Kyle's completed StuG III Ausf.C - winter whitewash scheme.

The essential weathering products for this build.

Black primer throughout. With a dark grey base coat going over it, the black primer provides natural pre-shading in the deepest recesses without any additional work.

AK11316 Dunkelgrau RAL 7021 airbrushed as the base coat over the whole vehicle. Off White heavily thinned with airbrush thinner was then airbrushed in an initial pass. Once dry, the same Off White was mixed with AK acrylic retarder 1:1 and applied by brush in crude streaking motions - the retarder extends the working time so the effect can be adjusted and corrected before it dries. Heavier concentrations of white were built up in certain areas to vary the whitewash coverage.

The glacis at the front of the tank was brush-painted back with the original Dunkelgrau to simulate heavy wear from the gun and access hatches stripping the whitewash away - a natural focal point for paint wear on the real vehicle.

Glacis area - whitewash worn almost completely back to grey around hatches and muzzle

Top close-up - manual chipping and wear on access hatches

Manual chipping around the fenders and hatches using the base Dunkelgrau. AK11423 Field Grey thinned 1:1 with drying retarder was applied to high foot traffic areas - corners around the engine deck, fender edges and surfaces where crew would stand or walk. The retarder keeps the paint workable long enough to adjust the effect. Splash mud was added on top in the heaviest traffic areas. Chainmail Silver drybrushed onto the drive sprockets simulates bare metal from track wear.

Front left - rust and weathering on spare tracks

Top view - chipping on hatches, foot traffic marks on deck

Vallejo Thick Mud Russian applied to the lower hull for heavy mud accumulation. Splash Mud Russian used in the hull behind the wheels, thinned with water toward the upper hull for a gradual transition from heavy to light. Both products dry with a glossy finish that reads convincingly as wet mud.

Track and wheel mud accumulation - the glossy finish reads as wet mud.

The tracks are metal from Friul. AK Metal Burnishing Fluid is applied to darken the raw metal to a more realistic worn-steel tone, then weathered the same as the lower hull. Wheels painted Off White with Rubber Black for the tyres, then covered with Russian Splash Mud.

Wooden handles and the cleaning rod painted Vallejo Khaki. Metal stowage pieces in a mix of Dunkelgrau and Chainmail Silver. Spare tracks treated with AK013 Rust Streaks. Wire cutters in Cavalry Brown with the same metallic mix. The spare wheel follows the base wheel scheme with no additional weathering applied.

The exhaust mufflers were treated with AK013 Rust Streaks first, then AK Light Rust Wash applied on top. Russian mud on the lower sections ties them into the lower hull weathering.

Exhaust weathering and lower hull mud accumulation.

Tamiya Mark Fit Strong to conform decal film into the surface. Vallejo Matt Varnish as the final clear coat to kill any unwanted shine and seal the weathering.

Front straight-on - down the barrel.

All paints and weathering supplies used in this build are in stock at Wheels & Wings Hobbies in Toronto, available online with Canada-wide shipping. Dragon and Cyber Hobby kits are now discontinued - we regularly acquire them through estate sales and collections. Check our Dragon brand page for current stock.