How to make realistic battle damage: bullet holes (tutorial)

[Cirative]

This is my first how-to, so I hope it's helpful.

To start with, I've taken my pre-painted Predator tank. After some creative criticism, I realized it looked "brand new" without battle damage or dirt/mud. I decided to go all-out on this piece by creating realistic bullet holes.

What you need (very simple):
Pin vice (aka modeling/hobby drill)
Model(s)
Metallic paint

Take your model and decide where you want the battle damage. Keep in mind, it'll look like machinegun fire, so it will be sparse, misaligned, and sporadic.

Next, line the drillbit up with the model to imply the direction the bullets struck from. This is very important, as it'd look awkward if the bullets seemed to have come straight down onto the vehicle, or from below it.

Now, drill very lightly into the plastic. Make sure you drill into the model and not through it! If the drillbit happens to penetrate the other end, it's not a big deal, but try to avoid it.

After you've made up some bullet holes, you'll want to paint them with some metallic (or black/rust) color to show it's been damaged [I used boltgun metal]. Depending on where the vehicle was struck from, you may want to create "splash" damage or chipped paint around the holes, or possibly ricochet marks from the bullets that bounced off.

Repeat as necessary. Enjoy your $40 hunk of Swiss-cheesed plastic!

*EDIT*
I would like to note that the distance between bullet holes symbolizes the distance of the shooter, and you can use larger sized drillbits to indicate different types of ammo hits [my goal was to make autogun and small-arms fire].

Here's some photo examples of this tutorial:

Setup

Step 1: Drill holes

Step 2: Paint holes

[Sir James Bloodfang]

That looks really well man. Well done.

It is most useful.

[hairyyahoo]

good stuff cir. if you wanted large holes you could widen these ones by gently twisting the tip of a hobby knife in them. you could also use the knife to score out a kinda starburst pattern to show the explosive effect of, say, bolter rounds.

+rep

[Gregor Xenos]

the shooter mustve been REALLY close for a tight grouping like that.... Would suspect fellow space marines if the holes were bigger *aka bolter rounds*

mustve been some BRAVE IG!!!

[Cirative]

Originally Posted by Gregor Xenos

the shooter mustve been REALLY close for a tight grouping like that.... Would suspect fellow space marines if the holes were bigger *aka bolter rounds*

mustve been some BRAVE IG!!!

I like to think of it more as some last-resort shots before being obliterated or run over (like in Saving Private Ryan).

[iNsOmNiAc'S dReAm]

Good stuff dude + rep!

I do however, agree with Hairy and think you should score the edges of the holes just a bit. As they are, they look a lil to " perfect ".

But over all, great job!

[Ides]

reversed over? heh, why do I see the rhino stopping just short of him and then the ramp dropping on his head?

A good idea for bolter craters could be to use a slightly larger drill bit, but don't go all the way through. Then do as hairy says. For the painting, black, highlight boltgun metal, highlight the extremes chainmail.

[munkey joe paints]

Very nice on this one guy!!!

[Lord Erak Grimnar]

Originally Posted by Ides

reversed over? heh, why do I see the rhino stopping just short of him and then the ramp dropping on his head?

A good idea for bolter craters could be to use a slightly larger drill bit, but don't go all the way through. Then do as hairy says. For the painting, black, highlight boltgun metal, highlight the extremes chainmail.

Lol that actually made laugh I could just imagine some guy being run over by a rhino and it just stops and drops the ramp on him.

Also really good guide thanks.

[vinny]

For plasma, Melta gun damage I have fount that nail varnish remover disolves the plastic very well but please be carefull and use ventilated. I found this out by my charming wife tipping over a pot of the stuff onto a plastic figure. Ah well it was only half painted.

[Vlad Von Carstein]

um...what if i just use my .22 gage? or pellet rifle? or shot gun for intense battle damage!

[hairyyahoo]

that's a very literal take on the term "battle damage" elzanith i'm thinking that the mini in question would come out rather more damaged than you'd have hoped

[Vlad Von Carstein]

Originally Posted by hairyyahoo

that's a very literal take on the term "battle damage" elzanith i'm thinking that the mini in question would come out rather more damaged than you'd have hoped

Not really air rifles are pretty crappy, just use em on a land raider or other tank type thing, should have great results (just don't test the shotgun people.....trust me on that)

[Colonel Marbi Chora]

Originally Posted by Elzanith

just don't test the shotgun people.....trust me on that

Yeah, it seems that a shotgun usage on a plastic model would result in a shattered model beyond any hope of repair

But nice tutorial! Might try that out when I decide to work on my chimera.

[Bremmer925]

Good idea. I'll use it on my Russes.