How to do Italian desert camo?

[d_bader]

I do not use an airbrush, so I was wondering if there was a way to do it by hand.

 

[Thorlifter]

That's going to be pretty difficult. If I can track down a way, I'll post it. Maybe someone else already knows.

 

[Catch22]

I'd just use a VERY thin brush.

 

[Wayne Little]

Which particular Italian pattern do you want to do?

 

[d_bader]

The model kit itself is Airfix's Savoia-Marchetti SM.79.

 

[Wayne Little]

Ok, after a quick search I found this info...

Now onto the kit colours:-
Those reported in the instructions are accurate: it is true! Indeed the kit depicts a first half 1943 machine of the so-called "Raggruppamento Aerosilurante" of 252^ Sq., 104° Gruppo Autonomo, Siena/Ampugnano based (torpedo-bomber group, 252 Squadron, 104 solo-wing). These machines were painted to blend into the sea due their torpedo-bomber role (the boxart illustrated is too much conspicuous when viewed from above, being sand-yellow painted!). If you are concerned about this I suggest these colours should be as follows:
• Top surfaces: "grigio mimetico 1" (camouflage grey No1) FS. 36231 (e.g. Humbrol 140) overall, plus
• "verde oliva scuro 1" (dark olive green No1) FS. 34086 (e.g. Humbrol 141) mottle, to give camouflage effect (*);
• Undersides: "grigio-azzurro chiaro 1" (slate blue-grey No1) FS. 36307 (e.g. Humbrol 66);
• The "Regia Aeronautica"'s insignia are quite accurate and usable, so the kit is O.K. And enjoiable!

If this is the scheme you are doing then the first and third colours are the easy ones, Camouflage Grey top and Slate blue-grey bottom surfaces, brush painted.
The second colour Dark Olive Green,will require a bit more care, as this is a mottle colour.
Let me have a think about the mottle colour and try a few methods to see what might work.

 

[Wurger]

I think you can use this kind of a brush for eyeshadow which has at the top of it a piece of a sponge and a pattern (mask) with spot-shaped openings.This method in Poland is called "tupowanie"