Requesting Advice: Painting Buckets

[Engine95]

Gents,

I'm working on a build for a Panther Ausf. D in Italy, early '44. Specifically the photo below:



I scratch built a bucket to hang from the jack handle in the photo. I can only assume given the time period it was some kind of cheap tin or similar material. And because of the brightness in the photo, I of course I painted it with one of the Vallejo metal colors in my rack. But honestly, I've never been happy with any kind of metal paint. It always looks . . . out of scale metallic? I'd normally weather it with rust and dust to achieve a more realistic appearance, but other than what appears to be a blotch up by the rim in the photo it almost looks brand new.

So I'm asking for advice: how would you go about painting the bucket?

[ForeverPlasticKits]

Most of the usual objects from this era were made in aluminum or zinc, with no paint. So for me your bucket is perfect!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Fabulous scratch building
What exactly were those buckets used for…or do I not want to know

[digger303]

Fabulous scratch building
What exactly were those buckets used for…or do I not want to know

The one on the tiger seems to have a spout on it so maybe not what your thinking.
Coolant refilling ?

[BigWall]

Here's my answer. Paint silver and then run a wash of Tamiya black panel liner around it and let dry. Repeat until you're happy with the results.

JT 75 by Big Wall, on Flickr

[Engine95]

Fabulous scratch building
What exactly were those buckets used for…or do I not want to know

Oddly enough, one of Nicholas Moran’s (World of Tanks, The Chieftain) older videos just popped up on my YouTube feed. He was doing a walk around of the Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G at Bovington with Hilary Doyle and that specific question came up. If Hilary Doyle doesn’t know, I don’t think any of us ever will.

Thanks for the input gents. I think I’m just going to dirt it up a bit.

[Stokesy44]

Aluminum then dirty it up, job done

[digger303]

Fabulous scratch building
What exactly were those buckets used for…or do I not want to know

Oddly enough, one of Nicholas Moran’s (World of Tanks, The Chieftain) older videos just popped up on my YouTube feed. He was doing a walk around of the Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G at Bovington with Hilary Doyle and that specific question came up. If Hilary Doyle doesn’t know, I don’t think any of us ever will.

Thanks for the input gents. I think I’m just going to dirt it up a bit.

at 12.48