Making a Weapon Camouflage with a Sponge
A few months ago, we released Vickers combat slings in one of the best existing camouflage styles, the Multicam Tropic. This pattern is perfect in the southeastern regions or in dense vegetation but doesn't look as good on a black rifle. So, I decided to paint my rifles to match my slings. Before painting your rifles, we advise you to follow the steps, keeping in mind the risks involved. Remember, rifles are expensive unlike paint. I would never use paint that cannot be removed and reapplied if needed.
Materials
Except for the rifle (obviously...), I found all the materials I needed in a large DIY store. But all these products are available in any similar store for about 25 euros. Buy as many colors as necessary for the final look you are aiming for.
Spray Paint
Spray paint is the most important material for this project. I found that the smoother the paint, the better the project turns out. EC-Paint makes good camouflage spray paints specifically suited for use with a weapon. However, keep in mind that the finish on metal may be slightly different than on plastic. Other paints like Rust-Oleum or Krylon® COVERMAXX™ will also do the job. There are also other brands, it's up to you to choose based on the color you want!
Sponges
I tried ordinary kitchen sponges and sea sponges and found that the latter give the texture I was looking for, which is more open and grainy. You can find them in the "bathroom" sections of stores.
Plastic Plates
I used plastic plates, the kind you find in any supermarket. Cardboard ones will be just as effective.
Tape
Blue masking tape covers well the parts you don't want to paint, like sights and the ends of lights.
Procedure
Step 1: Preparations
I start my project with one idea in mind: the preparatory work will determine the final result. Remember that spray paint sticks to all kinds of surfaces but it is the preparations that will determine how long it lasts. If you use a dirty and greasy rifle, the paint will not last as long as on a better-prepared and clean rifle. Acetone for metal or 91° Isopropyl alcohol is an excellent preparation solution for plastics. They can also be found in DIY stores. Simply wipe the weapon with lint-free paper or a cloth and an appropriate detergent until both the weapon and the towel are clean.
Step 2: Base Coat
Start by applying a base coat of paint on the rifle. This step is crucial as it will determine the final look. For one of the rifles, I used a dark base coat before gradually adding lighter layers. For the other, I took the opposite approach and the results were completely different. It's hard to see in the image below, but I made dark brown stripes on one of our black rifles that we use for training.
Step 3: Sponge
You might be wondering, "how can I spray paint on a sponge?" Well, dear friend, it's easier than you think.
This is where the plastic plates come in handy. I suggest spraying each color on a different plate. When you start with a color, finish with it to avoid it drying out. Lightly dab the wet paint with the top of your sponge and quickly dab the rifle before the paint dries. Be creative, make sure your patterns match your needs. Personally, I try to avoid repetitive patterns. Don't worry if there's color everywhere, this is just the first step.
I went a bit further by "misting" the paint on the rifle to make it speckled. I did this by lightly pressing the cap.
You're probably thinking the same thing as me: "It's nice, but it doesn't look like Multicam Tropic." I realized that starting with a darker paint and then adding a lighter color doesn't achieve a greener and brighter Multicam Tropic style. Since the first attempt didn't succeed, I decided to start over, this time starting from light green to medium green.
Finished Product
Now in a real situation! Look at the finished product in a densely vegetated area.
