Black Smoke Markers

[ianjgow]

I need some black smoke markers for brewing up tanks & other WW2 vehicles
Has anyone got any tips for making (or buying) these? I have tried many variations without success, including:

Steeping cotton wool balls in black wash - just goes a bit dirty, fine for musket fire but not fot the oily mess needed for tanks.
Ditto with black dye - it dried to a powder which shed copiously, contact with water causing the shed powder to revert back to liquid dye.
Ditto with black food colouring - worse than black wash as it dries out almost completely gone.

Tried painting Javis foliage black - looked ok for  smoke from a Colonial steamer stack but not so good in larger amounts.

Ideally, I need to be able to place them on (or next to, at a pinch) destroyed vehicles.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

i

[Fenton]

A friend made a load  from cotten wool dipped in thinned down black oil paint

It was always known at the club as 'Death Dust' for a reason that now escapes me

[Leman]

I think you can actually buy black cotton wool, and also orange, but no idea where from.

[toxicpixie]

I have some black coloured cotton wool - it's very handy. I *think* I got it from Peter Pig but I've had it long enough I really can't remember for sure!

[Leman]

It's the sort of thing a company like Gale Force 9 might sell.

[kipt]

One of our group used steel wool; shaped and painted it looked great.

[ianjgow]

A friend made a load  from cotten wool dipped in thinned down black oil paint

It was always known at the club as 'Death Dust' for a reason that now escapes me

Probably because of the shedding noted earlier? Doesn't bode well......

i

[ianjgow]

I think you can actually buy black cotton wool, and also orange, but no idea where from.

Searched a lot online for black cotton wool but no luck so far. If anyone can enlighten me, I'd be very happy.

i

[ianjgow]

One of our group used steel wool; shaped and painted it looked great.

I'll look into that, cheers!

i

[Sandinista]

These look easy to do
http://philbancients.blogspot.co.nz/2011/01/markers-for-explosions-and.html

cheers
Ian

[ianjgow]

It's the sort of thing a company like Gale Force 9 might sell.

Thanks. Looking for something more realistic though.

i

[Ithoriel]

Made some yonks ago with big bag of cheap wire wool, some steel washers, grey and black spray paint cans, orange hobby paint. Long since lost in move to new house

Pulled wire wool out to a shape I was happy with, glued base of wire shape to a washer, squooshed the whole thing with grey primer, sprayed black from above only to give grey lower and black upper, thin ring of orange around the bottom of the shape. Worked for me. 

[Fenton]

I have seen it done with woodland scenics tree flick on a metal frame then painted etc

[Ithoriel]

There's always this

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/151599976/15cm-100-wool-felt-balls-100-count?ref=related-0

[petercooman]

http://www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=500

Looks good!