How To: Realistic Battle Damage on Your Scale Models

[@ads7858]

The bullet holes are really convincing and helpful

[@ModelMinutes]

I'm glad you found the video useful :)

[@sime5629]

this looks really cool. I've always used a soldering iron to melt bullet holes and other damage into my models and then touched it up with some silver paint

[@ModelMinutes]

I've used that method too :D

[@Captain-Nostromo]

I really like your Channel, You never grow too old to build models, me and my dad started to build Models 1965, and I am still Building it 😀

[@ModelMinutes]

Awesome! I'm in this hobby for the fun - I think you can tell :P

[@ShuttleFactoryScaleModels]

Great job Matt, it really looks like the poor old spit has seen some battle damage. I might attempt bullet hole damage effect on my planned wrecked Vietnam war era UH-1 Huey.

[@ModelMinutes]

Awesome! I look forward to seeing it :)

[@arandomyoutuber6634]

I think a landing at the edge of a pond or lake could look cool. I have tried to do that before with a river but It didn't go well for me.

[@ModelMinutes]

That would be pretty cool!

[@julianmhall]

@@ModelMinutes I've seen clear latex used to simulate water. The recent TV series 'Hornby: A Model World' showed some impressive dioramas and how they were made. Ref aircraft battle damage may I suggest that be the aim from the beginning? That way you could put a paint layer of silver under the camouflage where you plan the damage to be so that the flaked off paint shows the metal skin underneath.

[@dkproductions3130]

Thank you so much for telling me what plane to build for my video

[@ModelMinutes]

which one was that?

[@Chris-qc3qb]

When I did “damage” to a tomahawk I went ham and broke of like most of the wing cracked the glass and destroy the front

[@ModelMinutes]

wow, that is a lot!

[@arandomyoutuber6634]

most the time i get too into damaging and just full on destroy the model or something

[@ModelMinutes]

haha!

[@emmacole358]

same hahaha

[@caseycasen7107]

I know Im asking randomly but does someone know of a tool to log back into an instagram account..? I was stupid forgot my account password. I would love any tips you can give me

[@finleyjamir3567]

@Casey Casen Instablaster ;)

[@caseycasen7107]

@Finley Jamir thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@redkawinchannel7432]

thanks so much! I've been hunting for a good way to justify a burnt-out engine on my new A-10 warthog, and this is just what I needed!

[@ModelMinutes]

glad i could help!

[@joekmodels]

Great video, can't wait to try this out! I think it would look cool on a beat up Stuka too from a dive bomb mission too!

[@ModelMinutes]

Sounds like great inspiration!

[@thearmoredgeorgian2736]

I’ll used these tips for my crashed f4f in the pacific diorama

[@ModelMinutes]

Awesome!

[@chrispacer4231]

Aug. 18th. 2020. Good video, I’ve taken my dremel with a course grinder ball bit and before I assemble the the model I grind the insides of areas I want the battle damage to be, try to make it as thin as possible, just enough to come thru the surface. Then with a sharp X-acto knife pick the edge of the hole , sometimes I’ll glue small pieces of foil to make it look like torn aluminum skin, of course it looks better on 1/32 kits

[@ModelMinutes]

Yes!! That's a great way of doing it!

[@DartsideScenics]

That’s a great effect. Awesome job 👏

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks!

[@BobMuir100]

Very enjoyable to watch. Thought you were cleverly creative! B England

[@ModelMinutes]

thanks!

[@thearmoredgeorgian2736]

Also landing gear parts make good extending metal bars from broken wings.

[@ModelMinutes]

Cool idea!

[@TheSteggar]

Brilliant mate, you have provided the solution I was looking for.

[@ModelMinutes]

I'm glad you found it useful!

[@TheSteggar]

@@ModelMinutes Thanks mate, got the drill and flame out! Dry brushing the oil and smoke was really useful too. Wish I could send you a picture of my efforts :)

[@johnlockhart1574]

That’s a great idea, and some great tips. Thanks.

[@ModelMinutes]

Glad it was helpful!

[@vintage4941]

Great work Matt love your channel this helped me

[@ModelMinutes]

thanks!

[@allhaillordtachanka1957]

Wow! That looks really cool I have tried battle damage on this wildcat I built last week but it didn't look right so I am going to try this on it too Thanks!

[@ModelMinutes]

Awesome! I'm glad you found my ideas helpful :)

[@allhaillordtachanka1957]

@@ModelMinutes 👍

[@kostasastro]

You use a heated drillbit with the reasoning that the plastic will stick and create a raised detail once you pull out the drillbit. Bullets create recessed holes than raised ones, a raised hole would suggest an explosion so if you use this method it would be better to find a way to remove this raised detail. I may be nitpicking but i just wanted to share my thoughts. Good advises though and i can't wait for the next video.

[@ModelMinutes]

Yeah, perhaps the shell exploded inside the aircraft or hit something that exploded, or maybe it was an exit wound from something passing straight through. . . damage can do some strange and unexpected things :P Thanks for watching :)

[@kostasastro]

@@ModelMinutes Huh, didn't think it that way an exit hole for the bullet.

[@ModelMinutes]

@@kostasastro I think that depending on how the bullet went in, the exit might be messier - especially if it broke up or tumbled on the way through

[@TRAiNTOWN]

Great ideas! Looks great!

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks! :D

[@georgemam4804]

Nice!!! Thank you so much!!!

[@ModelMinutes]

No problem!!

[@xhappybunnyx]

If the landing gear was stuck, some bent back propellers would help with the realism! Great vid; I'll use some of these tips when painting some 3d printed tank models!

[@ModelMinutes]

Awesome!

[@strikeeaglemodels1588]

Interesting results mate 👍

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks :D

[@Jeffsmodelgarage]

Nice tip👍🏻 looks great thanks for sharing

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks for watching!

[@julianmhall]

I saw a diorama yesterday on another channel (Model Nerd I think) where he copied the box art to end up with a Heinkel He111 with an engine streaming fire being chased by a Spitfire. Box art seems to be a ready source of diorama ideas :)

[@ModelMinutes]

yeah, that was a cool build!

[@bigcharliesmodelgarage296]

Nice. Thanks for sharing

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks for watching!

[@calvinsmith1236]

that was helpful thank you!

[@ModelMinutes]

Glad it was helpful!

[@charliegeorge6803]

Great battle damage effects and bulletholes. Model looks fantastic overall- one suggestion- what about weathering the decals a bit? They look a bit too pristine in the context of the rest of the airplane.

[@ModelMinutes]

I was going to use this one as part of a diorama and it was my intention to do more weathering in the future . . . But haven't got around to is yet

[@stephenvaden4718]

Cool! I've never been brave enough to try battle damage. Question, a round to the engine seems pretty severe. Would a spitfire have been able to take that kind of a shot and still be able to land? If it were spewing fluids it seems like a kill shot. Just my very amateur observation. Love the video!

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks for the question! I think it depends what the nature of the damage inside the engine is. You hear all kinds of stories about the kinds of damage that planes suffered so i don't think it would be too unbelievable for it to take one to the engine. In my head though, i've got other plans for this model, and yes, you're right, this is a kill shot (or at least a forced landing)

[@KermitTheGamer21]

A hit to the engine would destroy it, but as long as the aircraft is not performing maneuvers or otherwise causing itself to stall, it could glide back to the ground relatively safely.

[@brassfoot100]

Good technique. Better than doing it with just paint. Looks great. One issue. The bullet/shell hole in the nose is where the petrol tank is in a spit. Probably wouldn't make it to a forced landing.

[@ModelMinutes]

unless it ran out of fuel and the engine died? :P

[@brassfoot100]

@@ModelMinutes All depends on the size of the ammunition I guess. ME109's used 7.92mm machine guns and 20mm cannon as opposed to a spits .303" round. This modelling lark got me into reading books for research and now I read way more than I model. Your channel is inspriring me to put the books down and raid the stash.

[@ModelMinutes]

@@brassfoot100 Yes, you definitely should get some modelling done! I'd be interested to see anything you create :D

[@rickerson5787]

this video is very useful, one time i tried making a bullet hole on the tamiya m4a3 sherman and failed horribly i used a screw driver to make the bullet hole. i got the screw driver too hot and the result was horrible.

[@ModelMinutes]

Oh no! I'm glad you found this one helpful though :D

[@swing.wing_singh]

Fantastic work. Quite convincing battle damage. How do you get the canopy to shine so clear?

[@ModelMinutes]

The canopy? It came like that . . . I just painted the frames. I've heard that gloss coating it can help though

[@the9tailedraptors83]

Very nice

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks!

[@RhysTAGOMOTOFouracre]

should the drill bit very depending on the size of bullet/ round

[@ModelMinutes]

Yes, I’m sure you could calculate the right sizes, but I just guessed on what would look ok

[@polishfury1211]

Wow

[@ModelMinutes]

Polish Fury ☺️

[@jiazhun0268]

Where can you buy one of those drills?

[@ModelMinutes]

I got mine on amazon - i think there might be one on my storefront (link in description - or should be)

[@ScaleMilitaryModels]

Nice work! I’m building a 1/32 b24 liberator crashed, and I think I’ll try some of these techniques! Do you think it appears that the “metal” is too thick?

[@ModelMinutes]

what do you mean?

[@julianmhall]

@@ModelMinutes in reality it would be maybe 3/8 inch thick aluminium but even 1mm thick at 1:72 scale is 2.83 inches. To scale it would only be 0.132mm which as a model would never stand up, so I think designers sometimes have to compromise.

[@FinsburyPhil]

@@julianmhall Have a look at Chris Pacer's comment above - thin the area before assembly

[@xxmonsterxx9363]

looks nice :)

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks!

[@donchantengco9134]

would the bullet holes be more unyform

[@ModelMinutes]

I don't see why they would - both the aircraft taking damage and the one firing the guns would be moving around in the air, under the effect of G force, gravity, air resistance etc. Then, add to the fact that the bullets would hit differently at different angles would cause them to bounce around or impact the metal on the plane in non-uniform ways. Then, add to this that the aircraft they are hitting is not just one uniform bit of metal, but in fact layers of metal over various ribs, spars and other internal components. I think that weapons damage can be quite unpredictable and if you google some images you'll see what i mean

[@dkproductions3130]

The B17g or the voucher f4u 1d

[@ModelMinutes]

Awesome!

[@pickle5097]

well i accidently snapped off a back wing on a bf109 soo i guess ill do this...

[@ModelMinutes]

Good idea!

[@pickle5097]

@@ModelMinutes Thank you.

[@jonnyl2205]

Are you interested in doing a weathering job on a built Airfix 1/24 Mosquito?

[@ModelMinutes]

sadly I don't have time to do commissions at the moment :(

[@doritodogemlgdoge2684]

Awsome

[@ModelMinutes]

Thanks :D

[@somedude621]

I am building a Revell 1/48 B17g and want to make it look like it was hit by flak but it isn’t severe. Do you have any extra tips for doing damage on a bigger model. And it is a silver paint scheme so I don’t know how I will do the silver by the holes. Sorry for the long comment.

[@ModelMinutes]

i'd probably use a knife to do that sort of damage, cut away the parts you want damaged. Softening the plastic in hot water could help too

[@letsskidoffgrid8290]

What do you need to do that battle damage?

[@ModelMinutes]

Isn’t that mentioned in the video?

[@theunknowngamer7757]

This is smart For of you mess Up a model

[@ModelMinutes]

or maybe even if you dont :D

[@jordyncollier919]

Yeeeesssssssssss

[@ModelMinutes]

:D

[@dkproductions3130]

hi

[@ModelMinutes]

Hi!

[@BrecklandSpotting]

This is good for just a car that hit a lamppost

[@ModelMinutes]

nice!