I’ve found a great way to replicate battle damage on armored vehicles using a regular plumbing soldering gun. First, buy a new tip — the melted plastic will make it unusable for soldering. Also, be aware that it can create some pretty nasty smoke; plan for ample ventilation.
To create surface damage, drag the hot tip across the area to be damaged (say, a nick from a shell) or plow through the plastic to replicate a more direct hit. To simulate a direct hit that didn’t quite penetrate (like on a Tiger), set it to low (or pull the trigger for a couple of seconds) and slowly push against the model so the melted plastic curls up around the sides. For a penetrating hit, get the gun as hot as possible and quickly punch a hole through the model. Remove any strings or roughness before painting.
It takes practice, but once you get it right you can create realistic battle damage on almost any armored vehicle.
Tip submitted by:John MarcolinRockville, Maryland