Tank Tracks?

[Guest]

Hey guys, Im building a 1:35 diorama for a tank, and wondered if any of you guys have any suggestions for making tracks in the ground? I want it to look like other tanks have passed through before, and maybe have a couple of humvee tracks in there too, any suggestions?

[spanner570]

Hey guys, Im building a 1:35 diorama for a tank, and wondered if any of you guys have any suggestions for making tracks in the ground? I want it to look like other tanks have passed through before, and maybe have a couple of humvee tracks in there too, any suggestions?

Yo 135...What sort of ground, soft or hard, are you creating?

Ron

[Guest]

hey, its going to be fairly soft ground i guess because its a desert scene so its mostly sand

[spanner570]

hey, its going to be fairly soft ground i guess because its a desert scene so its mostly sand

This always works.....

Cover where you want the tracks with a thin layer of polyfilla or similar.

Get an old piece of tank track and lay it in the stuff, then move the track along again.

For the Humvee I would use a stick or pencil the width of the tyre and drag this gently through the polyfilla. Not too heavy as it is sand!!

When dry paint the ruts a medium brown/yellow to simulate the sand has been moved. the rest a lighter sun bleached shade.

Finally for a bit of texture, cover the thing in a weak mix of P.V.A. then while it's tacky get some of yak face's budgie grit and sprinkle this on. I used this technique, less grit, on my gallery photos of a snow scene. If you care to take a look you can see the end result there.

If the grit covers the painting in places just touch up when all is dry.

I hope this is of some help and I look forward to seeing the end result.

Ron

[spanner570]

hey, its going to be fairly soft ground i guess because its a desert scene so its mostly sand

Spread some polyfilla where you want the tracks. Place a piece of track in the stuff then move it along. For the Humvee use a pencil or similar and drag this along.

When dry paint the ruts a darker sand than the rest.

Spread a thin coat of P.V.A. over the dio. NOT the ruts.

Get some of yak face's budgie grit and sprinkle it on.

When dry upend the dio. and shake. The grit will stick to the desert area but not the ruts giving an impression of compacted sand. Re-touch with paint if req.

If you care to have a look, I have used this method in my gallery photo 'Snow tiger' minus the sand!!!! but the principle is still the same.

I hope this is of some use and I look forward to some pickies.

Ron

[Guest]

ok thanks, i'll give that a go and let you know how it goes.. cheers again