First Paint Job

[TankTrooper]

Having purchased a Heng Long M41A3 Walker Bulldog Pro, I would like to give it a more authentic look.
So where on earth do I start.
I appreciate that for many of you that will be laughable as you will already have many years experience of the hobby with a small armery of equipment, paints and skills. Little old me is starting with nothing. The only thing I have resembling a paint brush is a 12" roller, so I really am starting from fresh.
However, I learn quickly and have a steady hand and tend to pick things up quickly once I have gained some knowledge. So any details you can throw at me will be very much appreciated even if it is directing me to a link on this forum which you think would be good for me to read.
The tank will be used and played with .... outdoors at times ..... and with us living in Cumbria that inevitably means it's going to occasionally have some spots of rain land on it ..... so any paint job needs to be durable. Therefore what sort of paints should I use? Do I need to use special paints on the tracks? Should all the paint work be sealed? Do I need to start with a primer? What colour paints do I use?
Anyone got some good photos of projects In order for me to see what sort of colour scheme I could opt for, plus a list of colours..
Obviously I don't wish to be too optimistic in my outlook in terms of what I can achieve for a first effort, but I would like to end up with something that looks realistic. Ideally,no would like the tank to look as if it's done some time in the field - as opposed to looking like it has just come out of a box!!
Thanks in advance everyone.

[43rdRecceReg]

Welcome, TT, and be warned: this can be an addictive,time and cash-consuming, hobby...no matter how casual your interest and intentions might be at the outset... But it can also be richly rewarding (Though your partner might beg to differ )
Here's a link to get you started on aspects of painting your tank. Youtube has a bewildering array of hints for all aspects of 1/16 tank modelling: so be prepared to get square eyed, and to ignore the family (possibly at your peril )
Tanks are generally painted with water-based acrylics from popular manufacturers such as Vallejo, and Tamiya. You can buy a fairly comprehensive pack of Panzer colours at a reasonable price on Amazon, at model shops, and elsewhere online.However, rattle can primers intended for cars, such as those found at Halfords (Humbrol and other brands..) can also be used to get you started. If you use the 'search' option here, you will have access to years of accumulated experience, rich with illustrations and often ripe with banter. Also be sure to scroll down to the various build threads for more specific projects.
It was my son who provided my first 'fix' (a birthday present Heng Long Tiger)..and subsequent descent into model tank addiction; but thereafter we found the hobby to be yet another means of 'male bonding' ..Father/Son' in this instance, and not an accidental misuse of superglue. That will probably follow too..

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[TankTrooper]

Very grateful for the information and advice. Turns out that a friend has a workmate who has been into painting tanks for several years so going to arrange a time for a chat with the guy. So hoping that he can give me some tips to get me on my way.
Will let you know how things progress.
Interestingly ........ can you remember what you got for your 9th birthday. Think I got a pair of flares!!! Oh how times have changed.

[jarndice]

I got a TEN SHILLING NOTE
Do you remember those pieces of brown paper ?
I lost it on the way to the shops,
My life took its unstoppable downward fall from that moment on
Shaun.

[43rdRecceReg]

Very grateful for the information and advice. Turns out that a friend has a workmate who has been into painting tanks for several years so going to arrange a time for a chat with the guy. So hoping that he can give me some tips to get me on my way.
Will let you know how things progress.
Interestingly ........ can you remember what you got for your 9th birthday. Think I got a pair of flares!!! Oh how times have changed.

...That would probably be a 'Swoppet' Cowboy or knight in armour; a modest present, for modest post-war times... Oh, and there was probably a bar of McCowans Highland Toffee with the prized wee hammer for breaking it,from my Granny in Glasgow. The purpose of the McCowans was to extract any unwanted teeth, or fillings. In those days, fillings were given without injections by Marathon Man style sadists. The drill looked like it was powered by some Victorian conveyor belt and pulley system, and made the most hideous noise known to man: enough to drive your toes through the ends of your shoes ...So, I have good reason to recall my ninth..and the McCowans

[TankTrooper]

Can remember my brother losing a 10 Bob note on the way to the corner shop. To buy my nan a packet of 20 Embassy!
She killed him!
So yes, I remember the note very well ...... but not as much as my brother,,,,

[TankTrooper]

Can remember the toffee hammer all too well myself.
Bizarrely my family on my fathers side is also from Glasgow - my nam lived in Camberslang.
With Rennie being a family name well connected with the city.

[jarndice]

TT Hi,
You ask where do I start ?
That depends on how involved you want to get with your builds,
The first thing I do is Research, nowadays I have a wider knowledge of Armour from its inception a lot of it gained from this Forum, What this means is ASK QUESTIONS,
I usually know a bit about a particular Tank before I buy the parts I need, secondly I rarely buy a whole Tank simply because to do so would mean discarding lots of it in the build, and here is where GOOGLE/BING are your friends,
If it is available I will buy a metal hull (This is what I mean about discarding lots of Tank) and a separate body and turret. This way if you want a different control board and transmitter receiver you are not paying twice for the same thing.
Many of us used to start with a Tiger 1 but now many people begin with an Abrams, Leopard, or a Challenger 2 all of these are good out of the box and upgrades are getting evermore available,
But research is the key to holding your interest, There are members of this Forum who could tell you the names of the crew who were to be found in the original of the tank they have built,
You will see that different members of the Forum get involved in different parts of the build, some go down to the bare bones and engineer the build, while others do a paint and weathering tour de force that should be exhibited in an Art museum.
Whereas others go off at a very loose angle building very personal armour in most unmilitary finishes and why not ?
It is your Tank, we happily offer hopefully useful advise but no one will tell you what to build.
There are some brilliant dealers in this hobby a number of them are members of this Forum but do take care for we have low life's in this hobby who want your money without supplying your product, If in doubt ask, We can usually tell you if the person is good, bad, or indifferent.
Shaun.

[Spartan tracks]

Hi TT
As a relative newbie 10 months in I've spent that time learning to paint. Itt isnt that hard but do your research which is fun and will give you knowledge I found TANK ENCYCLOPEDIA a good place to start.
Don't expect to be an expert over night but in time you will pick up hints and tips and before long you will be away, Then when you think the tank you have just painted looks good you can then think about structule mods,
Some H/L tanks have moulded shut hatches and vents you can then start opening these up and fitting metal opening ones, also changing Gearboxs etc etc. Making battle damage and so much more before long you will be addicted , Although I'm no addict with a mere 15 tanks in this time lol ENJOY YOUR TANKING
Regards. Andy

[Tiggr]

As another newbie, you can't help but be inspired by some of the exploits in modelling excellence by members of this forum.
I've been trawling lots of websites, viewing YouTube, photos and learning about tanks (German WW 2 in my case).
I think I need a spray gun.....