Painting tracks

[hubbycat]

I wonder how you guys deal with painting tracks? I restarted model making after a very long break and this is my first time I’m trying to do it properly. Last time I did it I was 12 with very limited resources so I just painted them silver. I’m building Churchill tank and I saw one at Bovington museum. The tracks seemed to be very dusted and underneath I think they were just black. I started painting mine with flat black followed by gun metal and at the end desert brow. And the results are attached. I hope my iPhone did justice to my efforts. Looking at pictures I took at Bovington each tank’s tracks had different colour. I think I’m just having problems nailing it down. For some reason I am expecting them to be just like bare metal but that does not to be the case.

Tom

[HAWKERHUNTER]

This post seems to have fallen under everyones radar Tom. I've never done a tank so cant help you but I am sure someone will pick up on this soon and give you the answer to your question.

[Tim Marlow]

Sorry, only just seen this…..one thing I think tracks are not is orange rust colour, though quite a few modellers go that way. Personally I start with a coat of Vallejo German Black Brown. I think it’s underlying purple tone suits the tone of the type of steel used for tracks. I then drybrush with a lighter colour to bring out the texture. I then highlight the wear areas (where the tracks rub) using a 2B pencil. Once that is done I give them whatever weathering I need for the effect I’m after. Usually this is a dilute wash of dust coloured paint and mud made from pigment and paint.

[PaulTRose]

Tracks are a weird thing.....theres so much variation even on the same tank........i think the sherman had 4 or 5 different track types depending on the variant.......some track types have rubber blocks which are obviously a rubbery black colour (for use on paved surfaces i believe.....less wear to road and track)
only time you get shiny metal showing thro would be on edges where track contacts the ground
Ive never fully mastered track painting.....i tend to look at lots of in use pics.....not museum pics cos they tend to get painted all sirts of ways...to get an idea of colours.......and if you are so inclined put plenty of mud on to hide it all ???
good luck.... above all dont give up......one of those things... every one has a different way of doing it

[Tim Marlow]

Tracks are a weird thing.....theres so much variation even on the same tank........i think the sherman had 4 or 5 different track types depending on the variant.......some track types have rubber blocks which are obviously a rubbery black colour (for use on paved surfaces i believe.....less wear to road and track)
only time you get shiny metal showing thro would be on edges where track contacts the ground
Ive never fully mastered track painting.....i tend to look at lots of in use pics.....not museum pics cos they tend to get painted all sirts of ways...to get an idea of colours.......and if you are so inclined put plenty of mud on to hide it all ???
good luck.... above all dont give up......one of those things... every one has a different way of doing it

Some wear areas are not where the track contacts the ground Paul. Pzkfw 38Ts have a wear ring around the middle ridge of the road wheels (never worked out why, but it’s there..) others have them where the sprocket teeth run against the tracks (wear areas on both sprockets and tracks), and still others have them where the road wheels run on the inside of the tracks……just a matter of working out what contacts what. Agree ref museum stuff, unless you get a close look to see if there is paint or not, and corrosion changes colour with age as well. Newly built German stuff had tracks that were painted red oxide, but that wore off really quickly. A good source would be something where the vehicle has actually been running, such as tank day at Bovington. That would also give a good heads up on dust and mud patterns.
I remember seeing the WW1 tank after it had been running on a very wet day once. Most models have crusted mud around the track guard, but that was not how it appeared at all. There was plenty of mud, but it was distributed in vertical streaks from the top of the track run to the bottom. The streaks were heavier and more defined at the back, but became less distinct towards the front of the vehicle. Never seen it modelled like that though, including the 1:1 display at Bovington itself. As you say, observation is key. Basically, find a photo you like and copy it….

[Panzerwrecker]

Hi Tom

The tone on your two images looks good as a base coat ?

The tank museum is a great place for reference material and a myriad of track surface effects are present on all types of tracks in their huge collection of AFV's. You do have to remember that some have them have been repaired and/or repainted during restoration so their original colour might have changed. What we do see though is tracks that have been exposed to the elements for way, way longer than a vehicle operating for a few months in combat many decades ago!

There was a large thread over on Missing Lynx where the manufacturing tecniques and materials used by different countries were explained. And more importantly why and how they corroded over time and what shades and variations of colour they exhibited.

Another consideration is the enviroment they operated in. A dry desert will exhibit a very different effect on a vehicle's tracks compared to one operating in wet and damp conditions.

I build mainly WWII axis AFV's and have messed about with lots of combinations of paint to get the desired effects on tracks, but I am always up for trying new things and am always finding interesting new reference material. As for a base coat on an operational AFV there are many good out of the bottle solutions but IMO you cant really go wrong with a grey/brown shade to start the ball rolling. My last few 'track' mix base coats were airbrushed with a combination of Tamiya acrylics. It comprised Dark Iron, German Grey, and Flat Earth.

As for how you weather them is down to personal preference. I would recommend staying clear of enamel products with plastic tracks due to their 'hot' nature. It is easy to knock up some acrylic washes which serve the same purpose. WWII Axis AFV tracks were often burnished upon contact with ground surfaces as were the many contact parts of the running gear so burnishing the inner track components like the guide teeth are always worthwhile before adding tracks if kept seperate for painting.

Los

[hubbycat]

Thank you very much for your suggestion. This is my first attempt so I'm just trying to find my footing. I've watched lots of videos on YouTube about AFV painting and weathering and I feel a bit lost. I hope that after few attempts it will get easier.

Thanks again - Tom

[PaulTRose]

I've watched lots of videos on YouTube about AFV painting and weathering and I feel a bit lost.

That was me when i started......watched so many vids by people who knew what they were doing and got discouraged when i couldnt do the same

What i did was buy a really cheap 1/35 tank kit......tamiya panther as i remember ....been replaced a few times lol......built it to use as a 'test mule'.......what i used to practise on.......been about 20 different camo schemes before it got so it had to be replaced.....each track got practiced on for different methods