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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	1383
Messages	7063

Subject:

Chipped Paint becoming a Fad?

Date:

Mar 3, 2008

From:

Fred Schwarz

I'd like to have a discussion on the use of the technique of showing chipped paint on models of armored fighting vehicles.

First, I want to say this is not a ding on any models or modelers, what I see in the gallery are excellent models.

However, over time certain techniques in model building become command and then even an accepted standard for judging at contests. (A similar one our aircraft building brethren have is the shading of panel lines.)

I have experience with actual AFVs having been a Bradley IFV equipped Company Commander and my current job working at the US Army TACOM LCMC. In my experience the chipping of paint does not seem to be as extreme as model builders would have us believe. I especially feel this way when it comes to the factory applied backed on satin finishes. This paint is hard and hardy and after years of use still does not seem to chip easily unless it contacts another very hard object. What I do notice is grab rails and areas where the soldiers constantly climb on seem to get smoothed out to an almost gloss.

Now the very flat paints (like the current US Army paint) seem to suffer damage relatively easier when compared to the semi-gloss but then it is more in the form of stains, scrapes and scratches 9in the paint as opposed to it chipping off.

What about other countries paints and their methods? The Russians seem to have used an industrial semi-gloss backed on methods. What about Germany in WWII? How did German industry apply paint and how robust was the paint?

I understand we need some artistic license to make our models unique and look battle worn. That alone may the reason why these types of weathering take on a life of their own and an expectation amongst modelers builds. After all, it is very hard to weather a 1/35 tank like the real thing gets weathered.

Some food for thought and discussion.

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