Armor/Military Vehicles Painting & Finishing Techniques

1. The model's surface, once painted, should show no signs of the construction process (glue, file, or sanding marks; fingerprints; obvious discontinuities between kit plastic and filler materials; etc.).
2. Finish should be even and smooth, unless irregularities in the actual vehicle's finish are being duplicated. Exceptions such as zimmerit or non-slip surfaces should be documented.
1. No brush marks, lint, brush hairs, etc.
2. No "orange-peel" or "eggshell" effect; no "powdering" in recessed areas.
3. No random differences in sheen of finish caused by misapplication of final clear coats.
3. Weathering, if present, should show concern for scale (e.g., size of chipped areas), be consistent throughout the model, and be in accordance with the conditions in which the real vehicle was operating. Be careful to distinguish some of the purposefully "heavy-handed" paint schemes from over-zealous weathering. Extreme examples should be documented. Weathering should not be used to attempt to hid flaws in construction or finish.
4. Decals:
1. Aligned properly. (If the real vehicle had a markings anomaly, the modeler should provide documentation to show that he is deliberately duplicating someone else's error, not inadvertently making one of his own.)
2. No silvering or bubbling of decal film. Decal film should be eliminated or hidden to make the markings appear painted on.
5. Colors. Paint colors, even from the same manufacturer and mixed to the same specs, can vary from batch to batch. Different operating environments can change colors in different ways. All paints fade from the effects of weather and sunlight, and viewing distance alone can alter the look of virtually any color. Poor initial application and subsequent maintenance compound these problems. Therefor, aside from gross inaccuracies such as a light green "Red Arrows" aircraft, color shades should not be used to determine a model's accuracy or lack thereof. Again, models with with unusual colors should be supported by confirming documentation.

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