't you expect to see a seam on a figure's shoulder as
well? I would also support this argument with the example of BDUs. True, at the
distance that my friend uses in his example, I can't really see any pocket seams;
but in 1/35-scale, I would EXPECT to see them, since I KNOW they are there, and I
am disappointed when I don't.
All this is leading up to Paul Roberts' point about continuing to paint his tracks
bright steel. Yes, that is the way they look in real life; I have seen examples of
several types of tracks polished to a bright steel gleam after a few miles
running. And I also would notice, if I looked hard enough, shades and shadows
where light strikes the right angles. But, in a REPRESENTATION of real life, I
would expect to see more shadows and shadings than his technique will probably
allow. I KNOW those shadows are there. Regarding rust, I would expect to see that,
too, but only in the crevice and hollow areas of the tread design. The rest of the
track I would expect to be a "darker than normal" shade of polished tread, with
the high points, and a bit of the crevices and hollows, worn to bright steel. All
of this is meant to exaggerate the effects of what I EXPECT to see.
Remember, we're dealing with a scale effect here when we build models. They are
not the real thing. What we "actually" see in real life cannot be scaled down. We
have to create the illusion of reality; that is, we have to create what we
"expect" to see.
Now I'll go hunker down myself and wait for the incoming.
Lynn Kessler |
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 | T49 Steel Block Tracks - An accurate weathering technique? - Mike Norris - Dec 28, 2000 |
| . . . Re: T49 Steel Block Tracks - An accurate weathering technique? - Rob Plas - Dec 28, 2000 |
| . . . . . . Re: T49 Steel Block Tracks - An accurate weathering technique? - Paul Roberts - Dec 29, 2000 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: T49 Steel Block Tracks - An accurate weathering technique? - Kim Voss - Dec 29, 2000 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: T49 Steel Block Tracks - An accurate weathering technique? - Rob Plas - Dec 29, 2000 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: T49 Steel Block Tracks - An accurate weathering technique? - Christophe Jacquemont - Dec 29, 2000 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: T49 Steel Block Tracks - An accurate weathering technique? - Paul Roberts - Dec 30, 2000 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scale effect? - Lynn Kessler - Dec 30, 2000 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Scale effect? - Paul Roberts - Dec 31, 2000 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Scale effect? - Lynn Kessler - Dec 31, 2000 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Scale effect? - Rob Plas - Jan 1, 2001 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Scale effect? - Robert A .Clifton,R.A. - Jan 1, 2001 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Scale effect? - Mike & Andrea Canaday - Jan 1, 2001 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Scale effect? - Robert A .Clifton,R.A. - Jan 1, 2001 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Scale effect? - Lynn Kessler - Jan 2, 2001 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Scale effect? - Mike & Andrea Canaday - Jan 2, 2001 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Scale effect? - Sean Dailey - Jan 2, 2001 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Scale effect? - Federico Kereki - Jan 2, 2001 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Scale effect? - Paul Roberts - Jan 1, 2001 |
| . . . Re: T49 Steel Block Tracks - An accurate weathering technique? - Mike & Janet Roy - Dec 30, 2000 |
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