Customer build 1/350 NX-01

[clancampbell]

Wonderful! it's always nice to see a professional at work! What airbrush are you using?

Rich

 

[SteveNeill]

Thanks Rich, It's a Paasche. I have two and rotate them in out and out of lacquer thinner between different colors to keep them super clean or they will spit and splatter.
I rarely use cans.

Steve

 

[Jedi Dade]

Watched your video - does in deed look the part. question though why were they blinking occassionally? Is there some sort of timer that needs to be ramped up to stop that or is that just how it is...

Thanks,
Jedi Dade

 

[SteveNeill]

I think it's the camera I'm using and frame rate. I noticed it too.

Steve

 

[darthsideous]

Thanks Hellboy. I hope it helps others. This is how I learned and I owe it all to model builders that shared how they did it. It's nice to pass it on.

Steve

Thanks Steve!

 

[SteveNeill]

You are most welcome.


Today was spent doing more painting. I like to remove the parts from the trees and number them on the back and if too small drop in the box with a piece of note paper with the number. Helps me focus.

Next lest go through the instructions and figure out what stays silver and what gets painted and what color. Once that’s done I can either hand paint the small stuff and airbrush the bigger stuff like the intercoolers.

All the surfaces on the hull got rubbed out today and the sealer applied. I will have to wait 24 hours. Then tomorrow clear gloss coat it so I can place the decals the next day. The gloss really helps to slide and adhere the decals. Then they get coated again. Once that all dries I can add the small parts that go on the hull. Slow process but doing pre-painting and sub assembly IMO is the only way to go.

When I seam everything I plan to use painters tape and Squadron putty. This way I only leave a small strip to apply putty to and when I sand it down it won’t hurt the decals or the finish. Once that’s done you can lightly airbrush the silver back.

More tomorrow,

Steve

Sealer on and buffed.

It takes a lot of paint to color a Star Ship. I must have spent over 70 bucks or more by now.

Intercoolers with steel painted on.

Little parts all painted.

These organizer boxes really work good.

 

[FuseNova]

I liked the tip on the organizer box!

 

[Bloop]

Little parts all painted.

Great stuff as usual, Steve! I enjoy your posts, always informative and detailed with lots of progress pics.

One question in this pic; is that Super Sculpey or some similar putty holding the small pieces?

 

[SteveNeill]

Bloop thanks. You are right there. Super sculpty. Any clay works. It's just a way of painting both sides at once. Same with the scrap styrene sheet from my vacuum form machine. You can lightly tack a piece down like the intercoolers there and get both side and be able to handle and turn the parts.

Steve

 

[Bloop]

Thanks Steve, good tips! Beats holding small pieces with tweezers or clips.

 

[hellboy120]

Now you are one of my master Steve! A lot of things to learn but this is so much fun.

 

[clancampbell]

I'm really interested to see how you get on with the Acreation decals....i've got a full set for my 1:350 refit and am hoping they're forgiving to apply!
Rich

 

[SteveNeill]

Thanks guys. Rich on second thought I plan to put them on last. Reason being if I make one mistake on the seaming and assembly and have to fix something and touch up I screw up the decals. But I'm sure they will be good. I had no problems on the refit.

Steve

 

[BlindSquirrel]

The pre-painting and seaming is an interesting strategy that I never considered. You've given me some food for thought for future builds. I look forward to seeing what you'll do next!

 

[SteveNeill]

Well when you got a bunch of windows it's really the best way to go, I think.

Steve

 

[SteveNeill]

Hey! You do nice work!

Steve

 

[ZOMBIEREPELLENT]

Thanks, now I have to get in trouble with my wife and buy one of these kits and build along with your thread.haha. I can't wait to see how the decals look

 

[SteveNeill]

My pleasure. Tell her I said...well hi. Be nice and let him build the model. Some husbands might choose to do other more relationship destructive things.

Steve

 

[SteveNeill]

Today I painted more parts, added them to the saucer section. Added nearly all the windows, the saucer rims and did some lighting tests. The saucer rims really don’t fit that well. It was a bit of a struggle to get them right and remove material to fit the NAV lights.

There are lots of light leaks in the rim which will be fixed with the aluminum duct tape. I’ll have to come up with a trick once I close the saucer section as I won’t be able to get inside to tape the upper leaks. Most likely a very careful putty fill or add a lip that drops down on the back side of the upper section. I did this on the refit and it worked great. I do not want to get putty on the windows.

Doug Drexler and I talk during the day through Skpye and it was a real kick to bug him about his design.

More tomorrow.

Steve

 

[KUROK]

I love to watch your work!