Making tires look aged.

[James Maynard]

I'm working on an old IH 4070 and I'm trying to make it look old and forgotten. I've got the frame and tanks rusted up but it has tires on it that are shiny and new looking. I want to make them look like the truck in the picture. This is the truck I'm trying to replicate.

[NOBLNG]

I happen to have a small sand blasting cabinet, so that is what I did to these.

[R. Thorne]

Not as good as Greg’s suggestion, but I used tamiya’s lp65 (rubber black) on the slick on the right (sorry for lousy picture).

[Ace-Garageguy]

Greg Nobling uses my preferred method. No possibility of peeling later, either.

Only downside is the amount of air it takes.

Small hand-held blasters are available, but they're probably going to need a minimum of a 3HP compressor.

[OldNYJim]

Vallejo makes a paint set designed to do what you’re trying to do - I just picked one up myself!

[peteski]

Please let us know how well the paint sticks to the soft vinyl tires.  Many military models (to which this set is likely geared to) have tires made of hard resin (same resin used for other parts of the kit).

[Oldcarfan27]

Old tires aren't actually black, but more a charcoal and dark brown with grey inside the treads and never shiny. I'm a proponent for plastic tires. They can be painted in any colors with no downside of coming off or stickiness. 

Look carefully at how the light shows the shades and textures. 

[James Maynard]

8 hours ago, Oldcarfan27 said:

Old tires aren't actually black, but more a charcoal and dark brown with grey inside the treads and never shiny. I'm a proponent for plastic tires. They can be painted in any colors with no downside of coming off or stickiness. 

Look carefully at how the light shows the shades and textures. 

Yes this is the look I need. I've considered using real mud. This is the truck I'm working I'm not putting it in the WIP because I have about 3 projects in there already. But you see the shiny tires just do not fit the look I'm going for.

[James Maynard]

9 hours ago, CabDriver said:

Vallejo makes a paint set designed to do what you’re trying to do - I just picked one up myself!

Where did you get this kit from?

[OldNYJim]

10 hours ago, peteski said:

Please let us know how well the paint sticks to the soft vinyl tires.  Many military models (to which this set is likely geared to) have tires made of hard resin (same resin used for other parts of the kit).

Will do!

1 hour ago, James Maynard said:

Where did you get this kit from?

https://www.amazon.com/Model-Air-Color-Wheels-Tracks/dp/B00XVX5NVE/ref=sr_1_6?crid=3P0Z2JBR0GX9L&keywords=vallejo+rubber&qid=1655388829&sprefix=vallejo+rubbe%2Caps%2C130&sr=8-6

Less than $20, delivered...admittedly, the gunmetal and rust colors they include aren't needed for what you're doing, but they're useful for a bunch of other stuff...

[mr moto]

Just an idea that I have not tried but Hob Lob sells a rock tumbler for about $25. My daughter had one when she was little but I don't think it's still around for me to try. Anyway, it seems that you could tumble some tires for a short time with an appropriate grit and get all the shine off of them. Cheaper than a sandblasting rig.

[Chariots of Fire]

FWIW:  I wouldn't use real mud to get tires to look used or worn.  It will look too heavy or out of scale.   There are plenty of new paints that can be used to great effect especially if used to delineate the sidewalls and inside the tread.  The tread surface is always darker than the surrounding surface that is deeper since it is readily worn away.  To simulate the sand or fines that can accumulate within the tread area, try a wash of light tan and drip it into the tread pattern and let it dry.  

[R. Thorne]

I considered purchasing one of these a few months ago (thanks, mr. Muse).  There is a generic and Paasche brand available.  These would have to be used outside or in the garage and definitely respirator use.  Different types of media are available for different surface requirements.   I don’t know for sure about compressor requirements, but doubt a large compressor is required.

[Fat Brian]

You can use Mr Super Clear matte spray clear on tires. This will tone down the shiny, then you can use the Vallejo paints and pastels to age them.

[jaymcminn]

I like Tamiya Weathering Master Pastels for tires. I wish the manufacturers would go away from soft tires altogether, but I'm not holding my breath for that to happen.

[OldNYJim]

A great video on using media blasting on model car parts:

I tried a rock tumbler like some have mentioned above…it worked ok, but it was a real pain getting all the grit out of the tire treads.  Works well on slicks though!

[R. Thorne]

That’s the Mr. Muse I referred to (aka Mr. Whyte) in my post.

[Pierre Rivard]

I just did it with a dullcote followed with Tamiya weathering master rust color and finally a sand colored pigment to fill the threads. Done 3 years ago and still looks good.

 

 

 

Edited June 18, 2022 by Pierre Rivard