AK-interactive techniques: WEATHERING TECHNIQUES: RUSTY M41, VIETNAM

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Model and article by: Iain Hamilton

The inspiration for this project started with this photo of the M41 that was laid to rest at the Cu Chi Tunnel Complex Museum in southern Vietnam. As the stages progress, you will notice that the stages are layered with a lacquer based dull coat. This will protect each subsequent layer of acrylics from the weathering process as well as create a nice contrast between the "flat" colors of rust and corrosion and the more satin finish of the original O.D. Green paint.

The first step was a coat of Vallejo primer. This was applied with a Badger Patriot Arrow at about 18psi.

The next step was to apply the bare steel color that will be the bottom layer shown through the worn paint and corrosion. For this I chose Tamiya XF-69 Nato Black & XF-27 Black Green.This layer is sealed with a layer of flat clear lacquer followed by a coat of hairspray. After the hairspray has dried thoroughly, I airbrushed a patchwork of various rust tones from Tamiya. These were all hand picked and range from X-6 Orange & XF-Yellow Green –to- XF-9 Hull Red & XF-64 Red Brown. These were applied in a random way to add variety. After these were given time to dry, I began to remove some of the rust layer with a stiff brush and warm tap water. It is important to work on one area at a time and keep the chips random and off balance. This entire step was repeated in order to create more depth and add more rust tones.

After the layer of rust and corrosion has been sealed with a flat lacquer, I moved on to the top coat of sun bleached O.D.Green. For this I chose to use a basic color modulation effect to bring more life to the model . Tamiya XF-58 Olive Green, XF-27 Black Green, and X-2 White were mixed in various ratios to create highlights. X-22 Clear was added to the paint mixture, this will allow this mix to dry to a satin finish and creates a nice contrast with the flat corrosion underneath.

This O.D. Green Color Modulation coat was then picked and chipped in the
exact same manner as the previous rust coats. Warm water and a stiff brush & Tooth Pick were used to remove the O.D. Green one panel at a time. It is important to avoid any symmetry in the chipping from one area of the vehicle to the next. By this stage, you can start to see a variety of textures and effects creating an interesting and realistic finish.

At this stage, I apply a wash made with "Streaking Grime' thinned with
enamel thinner to all of the recessed areas and panel lines. The next step shows dirt and grime streaks applied with "Streaking Grime" and "Winter Streaking Grime" from A.K. Interactive. Using a brush and clean thinner, the streaks are pulled downward moving from one side to the other, one pass at a time and cleaning the brush before the next pass. This can be repeated until you have a variety of light and intense streaks. A film of dust was applied to the horizontal surfaces using "Dust Effects" as well as rain marks. The rain marks are applied from the bottom of the vehicle’s vertical surfaces towards the top of the vehicle. This step serves to weather the vehicle as well as create a "Filter" for the underlying colors, changing the O.D. Green tones subtly.

An important step on this project was to come back to the underlying rust area and enhance it with enamels and pigments. Rust streaks on the vertical areas have been created with “Streaking Rust” from A.K. Interactive. The streaks are applied with a fine brush, left set up for a few minutes, then pulled downward with a chisel brush and clean enamel thinner. It is important that the brush be blotted on a towel leaving the brush humid and not soaked with thinner. Using the edge of the brush, the streaks are refined.

Pooled areas of rust on the horizontal areas have been created with rust and brown pigments . These effects are used to bring the rust tones to life and add more variety and texture to the previous rust tones created with the “Hairspray Technique”. The images show the gun barrel receiving the pigments being applied and fixed in place with small drops of thinner mixed with flat varnish.

The final step was to create a little more variety with bright and dark rust spots. Tiny dots of color were applied using a fine brush and the same Tamiya rust colors used in the previous steps. Since the previous application has been altered by the weathering process, we can use these colors again to bring even more life to the rusted areas.

The final images shows the M41 on it’s base. The base shows the flags of it’s previous owners the A.R.V.N. of South Vietnam, and the flag of it’s current owners, the P.A.V.N. of North Vietnam. A photo of the M41 standing at the Cu Chi Tunnel complex today, is displayed along with the model.