Help With Panther Camo

[Rusty Ratliff]

I would like your honest opinion about the camouflage on this tank. I tried painting it using the reference picture in the instructions. I painted it late last night. Today I went to Barnes and Noble and looked through some reference books and now I am not sure I like it. I would like some advice. Should I make some changes and if so what do you suggest? Should I repaint it? I am new to armor modeling (this is my second piece of armor ). I am a figure painter trying to broaden my skills, and could use all the help I can get. Please be honest I am really enjoying building armor and want to become proficent at it. On the pic from the front that is a shodow under the barrel.

 

[Kreighshoer]

hmmmm ... well - the camo indeed doesn't look too convincing! don't get me wrong for the first time painting armor it is a good job! but just not convincing!

i would suggest that you enlarge the green and brown stripes like the ones on the glacis plate! OR you go wild and go for a nice ambush theme (it's not that difficult to acchieve as it may look!)

check out the page www.profils.tk -> véhicules -> panther ... there you will find some good camo proposals that may be inspirational!

 

[Jenny Croft]

Well I find that there are schemes which look asthetically pleasing and others which although perfect representations of existing vehicles , still look pretty yuck :p

For example , there is a Sd.kfz 253 of stug Abt 197 called Klarchen and it just looks horrid , the person who painted it had no artistic talent what so ever and I would go as far as to say that if even the best modeller on this site painted it that I could paint something which would beat it in a competition just because it looks dreadful hmy: .

So I think you have to balance what is historically accurate and what pleases you , after all , it is your model .

Jenny :kiss:

 

[Ruben Lopez]

Rusty.

There are some issues that needs attention here.

First, in this type of camo you have to maintain the width of the lines constant throughout the whole vehicle. The lines in the glacis plate and in the engine deck are too wide. This could be difficult If you are using a double action airbrush as it's almost impossible to maintain control of the aperture and press the trigger at the same time. Believe me, I've been there.

Second, the lines shouldn't stop in the middle of nowhere; as a general rule a line should go all the way across the vehicle or end against another line of the same color. Of course there can be exceptions to this but it is more aesthetically pleasing that way.

If you don't like the way it is right now, repaint it. Nothing is worse than to work in a model that you don't like!

And keep trying, the first time I tried to paint this type of camo it looked so bad that I ended covering it with the ambush pattern as Laura suggested.

Ruben

 

[Rusty Ratliff]

Thanks for the input and the link. I am going to give it a repainting. I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[Rusty Ratliff]

Here is my second attempt. I still have to finish filling in the green areas, right now they are just roughed in. I know this is far from perfect, but I think it is better than my last attempt. I may try to outline the green with a thin red-brown line. Any thoughts or comments will be much appreciated. Thanks Rusty

 

[Tony lee]

Rusty you got a good scald on it that time. :woohoo:

Tony Lee

 

[Iron Mike]

Oh yeah, much better! That's what I like about armor, you can goof up and still fix it! B)

 

[Kreighshoer]

much better and ready for some washing/filtering treatment!

 

[Iron Mike]

Any more progress, Rusty?

 

[Rusty Ratliff]

Here is where I am at on the Panther. I took it to Chris "Panzer" Mrosko's house for a tutoring session. He showed me how to take it to a whole other level. I had a great time and learned alot. And got a great looking tank out of the deal. The figure is a Warriors box art piece painted by Trevor Hensley. I am going to add a few more scratches and scuffs then mount it on a base.

 

[Tony lee]

Now you're cookin on high heat Rusty.

That looks great
Tony Lee

 

[Ruben Lopez]

Now we are talking!

Ruben

 

[DioRandy]

Lookin' good, Rusty
You certainly went to the right man for guidance. Chris will send you on an inspiring trip.
Say hi to him for me and ask him what's worth 7 years and $120 million?
Randy

 

[shawngehling]

Rusty,
Looks pretty sweet from here.
Shawn