+Mr Lost Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 I painted three ammo cans with different base colors to see how they would turn out. They are nothing special, but I was curious about others techniques. The five cans on the left are all the colors that I used. The Primer Grey, Light Green, and Tan were the base colors used on the cans, from left to right. The unpainted can on top is what they all looked like before painting. I used all the colors after the base layers were applied on each can, and used the black at a distance to 'dust' the whole paint jobs to help blur the lines a little. Admittedly, this is a pretty amateur job, but for a fast-and-dirty effort, it is not too bad. Quote Link to comment
+eagletrek Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 They don't look bad. When applying camo paint in the military, the "dark/forest green" is most often used as a base color when applying a woodland pattern. Other colors are then applied over it. The pattern you pick and base color you choose will all be based on the surroundings you plan on hiding them in. You may want to avoid straight/sharp edges to your pattern as they don't appear in nature that often. That said, if you have alot of time on your hands, you may want to look into the new pilexlated camo pattern that's now being used by the Army and Marines. While it's composed of many small straight edged pilexs, in blends in alot better than the older patterns. Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 (edited) The Criminal Pages have some good techniques that I've tried out with excellent results. I tried to look for his homepage in his profile and didn't find it so maybe it's no longer active. Edited November 16, 2006 by Renegade Knight Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 (edited) I now use a rough finished, forest green for a base coat, then add browns and blacks. I don't use grey unless its a hide in a lot of rocks, but for my rock hides I like to use Fleckstone paint. I've taken an oak leaf and used it as a stencil and it came out nice. Here is one with the oak leaf stencil and one using Fleckstone paint: Normally though I just use freehand squirts of black and brown over the green like this one: Edited November 16, 2006 by briansnat Quote Link to comment
+SUp3rFM & Cruella Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Very nice work, Brian. Our first attempt came out with this result: Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Here's one of mine: There's a thread around here somewhere that discusses technique. Quote Link to comment
+HugoBear Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Are the leaf patterns applied with a stencil? Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 (edited) Are the leaf patterns applied with a stencil? No, they're applied with leaves. Criminal discusses his method here. Mine is basically the same. I just use different paint and foliage. (I use some twigs snatched from a burning bush bush that my wife loves and I would love to chop down.) Edited November 16, 2006 by sbell111 Quote Link to comment
Tahosa and Sons Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Nice job on the camo. I usually use browns, blacks and greens. But since some of my caches are so far in a remote area I could use neon orange and they would still be hard to find. Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 I use rustoleum camo spray paints and, unlike Criminal, I don't sand my cans. I have not yet had an adhesion problem and the paint easily covers the yellow lettering. Quote Link to comment
+Kit Fox Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Be advised that even the best camo, paint job will not mask the unnatural shape of an ammo can. The only way to make an ammo can invisible is to go for the "3d effect." This is the bottom side, when the ammo can is tipped over, it is covered with mosses, and colored grass. Notice the unnatural "straight edge" I "ramped up" the fallen leaves from the Manzanita bush, to make the edge disappear. Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 (edited) Be advised that even the best camo, paint job will not mask the unnatural shape of an ammo can. The only way to make an ammo can invisible is to go for the "3d effect." I disagree. A good paint job can break up the lines of a box. The box I posted a pic of virtually disappears when placed in the shadow of a leafy bush. The trick is making the paint job fit the location. Edited November 16, 2006 by sbell111 Quote Link to comment
CoyoteRed Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 I don't try to make my camo job perfect. It's more to help hide it if it's not completely covered with debris. Quote Link to comment
+eagletrek Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 (edited) Got to comment when I see something good. Kudos to both sbell 111 and Coyote Red on their cammo patterns. I'll also have to agree that the pattern itself can greatly help in breaking up the straight lines of the can, if properly applied. Coyote Red's pattern while not exactly a pilexlated pattern has pretty much the same effect. Very well done!!! Nothing irks me more than finding an unpainted can thrown under a bush with the yellow lettering facing up. It doesn't show much effort by the hider. However, I do like reading the data on the can when I find them like that. I guess it's the old Support Platoon Leader in me coming out. (Support Platoon Leaders are responsible for ammunition resupply in Armor and Infantry Battalions) Edited November 17, 2006 by eagletrek Quote Link to comment
+Criminal Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 I’m not a big fan of gluing grass and similar materials to the can because they inevitably get caught in the lid when it’s being closed and disturb the seal. Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 I hate it when my seal leaks. Quote Link to comment
+ranger-rob Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 Camo gun/bow tape works well provided the color scheme matches the surrounding area. I used to use the Wally Whirled camo duct tape but found it to be too glossy at first and then weather away after a season or two. I've found that the Mossy Oak pattern that's heavy on the dark brown works well pretty much year round. The first camo gun tape covered container I made is still fine after a year of being outside. It was somewhat protected in it's hiding place but still had to suffer two Alabama summers. Quote Link to comment
+Criminal Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 I hate it when my seal leaks. I think you know what you have to do. Quote Link to comment
+sbell111 Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 That just makes it leak more. Quote Link to comment
+fox-and-the-hound Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 Back OT, it's amazing how well some simple primer gray or that rust brown and a handful of the dirt from where you're going to hide it work. Try this for an experiment. Go get some (handful) dirt, leaves, grass etc. from the yard and let it dry a little bit (30 minutes on a newspaper). Spray down a small container with the $1.99 primer and while it's still wet sprinkle your dirt and debris mix. The primer is non-reflective and covers exceptionally well while the dirt looks more natural than even the speckle paint. Cheaper and often more effective. Quote Link to comment
+Bad_CRC Posted November 18, 2006 Share Posted November 18, 2006 just like real camo, it's most effective when lines are broken up and dark areas look light and light areas look dark. corners and edges should be hidden to conceal the shape. this is most easily done by a continuous pattern around the corner and keeping the corners dark colors. Quote Link to comment
+Rainwater Posted November 18, 2006 Share Posted November 18, 2006 The best method I have used is the criminal one. I not only use leaves when painting mine but also branches and branches with leaves. I have also used the wet paint/dirt method. That works well also. Quote Link to comment
+skisidedown Posted November 18, 2006 Share Posted November 18, 2006 I hate it when my seal leaks. I think you know what you have to do. I know I'll get flamed for off topic and the other reason, but I bet that poor GUY wishes he hadn't gone on the ice that day. Or he was paid a lot for the picture. Its gotta be at least a decade or two old and still popping up. SSD And yeah, its just gonna leak more after that. Quote Link to comment
wolfbait Posted November 18, 2006 Share Posted November 18, 2006 Just to throw in my two cents... I you are hideing among rocks find some of that rock and grind it up and apply it... Quote Link to comment
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