Looking for advice from other SS x-wing builders

[Qrest Fourstar]

So, what do you guys recommend? I’ve read the flat black auto primer covered in gloss white. If I got that route, what’s the order? I mean flat black then the gloss white, but should I shoot all the other colors THEN steel wool it? Or steel wool after the gloss white? I’ve been debating on this part since learning about it. I really don’t want to blow $30+ on a quart of paint when I certainly don’t need that much.

Part of me thinks, I should just paint it the way I painted my Fine molds x-wings. Model Master Camouflage grey, then wash in ink. I have lots of good results with this technique.

I have considered since the beginning primering it in Model master Primer. Pre-shade all the panel lines then shooting Camouflage grey. Then masking and shooting each color and masking ‘chipped’ paint using Windsor Newton liquid mask. When all said and done, washing with ink.

About the only thing that doesn’t sound workable to me, even though everyone else building models these days seems to like them is using Tamiyas’. Those paints just don’t like me.

Words of wisdom?

 

[ralphee]

TBH Paul, the gloss white is not essential, for me, on my V3 ill be going with a white auto primer and using the same flat black base and wire wool method ive used before.
Ive painted two (Reds 1 and 5) with the gloss, and heck, its a lot of rubbing with the wool to dul down the paint.
Matt white will work even better, its already dull, so youll need to rub her down way less.

I wouldnt go with Camo grey though, its just wrong, it may work on a Fimemolds, but IMO would just not look too good on a studio bird, my two cents!

As for Tamiya paint, what problems are you having? I use a mix of Tamiya, Polyscale and Floquil, and they all work very nice, they Tamiya's being my choice on greys and buffs as there awesome for mixing.

lee

 

[mslz22]

I too think the Camo grey is too dark for 1/24, i would go with the white and adjust it with very thinned down dark grey/black overspray, sanding with 600 or better to get the desired effect...

 

[MonsieurTox]

I dont think they used pure white on the X (unlike the crawler), but an off white. I mean just a few drops of dark (gray is better than black) into a flat white. Tamiya are my fav paints.

As for the black (or very dark gray primer), I think they mainly use it to paint the clear wings (and to stop the light) and the inside of the birds (mechanism) they sprayed the whole thing with the same primer because why change ? That's just my opinion though ^^

BTW the black coat (primer or not) is required to achieve the ILM look (scratches, chips etc).

I too think overspray then sanding is the way to go to achieve the studio effect.

Guy did an awesome job on his Red 3 and did a wonderful step by step. Highly recommanded IMHO !

 

[Qrest Fourstar]

I don't think I'm thinning the Tamyas' right. I do everything with 3cc syringes so I usually got 3 parts paint 1 part alcohol ahooting at around 15-18 PSI but it just doesn't cover for me. It took me forever to finally get polly S paints to flow right for me.

I've aslo been recommended plastikote automotive sparay. Shooting it into a jar and airbrushing it on.

 

[MonsieurTox]

I'm thinning the Tamiya 30% paint-70% alcohol, sometimes I go with 40% paint-60% alcohol because each color need to be thinned diferently. I prefer spray more several light passes, well thinned, than a heavy not enough thinned. It also depends on your airbrush !

 

[ralphee]

Yeah sounds as though your mix is a little too thick Paul, try a "milk" like ratio, its what i do and ive always "eyeballed" any paint mix TBH.
The Tamiya paint always helps one out of a fix IMO if the true color cant be found, and there pretty hardy when cured.
As Julien stated, the thinner the better, but this stuff covers well even in a thin mix, so youll nail it bud!

If you can get hold of some Floquil, try that too, its a killer paint to use, it is a nasty Enamel, so mask up, but it goes on like liquid glass lol...kinda :lol

lee

 

[MonsieurTox]

Bro, I found some acrylic Floquil (Red Caboose ) paints, do you know if they are as good as the enamel ones ? Because the acrylic paints are easier to clean up and are less smelly, I would like to give it a try but if some of you used those acrylic floquil, please tell me how good they are !

 

[ralphee]

Nah bro, not used it, all my Floquil is enamel, give it a shoot and let us know if its any good!

lee

 

[MonsieurTox]

Ok bro, I havent found any enamel on ebay only acrylic, I will order one or 2 jars and I let you know the result !

 

[ralphee]

Shipments on the Enamel are few and far between to the UK and Europe bro.
It comes via Canada and they have rules and regs on the shipping of toxic substances (rightfully so).
I do have a source though, so if there is anything specific let me know and i can give him a call, but again, his stock is always low due to backorders being placed and customers buying 6 jars at any one time lol.

lee