Weathered/damaged tyres & Wheels
Weathering tyres can be just as satisfying as modeling an entire model. Here are some that I did, which most of you have already seen. I used Citadel Mournfang Brown, and graveyard brown, and earth/brown filter/shade colors to add depth. I used a sponge with stipple effect to achieve the spotted rust and worn effect. Also, used Vallejo dust pigments on some of the tyres to give the dusty effect.
10 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Spiros Pendedekas said on January 20, 2022
I recall most of them at your posted models/dioramas, Charles! Their looks are truly awesome, easily looking 1:1. Apart from skills, also takes a lot of creativity and imagination for such great results.
Charles King said on January 20, 2022
Thank you my friend.
gary sausmikat said on January 20, 2022
Truly, spot on realism.
Charles King said on January 20, 2022
Thank you Gary. working on two projects at the moment. One is almost done.
John vd Biggelaar said on January 20, 2022
This is serious modelling, Charles @tiking
Those tires look amazingly real.
Charles King said on January 20, 2022
Glad you like the results, John.
Greg Kittinger said on January 20, 2022
You are a master of realism - rust, dirt, dings - they are tools in your hand! Now, if you'd only learn how to spell "tires..."
Charles King said on January 20, 2022
Hi Greg Kittinger. Thanks. Actually, the correct spelling is Tyres, by British standards. Americas spell tires, with an 'I'. 😉
Bob Bailey said on January 20, 2022
Charles...you must know that you are making possible with paints & oils what is impossible for us normal humans. INCREDIBLE work.
Charles King said on January 20, 2022
HeHe! I'm part of you guys. Really, all these tyres were made by very simple methods. My methods are very simple. Almost too simple.
Stephen W Towle said on January 20, 2022
Charles were do you get your tires? I've been trying to get 1:35 scale semi tires for a project but, the majority of resin tires available are for military style trucks. Tires that you'd see on everyday civilian semi's . . . a set of ten.
I guess I now have tire envy.
Charles King said on January 20, 2022
Hi Stephen. Only two models in the photo are 1:50 scale, the vibratory Roller is 1:35, and they are plastic. The rest are 1:24 scale. 1:35 tyres are difficult to get; as I suspect. Been looking for some myself. Most of the 1:35 scale kits I have bought have had rubber tyres.
Michel Verschuere said on January 20, 2022
Great pictures and illustration of your techniques. I think most difficult is to weather vinyl type tires, I read some paints actually damage them over time. When I encounter them, I only use pigment, not even fixing liquid out of fear...
Robert Royes said on January 20, 2022
The King is back! The first photo could be a payloader from my job! They always bought machines with solid or foam filled tires, being more durable in train yards. Better to burnout then it is to rust..
Charles King said on January 20, 2022
Hi Robert. Great little info. Thanks.
Bernard Bedeur said on January 21, 2022
Amazing no less Charles .Maybe because they are Tyres and not Tires ! Old world realism is hard to beat .
Charles King said on January 21, 2022
Thanks Bernard. Yep, about the tyres. Most Americans don't know that about the spelling of tyres. 🙂
Jim Crabb said on January 21, 2022
Brilliant as always!
Charles King said on January 21, 2022
Much appreciated, Jim.
Wes Pennest said on January 21, 2022
Splendid, as everyone else said, but let's talk about the exposed steel belts in that one picture... WOW! HOW? I must learn!
Charles King said on January 21, 2022
Hi Wes. The exposed steel belt was pretty simple, really. I used thin exposed braided electrical wires from a single electrical cord. I found in a dumster at my work. I cut it opened and separated the strands. I took an Italeri truck tyre and carefully cut away the threaded rubber from the side walls. Then all I did wss insert the wiring and arranged the wires to look like the tyre had exploded, exposing the steel belts. Of course I painted the wires black and dried brushed it with silver. The tyre was also weathered to look the part with pigments, and carefully over-spray with earth/brown paint. It helps that the tyre is made from rubber. Italeri big plus is that all their truck tyres are made from rubber and look darn realistic.
Tom Cleaver said on January 21, 2022
Standard Charles King totally amazing work. "They look real."
Charles King said on January 21, 2022
Very kind words Tom. Thank you kindly.
George Williams said on January 21, 2022
Great tyres, Charles, most kit instructions tell us to paint them black, but you never see black tyres in real life, a subject us modellers can never tire of. Check out the spelling in that sentence.
Charles King said on January 21, 2022
Hi there George Williams. I always look at photos of the real thing. As for the spelling, HAHA! Spot on! 😉
Louis Gardner said on January 22, 2022
Charles, @tiking
I have worked on (and operated) heavy equipment, farm equipment, trucks, automobiles, military tanks, Jeeps, etc. As such, I have seen and changed many tires. What you have done here is THE most realistic example of just how they truly should look. The way you recreated the steel belted core in the blown out tire is incredible. I have never seen any one else but you be able to pull this kind of thing off.
You my friend, are extraordinarily gifted as everything you do always looks so lifelike and true to what working machines look like in real life. Keep them coming !
I pressed the "like" button too.
OK you can take a shot at me for spelling it the "other" right way. Tires. 😉
Take care.
Charles King said on January 22, 2022
Louis Gardner, thank you for your positive and uplifting comment. Very appreciative and insightful. Don't worry, as for the spelling, it's up to each individual buddy. 🙂 Its all good. Cheers.
Greg Fabian said on January 22, 2022
This isn't model building, this is art. Awesome work!
Charles King said on January 22, 2022
Thank you so much Greg. Glad you liked the results.