No mucking about, just a quick rattle and judicious application of wash bag, for scales.
No primer coat, no sponges – just have at it and let it weather with use.
Gray Fox’s Pieman explains his simple but highly effective technique:
I really don’t mess about with strip downs other than the optics (if it’s a straight removal). Neither do I bother de-greasing and all that jazz. Just take it outside and hit it up with the rattle cans.
Get all your shit together and get outside. Find a space, preferably elevated so you’re not on your knees. I’m fortunate enough to have an old abandoned washing machine in my garden.
Base is Humbrol Dark Brown 29 (closest DIY paint I’ve found to FDE). Literally a light dusting of two coats – and I mean light. If you look closely, it doesnt even cover the trades/scope control markings.
Then, grab your mesh wash bag/scrim.
Highlight through the bag with Humbrol Desert Tan 237 and Krylon Dark Brown. Job done. Just let the paint skin between coats.
Looks a bit “Kryptek” if you ask me.
Total time is about 20 mins (working) but really about 40 mins with a couple of cups of tea and a few smokes.
My best advice is just hit it up and don’t take too much time thinking about it. Sponges and all that blah look pretty, but I know there probably aren’t that many operators who would take that amount of time over it.
It’s just a tool, after all.
Thanks, Jim – a grand job!
The Reptile House 