_GOTOBOTTOM
Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
FEATURE
Making Realistic Tarps!
Teacher
Visit this Community
England - North West, United Kingdom
Joined: April 05, 2003
KitMaker: 4,924 posts
Armorama: 3,679 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 06:06 PM UTC
Had trouble getting that real look with your Tarps? Brian Balkwill has the answer!

Vinnie

Making Realistic Tarpaulins



If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

https://armorama.kitmaker.net//features/1001
jlmurc
Visit this Community
England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: August 29, 2005
KitMaker: 1,267 posts
Armorama: 969 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 06:12 PM UTC
What a fab feature, I had looked at his and one in a recent issue of the Tamiya Magazine and tried to figure out how such a realistic tarpaulin had been produced. Well now the secret is out, I shall look at making one for my future Marder 3 project instead of stumping up for the resin one by mig.
A real gem of a feature.

Thanks,

John
WARLORD
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
HISTORICUS FORMA
Visit this Community
Warszawa, Poland
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 1,923 posts
Armorama: 868 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 06:24 PM UTC
Thanks for the article. Your method looks easy and worth to try.
millinuke
Visit this Community
Metropolitana de Santiago, Chile
Joined: October 10, 2005
KitMaker: 19 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 07:00 PM UTC
Looks perfect! Where did he get the jacket on top of the tank from?

Regards
Bernd
dsotm
Visit this Community
England - East Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: August 13, 2005
KitMaker: 357 posts
Armorama: 291 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 07:03 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Looks perfect! Where did he get the jacket on top of the tank from?

Regards
Bernd



Thanks Bernd
The jacket is a from a superbly sculpted resin set of 3 with a peaked cap by Yosci.

Brian
Parks20
Visit this Community
Maryland, United States
Joined: December 18, 2004
KitMaker: 737 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 08:22 PM UTC
great feature Brian. I might have to try this sometime. I was just curious if you ever tried mixing in the paint along with the water and silicon? I wonder if it would give you a little better coverage. Just a thought,
Brian
thedutchie
Visit this Community
Ontario, Canada
Joined: February 01, 2005
KitMaker: 1,299 posts
Armorama: 919 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 08:42 PM UTC
Brian:

Thanks for the great features. I too have always wondered how to make such nice tarps. Thanks for the information.

waikong
Visit this Community
New York, United States
Joined: February 01, 2005
KitMaker: 25 posts
Armorama: 23 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 11, 2006 - 10:27 PM UTC
Brian, thats a great technique. Thanks very much for sharing it.
acav
Visit this Community
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: May 09, 2002
KitMaker: 517 posts
Armorama: 290 posts
Posted: Monday, June 12, 2006 - 02:25 AM UTC
Great technique!

Might be worth pointing out that the secret ingredient - IPA - is India Pale Ale...

That's by another name...

Don't know what the equivalent would be in the USA (resists temptation to slag off North American fizzy brown liquids masquerading as beer - oops, too late...)

acav out
dsotm
Visit this Community
England - East Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: August 13, 2005
KitMaker: 357 posts
Armorama: 291 posts
Posted: Monday, June 12, 2006 - 02:38 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Great technique!

Might be worth pointing out that the secret ingredient - IPA - is India Pale Ale...

That's by another name...

Don't know what the equivalent would be in the USA (resists temptation to slag off North American fizzy brown liquids masquerading as beer - oops, too late...)

acav out



IPA is Isopropyl Alcohol - I'm almost sure its the same thing in NZ - pure alcohol.

Brian
MrRoo
Visit this Community
Queensland, Australia
Joined: October 07, 2002
KitMaker: 3,856 posts
Armorama: 2,984 posts
Posted: Monday, June 12, 2006 - 02:49 AM UTC

Quoted Text



IPA is Isopropyl Alcohol - I'm almost sure its the same thing in NZ - pure alcohol.

Brian



It is known as that both in New Zealand & Australia.

That is a fantastic article Brian and well worth doing as I am certain it is far better then the material & foil I have been useing.

Cheers
Cliff
jazza
Visit this Community
Singapore / 新加坡
Joined: August 03, 2005
KitMaker: 2,709 posts
Armorama: 1,818 posts
Posted: Monday, June 12, 2006 - 02:56 AM UTC
A very useful article! Im sure i will be wanting to place some tarps on my kits at one point or another so am definitely bookmarking this one.

Cheers for that Brian.


Quoted Text

Had trouble getting that real look with your Tarps? Brain Balkwill has the answer!



Vinnie, still recovering from your birthday alcohol consumption?...got everything right but the author's name.
Teacher
Visit this Community
England - North West, United Kingdom
Joined: April 05, 2003
KitMaker: 4,924 posts
Armorama: 3,679 posts
Posted: Monday, June 12, 2006 - 02:59 AM UTC
:-) :-) :-)


(OK I goofed...............I'll change it) lol Talk about putting me under a microscope!

Vinnie
ShermiesRule
Visit this Community
Michigan, United States
Joined: December 11, 2003
KitMaker: 5,409 posts
Armorama: 3,777 posts
Posted: Monday, June 12, 2006 - 03:50 AM UTC
I am curious about the ringlets. When he said use an old PE fret did he mean

1) There is a special PE piece of ringlets or
2) Scratch a ringlet from a piece of PE?
Gunny
Visit this Community
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: July 13, 2004
KitMaker: 6,705 posts
Armorama: 713 posts
Posted: Monday, June 12, 2006 - 04:20 AM UTC
Fantastic article, Brian!
Your technique is wonderful, mate, extremely realistic... Thanks for sharing this with us!
~Gunny
roudeleiw
Visit this Community
Luxembourg
Joined: January 19, 2004
KitMaker: 2,406 posts
Armorama: 2,224 posts
Posted: Monday, June 12, 2006 - 12:31 PM UTC
Great tutorial Brian, very useful.

Basically this would be good to to flags also, but painting different colour stripes on this is probably not so easy.
I will give it a try for sure

Thanks

Cheers
Claude
HONEYCUT
Visit this Community
Victoria, Australia
Joined: May 07, 2003
KitMaker: 4,002 posts
Armorama: 2,947 posts
Posted: Monday, June 12, 2006 - 12:35 PM UTC
Haven't been this impressed with a scratchbuilt somethinorother for quite some time! You would struggle to find anything in the same ballpark AM for quality and realism...The pics of the tarps development are extraordinary, and I for one will be gettin on board with one of my own...
Love the fact Brian has reiterated that they are indestructible~ very compatible with my oaf-boy modelling ways...
dsotm
Visit this Community
England - East Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: August 13, 2005
KitMaker: 357 posts
Armorama: 291 posts
Posted: Monday, June 12, 2006 - 01:54 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I am curious about the ringlets. When he said use an old PE fret did he mean

1) There is a special PE piece of ringlets or
2) Scratch a ringlet from a piece of PE?



I happend to have an old Fug5 radio fret from Aber and it had a few 'rings' on it. If anyone has any thoughts on where to get more eyelets of this size in bulk I would love to hear. Its possible I could have a fret made commercially by Scalelink that would have hundreds on it, but there would need to be a demand. As tarps are common across several modelling areas (air, ships etc) maybe we could get them interested. Or if there was something else currently unavailable I could add it to the fret to increase demand and commercial viability. Thoughts?

Brian
blackeast19
Visit this Community
Singapore / 新加坡
Joined: February 22, 2005
KitMaker: 394 posts
Armorama: 217 posts
Posted: Monday, June 12, 2006 - 02:00 PM UTC
Hi there,

That's really a useful feature. But can you guys also show me articles/links that explain making of camo nets?

Regards!
dsotm
Visit this Community
England - East Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: August 13, 2005
KitMaker: 357 posts
Armorama: 291 posts
Posted: Monday, June 12, 2006 - 02:16 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Great tutorial Brian, very useful.

Basically this would be good to to flags also, but painting different colour stripes on this is probably not so easy.
I will give it a try for sure

Thanks

Cheers
Claude



Thanks Claude

Its very easy to make flags with this method, there are two ways:
1. Before the base paint step cut your flag shape and apply several more coats of sealant to give a smoother finish, then paint as required.
2. Before the paint step cut your flag shape and prime each side well - this gives a smooth surface to which you can probably apply masking tape or fluid

Brian
roudeleiw
Visit this Community
Luxembourg
Joined: January 19, 2004
KitMaker: 2,406 posts
Armorama: 2,224 posts
Posted: Monday, June 12, 2006 - 03:24 PM UTC
Great, thank you Brian
dsotm
Visit this Community
England - East Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: August 13, 2005
KitMaker: 357 posts
Armorama: 291 posts
Posted: Monday, June 12, 2006 - 05:23 PM UTC
Further to the idea on flags I tried it out and it works fine. Heres how I made the one below:
1. Cut some treated tissue to size (before base paint is applied)
2. Prime with White primer
3. Spray red
4 Spray white
5. Spray black

After each coat of paint I rolled the flag smooth between a roller and a glass surface. This kept it smooth all the way through the process.



jazza
Visit this Community
Singapore / 新加坡
Joined: August 03, 2005
KitMaker: 2,709 posts
Armorama: 1,818 posts
Posted: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 07:06 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi there,

That's really a useful feature. But can you guys also show me articles/links that explain making of camo nets?

Regards!



I havent yet done it myself but have been told of this technique for making camo nets.

1) Take a piece of medical bandage ( ones you used to wrap your spained ankles with etc.)
2) Soak it into a diluted white glue mixed with water.
3) Paint and sprinkle it with Basil leaves spices (i think). There are a few spices that you can buy from the supermarket that will pass off as leaves.
4) Apply a layer of matt coat to seal.
5) Position it around the kit or roll it up around 2 or more long sprues.

I am trying this for my next build and if it turns out ok, i might try to write up an article on it unless someone else beats me to it.

wbill76
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: May 02, 2006
KitMaker: 5,425 posts
Armorama: 4,659 posts
Posted: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 08:22 AM UTC
Brian,

I gamely stopped at my local Home Depot, picked up some silicone based sealant, and bravely attempted this technique. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out as intended... :-) I looked at all the silicon based sealants they had available in the paint/caulk department and obviously didn't select the right one as it resisted all attempts to mix with the water and instead just formed a gooey and somewhat noxious lump that I then had to find some way of disposing off without angering my wife ...so I'm asking a favor...could you please post what the ingredients/contents are from the label on the back of the tube you are using so I can make another attempt at procuring the right type of sealant?

Love the effect this produced in your example but so far haven't been able to replicate the recipe.
dsotm
Visit this Community
England - East Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: August 13, 2005
KitMaker: 357 posts
Armorama: 291 posts
Posted: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 - 11:58 AM UTC
Hi Bill

Sorry to hear of this. I have looked on the back and beleive it or not its the first product I've ever seen in the UK that does not list the ingredients!! Its called Squeeze and Seal (Kitchen and Bathroom) and is made here by Polycell, a subsidiary of ICI. As soon as they open here I will contact them and find out under what name its sold in the states.

Brian
 _GOTOTOP