Luke ROTJ V2 Lightsaber Weathering Tutorial

[amish]

Hello all,

I just picked up a beautiful V2 from a fellow member here. The grip is anodized, but everything else is clean aluminum.

I was wondering, what is the best black paint to use to finish adding the color, and what is the best way to remove some of the paint to give it a weathered look?

Thanks..

Tom

 

[WinstonWolf359]

I swear by Krylon paints. Never had any problems at all.

I'd choose a paint that comes closest to matching the anodizing on the grip, probably a semi-flat black.

I used a combination of fine sandpaper (400-600) and steel wool to take the paint back off.

I've always wondered how a V2 would look if it was weathered with alumi-black. Not prop accurate, I know, but it might look cool.

Good luck, and be sure to post pics once you're finished.

 

[DuneMuadDib]

Wish I had pics of mine to show off. I did aluminum black first, but that didn't turn out to my liking so I later took some black paint and sprayed all the appropriate areas. Then I took masking tape and blotted the paint, bringing some of it off each time. Chipped the paint really nicely. With the residual alu-black showing through where paint chipped away it looks rather dirty.

 

[Darth Diggler]

I'm going to paint all the appropriate areas, then use a couple different techniques to remove the paint. I can't wait to get mine. I ordered one as well and it going to be my FIRST project like this. I'm so excited. Please post pics with your progress.

 

[Darth Diggler]

Hey I got a question for you guys. I know that it is the common thing to paint this saber black, so its primarily black and silver. I can't help notice that real close-ups of the screen used V2 look more brown than black. I have a hi-res still of Luke with it on the barge, and I swear it looks brown. Any thoughts?

 

[Dagobah Don]

Originally posted by Darth Diggler@Feb 4 2006, 09:19 PM
Hey I got a question for you guys.  I know that it is the common thing to paint this saber black, so its primarily black and silver.  I can't help notice that real close-ups of the screen used V2 look more brown than black.  I have a hi-res still of Luke with it on the barge, and I swear it looks brown.  Any thoughts?

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Okay, first, you're seeing several different sabers on the barge. If he's climbing he outside of Jabba's barge, that's the stunt saber. If it is ignited, that's another saber with a pole. When he grabs it on the skiff, THAT's the V2.

Second, the V2 should have a coppery brown showing through underneath the black around the windvane. So at times, it may look browner. Just check out the pic on the Emperor's chair arm.

 

[Darth Diggler]

This is what I mean, the part under the emitter and right above the rings looks black. The other weathering looks brown to me. IDK?? :confused

 

[Dagobah Don]

Originally posted by Darth Diggler@Feb 4 2006, 11:39 PM
This is what I mean, the part under the emitter and right above the rings looks black.  The other weathering looks brown to me. IDK?? :confused

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This part

has a little copper under the black.

 

[midrifter]

There is some good info here. Why do you think there is black on the side of the emitter? It started out aluminum I would guess...hmmm....

 

[Dagobah Don]

Originally posted by midrifter@Feb 5 2006, 09:01 PM
There is some good info here.  Why do you think there is black on the side of the emitter?  It started out aluminum I would guess...hmmm....

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Confused. What do you mean? You see the above pic right? That's a still frame from the movie. There definitely is black on the side of the emitter.

 

[Howard]

Amish - the best way to weather this saber is to use auto satin paint.

Give it 20 or so minutes to dry, so it's dry to the touch but not hardened, then simply go at it with your fingernails, peeling the paint away to match the 'Skiff catch' and 'Emperor's chair' pics.

The paint should looked chipped off, and sandpaper will roughen up the saber too much and create soft edges.

Howard.