Fresh Painted or Weathered ????

[PainlessWolf]

Good morning,
I like 'factory fresh' tanks, indeedy I do. Even then, subtle effects are required like pin washing to bring out detail and light dusting. Dust in all it's forms ( right up to mud ) is the bane of tankers everywhere. If I model a tank in use in dry climates, I use the Tamiya weathering compacts to add the layer of dust thrown up across the fenders and lower deck. Per location and use, I modify enough so that it looks like a tank not a toy. Thick, permanent coats of mud and evidenced rough use I save for static models.
regards,
Painless

[Rad_Schuhart]

I generally don’t weather and like Tom said it’s very easy to over-do and spoil it. I prefer the matt look then just let them get dusty in the garage or muddy from the garden.

That's exactly what I do.

[greengiant]

Totally up to you. If you like the brand new look keep it.
Personally I weather everything to some degree because as soon as they were driven out the factory door and hit some dust it would show up. Also prefer a flat or semi gloss clear enamel overspray as I think it makes them look more real then a shiny finish.
When I used to work on real new US tanks they all came with a paint that was not very shiny but not truly flat.

[Max-U52]

... just seems a shame to weather it but I probably will.

This is the most important thing that you said, Andy. If you think it's a shame to weather it ... then don't!

At the end of the day it's YOUR tank and you should make it pleasing to YOU, and forget everyone else, including me.

[Spartan tracks]

The glossy coat is on just to make weathering easy and make the wash flow ,it will soon dull up my KT looked like the JP before weathering now look at it

But which looks better???????

[ALPHA]

Before doing any Weathering ...I would dull coat it ....then flip a coin afterwards ...but as everyone has said...it's your tank ...So bottom line is...IT'S ALL UP TO YOU


ALPHA

[Dr Phibes]

Well, being fairly new around here I probably don't know what I'm talking about but, anyway, here's what I think.
I'm in the (slow) process of re-building my first RC tank, a Torro metal pro edition King Tiger. I'm gaining progress mainly by unashamedly copying other guys (like Mr Hotte) on other threads and reading up on the history as well as looking at what they do in the fine-scale groups and forums.

As far as weathering goes it appears the consensus is, as suggested, that its a personal choice, it's down to what you like, of course. However, what I have observed, and this is particularly the case in the fine-scale modelling world (and, please, no offence intended here) is that weathering can be over-done to the extent it is almost caricature. Some modellers seem to take it to such an extent that a tank that could really not be more than 18 months old look like a hundred year old relic. Nothing wrong here I reckon, if that's your thing, but for me some degree of historical accuracy and realism is needed (but that is, of course, my preference too).

So will I be weathering my new, beloved, king tiger? Yes, indeed, and the process, included battle damage has already begun. How I approached this decision was simple: I decided beforehand that I wanted a tank that looked as if it wasn't long from the factory, was factory painted, but had been on the field a few months and engaged in some little action which has resulted in some battle damage. That's what I keep in mind now when deciding on each stage of the rebuild in terms of appearance.

So, for me it works like this; your tank was once factory fresh, just like it looks now. This is a realist and historically accurate depiction of a JP (perhaps even the most accurate if you think about it) prior to operational deployment. If you like this look, and this is how most did look at one time (some exceptions apparently where German armour late in the war was rushed into operation still wearing only primer, and never received a base coat, etc), that seems perfectly fine to me - or have I missed something?

[billpe]

It's worth noting that pin washes, dry brushing, shading etc. Isn't weathering. Those can all be done to enhance a models appearance without taking away that freshly built look.

[mike1268]

billpe hit the nail on the head. bring the detail out, then weather it if you still arent happy. Thats what I do