"What color are the exhaust pipes on "tanks"?" Topic

It occurs to me that not all that stuff on the back end of a "tank" should be painted olive drab or dark yellow.
There are pipesand things. I suspect that the paint would have long ago burned off them, had they been painted.
So, what color are they?

Rust usually, especially if we're talking about WWII vehicles. Some modern vehicles apparently have better mufflers, and dark steel might be more appropriate (this came up in a conversation on another forum about the M41 Walker Bulldog's exhaust system).

Damon.

Why? Toy/miniature tanks can be any color the owner/player chooses.
TMP link

For any tank in the field, rust.

The would start out a soft steel a light dull gray, but once the engine is run would have turn an iridescent blue.

But then rust would start as all the protective oils are burnt off.

My method is to texture either by the glue and baking soda method or more recently by undercoating with Golden Acrylic Ground for Pastels (this is gesso with pumice, and gives a slight texture). I then paint rust colour and dry-brush with the vehicle base colour to show areas where the paint is still intact, followed by a black wash. If I am feeling really energetic I will then give a final very light dry-brush with a lighter rust colour.

Depending on their age they might start in either camo or black. Some would start to rust, while the tip of the exhaust would look black because of all the soot it produces which would then deposit on the back of some tanks (T34 comes to mind)

I tend to paint the exhaust and the muffler with some light orange rust colour then add some black at the tip and a spread pattern of soot on the rear deck for added effect.

Rust?

I go for an off-beige dusty old concrete color, highlighted with darker browns in the nooks and crevices. Then dry brush with medium and light browns for the in-service or used look. Dust and dried dirt accumulates on exposed exhaust pipes covering most of the rust. For a tank that has been around for a while I would go heavier on the darker browns. For a newer tank I'd go with the blacks or more steel color, like the photo in the earlier post.

Mike

Black and steel at first, then rust and dirt

As Frederick said …

Please see previous TMP discussion on mufflers (including color photos):

TMP link

MY tank crews are meticulous about their appearance and religiously go oout and polish and repaint their exhaust pipes daily!