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Mine has safely arrived in the UK and it's awesome! Super fast shipping considering how long it normally takes stuff from the US to get here :D

Now I just need to find an accurate colour for the neck that's avaliable in the UK...

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Thanks for the tip, had a look and it's a great thread! Luckily I have an airbrush and some vallejo paints already so I think I will just have to experiment with some colour combos.

If you can lock in with something can you let me know so I can link it to the tutorial for the euro guys?
 
Okay so Ive finished my test for paints outside the US which should be more readily available on ebay etc. Personally I think the "Chromacryl Gold" is the closest to the MoM. It looks fantastic and without seeing the ACE antique gold in person, Id say its the closest to that.

The other one Im really keen on is the "Metal Mig Old Brass" which has a bit more red to it which has it a bit closer to the copper look under different lighting conditions.

Full list from left to right;
- DecoArt Dazzling Metallics Copper
- Metal Mig Old Brass
- Vallejo Brass
- Chromacryl Gold
- Vallejo Gold Brown
- Vallejo Gold
- Vallejo Old Gold

All had grey primer underneath and applied with an airbrush. They are water based acrylic paints. Hilts to compare the colour to are 7 Chambers copper neck and Denis Lukyanovs Creepy Uncle brass neck. Both the necks have been aged.

Any questions you have Im happy to answer them.
 

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Thanks for testing so many already SaiyanCookie! I think I would personally lean more towards the Metal Mig Old Brass, at least based on the photographs you have taken. I'm away in Germany this week so will have to wait till next weekend to do paint tests myself. My eye for colour isn't the best but my partner is a graphic designer so checking the colours will be her job lol.

Have you done any mixing or have all of your tests just been straight colours?
 
Thanks for testing so many already SaiyanCookie! I think I would personally lean more towards the Metal Mig Old Brass, at least based on the photographs you have taken. I'm away in Germany this week so will have to wait till next weekend to do paint tests myself. My eye for colour isn't the best but my partner is a graphic designer so checking the colours will be her job lol.

Have you done any mixing or have all of your tests just been straight colours?
This test on the aluminium tube have been straight colours. I did some testing just adding a little black to some to just knock it back but honestly the two I mentioned, particularly the metal mig old brass look great as they are.
 
I’d agree: chromacryl is closest looking to the ACE
Metal mig old brass If one wants to push the red tone up
(Just looking at photos)
 
I’m hoping for some help showing how to do the black rings. The first time I did this on a NicksDad saber I did that part like 3 times because every time I tried just lightly sanding the silver rings clean I got chipping on the edges of the black. But masking the rings at different thicknesses seems difficult as well.
 
You know, I keep thinking about the fact that the Hero Skywalker ROTJ hilt was one of the few created in-house, in the US, vs. in the UK.

This being the case, the ILM workshop was well known to have made great use of Humbrol brand paints.

I feel pretty confident that the paint on the neck of the hilt may well be of Humbrol origin.

Humbrol Enamel Paints - Paints - Shop : Metallic

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I’m hoping for some help showing how to do the black rings. The first time I did this on a NicksDad saber I did that part like 3 times because every time I tried just lightly sanding the silver rings clean I got chipping on the edges of the black. But masking the rings at different thicknesses seems difficult as well.
Halliwax will probably cover it in his video but you were probably using a sandpaper grit too low. I think someone above mentioned using 1000 grit and above.

I just turn my hilt upside down after Ive sprayed it and use whatever clean up the paint suggests on back (enamel for me so white spirits) and get a rag damp with it and slowly turn the saber, wiping the rings using only the index finger behind the paint cleaner rag...

Hope that makes sense?
 
I’m hoping for some help showing how to do the black rings. The first time I did this on a NicksDad saber I did that part like 3 times because every time I tried just lightly sanding the silver rings clean I got chipping on the edges of the black. But masking the rings at different thicknesses seems difficult as well.
The other thing is the paint needs to be completely dry. If it's not totally settles, it will come off of in chunks.

I know some people are unhappy with the tri-ring.
I've assembled two of these so far and they're a little more difficult then I originally thought because the plating and welding on the tri-ring varies a bit making some if them a bit thicker than others. I'm looking into options for this.
 
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Halliwax will probably cover it in his video but you were probably using a sandpaper grit too low. I think someone above mentioned using 1000 grit and above.

I just turn my hilt upside down after Ive sprayed it and use whatever clean up the paint suggests on back (enamel for me so white spirits) and get a rag damp with it and slowly turn the saber, wiping the rings using only the index finger behind the paint cleaner rag...

Hope that makes sense?
This is what I think I'm going to end up doing on mine, I tried masking the rings over the weekend and struggled to do so. I masked my V2, both because the thinnest rings weren't as thin (at least, to my eye, but I only have a painted one and that can trick your eye) so it was a little easier, and also I didn't want every ring to look as sharp as I do the Hero. Hero's gotta at least start with clean lines!

But I've got probably another month at least before we get a weekend both warm and dry enough for me to try, so I'm still thinking about it
 
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