color suggestions for an 'as new' X-Wing

[Bradleyfett]

I've got a Salzo X that I'm finally getting around to building and I want to paint it up to look like one of those wooden aircraft desk models you would find in someone's office (part of a display for SW Celebration 5). As such, there will be no weathering, etc.

So, I'd like to get some color suggestions for the base, stripes, cockpit, etc. Preferrably off-the-shelf colors, and preferrably in spray cans!

1. base (camo gray?)
2. cockpit frame
3. yellow strip
4. red stripe
5. detail strip behind R2
6. rear end detail area

(Did I miss anything?)

Any suggestions area appreciated!!

M

 

[PHArchivist]

My take would be to go more white for the base then. Maybe an antique white or other slighyly off-white.

Caboose Red for the stripes.

No broken stripes.

No individually colored panels (that would suggest a replaced panel).

For the "guts on the outside" (R2 strip and buttplate), I'd be inclined to pick them out individually with various specific colors such as copper, steel, silver, etcetera to suggest the machinery there.

Engine cans somewhere between silver and steel

 

[Clerval]

I'd take cues from Ralph's pre-pro illustration. Cleaner off-whites; you can have panel differences of gloss/matte instead of huge color changes. Canopy frame, surface details, add color but keep it toned down, it'll really pop out without the grime to bring it all together. I'd use the cannon stripes, canopy color, inner wing stripes that everyone knows. The nose cone... would probably tie that into the main color. Clean up and maybe intensify the intake stripes, same as the top fuselage stripe if you use one, or side stripes. Maybe add color to the bricks. The droid strip and back plate: subtle bare metal on a few pieces, won't take much and try to use a metalizer. Add markings, more than are visible on the X or Y usually (there's a lot you can do with that)

 

[Bigturc]

Doing my paintjob right now .. and considering I'm not an expert .. my experience on this yet would say:

base color
Don't use anything grey for the base coat. I know it's really tempating to do it .. but pretty much anything you'll use will end up looking way too grey and you'll regret it. I used reefer white for my base coat, and I'm really happy with it.

red stripes
Caboose red

inner wing markings
Light grey / brown

canopy
I was suggested Tamiya haze grey TS32 (spray can) but didn't try it (mine is too dark grr)

 

[ave4uevoli]

I agree with the colors listed above.

Don't be afraid to add some shine.

Thing BSG viper mark II (before the cylons came) - if you squint really hard you can almost see a new x-wing :lol

 

[JMChladek]

You could color it in Republic clone army colors, i.e. british crimson or a deep red with a warm gray base tone. Otherwise, white works. Look up pictures of Estes X-Wing model rockets to get an idea of what one might look like clean, otherwise the Viper is a good analogy.

 

[division 6]

With all the variances in the different colors and patterns on the movie models perhaps something more custom than the standard white and red.

 

[Dedalus5550]

I would put some fancy wording on the windscreen, something like "Look!" and "Sporty!" and "Low, low financing!" and "Incom rebate!" and "Free astromech droid with purchase". Oh, and don't forget balloons tied to the cannons.

 

[Mike J.]

Royal blue stripes! Just like they were before ILM had to repaint them. :lol


-Mike J.

 

[Urbanmx]

Woah that shiny BSG viper looks great. Weathering is nice but I agree that a shiny X wing would look good.

 

[JMChladek]

You know, as much yellow as I am seeing on some of the ILM X-Wing models, I am wondering if INCOM's colors for a "clean" X-Wing might have involved white, red stripes and yellow on the upper fuselage? Granted it tends to stray a bit from the desktop model look of just a clean X-Wing, but this could go in some interesting directions with a bit of work.

 

[TheRealMcFly]

base color
Don't use anything grey for the base coat. I know it's really tempating to do it .. but pretty much anything you'll use will end up looking way too grey and you'll regret it. I used reefer white for my base coat, and I'm really happy with it.

red stripes
Caboose red

inner wing markings
Light grey / brown

canopy
I was suggested Tamiya haze grey TS32 (spray can) but didn't try it (mine is too dark grr)

Some good info in here. Reefer white is a great choice for the base. Still if you're going custom you might as well really go crazy. What about a just barely not white grey in gloss? I feel the stripes on the X would have been military decoration, and should be absent. Leaving these off could really help pull out other wing details lost in the high contrast of the white/red.

Do you have any favorite airplanes here in the real world? Look some prototypes up and pull details from real world vehicles. Heck leaf the whole thing with foil if you desire some shine. You've got to start somewhere.

 

[Bradleyfett]

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions!

I'm going to start with a slightly off-white base and use some subtle grays for things like the cockpit canopy and a muted yellow and dark red for the markings. Little or no different panel colors. I may even blacken the panel scribe lines- we'll see if all that white needs some breaking up.

Although the thought of doing the original blue stripes is tempting, I'm going to keep this as a very recongizable traditional X.

Pics will be posted when its done!!

M

 

[Mike J.]

So close! :lol

Good luck


-Mike