Sd.Kfz. 7. Building the 8 ton Mittlerer Zugkraftwagen. Chapter 7: Dragon kit hairspray chipping

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Hairspray chipping

I have always found the best results can be obtained using acrylic paints mixed with water, but with a slightly different approach it can also be effective using lacquers. For this build I wasn't looking for a heavy chipped paint finish but rather tired looking paint with a worn patina, showing fine scratches and chips added to edges and damaged areas of bodywork. This I attempted by adding three layers of slightly different base coloured tones.

This effect works best by adding hairspray in-between light layers of paint. It then becomes a process of distressing each layer before adding the next. The proceeding paint layer will soften the chipped effect in the previous layer so adding the heaviest chips into the first layer work best. You can then fine-tune the process along the way. The last coat is always the lightest so as not to diminish the effects gained in the previous two layers. 

Slightly modulated first base coat paint mix on the bonnet 

First layer coat chipped. 

  

 

To improve this first chipped layer further on the bonnet I added a layer of dark grey acrylic around the pioneer tool locations and again chipped back. The rest of the model received the same treatment.

 

 

 

A slightly different approach was taken with the wooden panels of the cargo body. To replicate the damage by loading and unloading items the floor and side panels would also have attracted scuffs as well as scrapes. The three horizontal top canvas tilt frame beams were wooden too, but the cargo frame and tilt poles were all made of steel. As these areas were primed with their corresponding undercoat colours; red primer on the steel and a grey/buff shade for the bare wood, selected areas were now picked out and distressed.

The base coat layer chipped and scuffed exposing both the bare wood colour and the red oxide primer coat on the rifle holders.

To tone down the exposed red primer on the frame and tilt poles, a light layer of Tamiya German Grey acrylic was airbrushed over another hairspray layer. Carefully chipping back again the grey softened the chipped effects to both the second mix of dark yellow and the underlying primer. 

To give the framework area a much more convincing appearance a final highlighted base coat layer was addded, and again chipped back, softening the effects of the previous coats.

The wooden areas were given more scuffed effects in the paint than chips and scratches. These effects will further be enhanced in later weathering steps.

The chassis and cab received the same treatment. In the second coat chipping stage certain areas were both toned down, revealing less of the red primer coloured layer, and added to new areas to exposing the first base coat. These multiple base paint layers gave a much more varied patina to both the metal and wooden areas of the model. 

 

With care this process can become an alternative to the effects gained by a far more carefully and selective application of sponge chipping. It can then be enhanced by a far more limited application of hand painting chips with a fine paintbrush.

 Chapter 8