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Ian Foulkes
60 articles

1/35 Camouflage Nets

November 21, 2021 · in How-to · · 6 · 2.2K
This article is part of a series:
  1. 1/35th Leopard Line Up
  2. Leopard 1A5 Bundeswehr
  3. Weathering, the Belgian Leopard Conversion Continues
  4. Leopard AS1 Aus Cam Update
  5. Leopard AS 1 Olive Drab Lusterless Update
  6. Dutch Leopard 1
  7. Australian Leopard AS1 Dozer
  8. Danish Leopard 1A5DK
  9. Takom 1/35 Canadian C2 Leopard Mexas
  10. Australian Trials Leopard Tank
  11. Australian Leopard AS1 with drivers and engine compartments.
  12. Leopard AS1 Engine, Engine Bay and Drivers Compartment Latest Progress
  13. Unfinished Business – Finishing Off the Belgian Leopard
  14. Trying New Techniques On Tamiya Leopard A3/A4
  15. Revell Leopard 1 A1A4 Weathering And Camnet
  16. Leopard 1 A1A1 With Peddinghaus Turret
  17. 1/35 Camouflage Nets
  18. Camnet Construction continued...
  19. Schutzenpanzer Marder 1
  20. Meng C2 Mexas with Dozer Progress
  21. Meng Leopard C2 more progress

I hope that this might be of help to some of our group and that I am not "teaching my grandmother suck eggs!"

I've been trying for a while to find what I think is a better way of adding () for my 1/35th vehicles. It's one of those continual learning curves. For this I've used a couple of my old Leopards ( and the old mould 1 which I made up as 1A1A4) that I've been using for experimenting with techniques. I think that the best time to do this is after any paint weathering, chipping etc but before applying any dirt or mud. Some people apply their nets during construction before painting, it's up to you
1) Materials, material. For this I bought a pack of surgical gauze, stippling brush, PVA and a small jar
2) Stippling brush and PVA glue (from any DIY store)
3) Mix the PVA glue with roughly 60% water
4) DON"T soak the gauze in the water/PVA mixture
5) Cut small sections from the gauze
6) Place gauze where you want it and start stippling with the glue. When happy, add another section of gauze. Try and build up in layers. Roll any individual threads back onto the main net, that doesn't happen on real nets
7) Try to "hook" sections of the net over projections. Remember that real nets are very heavy, careful use of the brush will help get this look. Camnets have the habit of snagging on any profusion, including the crewmen
8) Continue building up the layers
9 - 11) Carry on hanging layers of gauze until you are happy with what you have. Remember to avoid heat sources, in this case the exhausts and the crew heater exhaust. They're really great for melting camnets. Hook around any details you don't want obscured, or partially obscure them. After all, after all that hard work on painting tools etc...
12 - 14) Don't do your next exactly the same on each vehicle try for some variety

I hope that this is of some help to you

Reader reactions:
2  Awesome

13 additional images. Click to enlarge.


6 responses

  1. This is really amazing technique, Ian!
    Those nets look utterly realistic!

  2. Nice technique, Ian @ianfoulk96
    This defintely results in great looking camo nets.

  3. Thanks for sharing. There is always something useful in someone else’s technique; using small sections is a good one !

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