Firefly Weapon Painting, Help

[Forensick]

I just ordered some wilco firefly weapons,
and i am at a bit of a loss as to how to paint them, accurately, so they don't suck...
any painting guides? ideally with pics

-General prep i have found, sanding gap filling...

just from priming on....
potentially a big ask i know... but please

 

[pennausamike]

On some of my WWII non-weapons, I like to use JB Weld to assemble torched receiver pieces on plugs
to make compliant non-weapons.
Obviously the JB Weld can't be blued.
I find that when blued components are assembled on Dupli-Color DA 1603 Semi-Gloss Black painted receivers,
they look really authentic.
I'm sure there are better ways to achieve nicer finishes,
but this works for me.

I used Rub-N-Buff gold on the Mal pistol, tho' I'm thinking of dry brushing the next one...

The wood grain actually looks better in person.
My son asked me if I decided to put wood grips on Matt's pistol, after all.
I sprayed the grips Walmart cheap paint brown,
scratched the plastic with 24 grit abrasive paper to make "grain",
washed the grips with a super-thinned black wash to bring out the grain,
used a stiff 3" paint brush to streak on red mahogany stain,
let that dry for 3-4 days,
and clear-coated the whole pistol at one time.
They don't look like black walnut, but they also don't look like plastic!


Mike

 

[robstyle]

Alot of effort will be rewarded if you know how to use an air brush. Here is my Phil casting done using a quality metallic brass base coat and oil based wood toners. The "stainless" sections are actually Mirra Chrome thats been toned down. Lots of expensive materials and a very, very, very light dusting of a quality primer to help the paint stick. I got lazy and never did the final black wash.

and here it is with the real deal, just keep in mind, it was painted from memory.

 

[stormtrooperguy]

that's a great side-by-side shot of the differences between the firefly and serenity versions too!

 

[Forensick]

pennausamike.....

ok, stuff on the handle i understand, should be able to manage too...
the metal part was all greek to me...
could you possibly repeat that as though i really do have no idea how to do this.
thanks

 

[pennausamike]

pennausamike.....

ok, stuff on the handle i understand, should be able to manage too...
the metal part was all greek to me...
could you possibly repeat that as though i really do have no idea how to do this.
thanks

After you have prepped the pistol,
prime the the "metal" parts with a sandable automotive primer
like Dupli-color1692 gray hot rod primer,
(available at Pep Boys automotive stores in my area).
LIGHTLY sand the primer with 800 grit paper.
Not enough to remove the primer, just enough to make swirls on the finish.
You can skip the sanding, but it gives the paint a little more "bite".
Then paint with Dupli-Color DA 1603 Semi-Gloss Black.
Most guns can be lightly weathered with
a dry brushing of silver or steel Testors enamel model paint.
Dry brushing is a way to make things look like the finish has worn away, exposing the metal underneath.
The Mal pistol was brass, so brass or gold is used on the main body,
with the silver only being used on the grip/triggerguard area.

Google "dry brushing weathering" for a bunch of tutorials.
Then buy a toy at the dollar store and practice dry brushing the high points to simulate wear.
Practice is really the key.

Rub-N-Buff is a colored wax that can be used for weathering,
but it isn't durable and requires a similar-but-different application approach.
Regular dry brushing is a more useful technique that can be used to weather all kinds of things.

Good Luck,
Mike

My Firefly/Serenity weapons collection:
http://fireflydvd.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3541

 

[g05ty]

Anyone not sure on drybrushing heres a link i found to a tutorial video..http://gamerabaenre.com/dry_brushing.htm

 

[Forensick]

thanks

my resins get posted tomorrow...

i'll post pics of em when they are done