Stop Motion Studio ESB AT-ST!

[Rats]

Lee, I agree with all of the above. Excellent work all round, the painting looks great to me. Maybe a little dark around the joints perhaps, but it probably looks different "in the flesh". A favourite of tank modellers at the moment is the use of filters, which is really just a very thinned coat of the base colour (or something very close), to tone down the contrast and tie everything together. Jason used a similar technique for his escape pod on his web-page.
Top notch work all round though and thanks for sharing all the info. This has been a really inspiring build. I need to get on with my casting.... Lanc turret ready for resin at the mo....
Cheers, JT

 

[JPolacchi]

Stunning work Ralphee!Are you gonna "weather" her more or leave "as is"?I'm jealous :cry.

 

[ckwanwoo]

Lee,

That is perfect ESB model!!!:thumbsup
You make me give up to make another SS models.:cry

 

[ralphee]

JT, thanks bud, and yes the joints were bugging the hell outta me, a mist of basecoat and all seems well now.
That sais...i didnt think of filters ya know....will make up a mix as that sounds like a tech that will do for the final misting, especially the head where i want to only slightly lover the contrast.....top tip lol!

John, no still a lot more weathering to do, nothing harsh now, what ive done needs balancing, then from there, its just small intricate details in various areas of the model!

Iam happy with the effects the steel wool have made, there are finite "scratches" all around, so on that front, im kind of achieving (at least in the flesh...not my awful pics) that studio prop look!

lee

 

[MonsieurTox]

she looks ace but I know how you feel & If I was honest I think you've only tapped what YOU can do with this beauty. She does look stunning but if your not happy with the paint job then you should do what's best for you soul. You have spent so much time money & effort on this masterpiece that you should be as happy with the painting as you can.

:lol

That's exactly the advice I gave him yesterday =)

Anyway I think she's outstanding, and I would be happy myslef with this paintjob bro !
It seems you're happier now youve toned down the contrasts, cant wait to see new pics of her !

 

[ralphee]

Guy, bro, and you other dudes lol, thanks for all the input...helps me sort where my head is at LOL.

OK well this is the walker, with a filter coat on, literally a very opaque mist of the basecolor!

It seems to have toned everything down a notch, but shooting on a white background brings out other problems...blue hues in the gray LOL.

TBH, i sat for ages trying to mix the paint hue seen on the pics we have of the prop...with a naked armature...i think most you guys have seen these pics?

Anyhoo, to my eye, id nailed it, and in those color pics, there does seem to be a VERY subtle blue hue...so dont know whether ive done good, or bad...the screecaps appear very very ligth grey...so this and the afforementioned ref...seem to contradict each other.

Dont know why, but i didnt like the Tamiya X19 mix i made...too whitey gray for my eye...hmm!

Could it be the fact the screencaps, are stop motion shots, literally pouring bright light on the prop?

These pics are taken in indoor lighting anyhow...i do need to get daylight shots, and as mad as it sounds...that when the darn things looks its best LOL.

lee



Sorry for the long winded pic run lol, just doing my best to portray this....man, TBH..i hate gray LOL.

 

[JPolacchi]

It looks fantastic Ralphee!I knew you were in the "begining" stages.I'm still (ever so slowly)paying off my armature,but then....the real headache of buying the donar kits...not sure what to do about that?

 

[dragnink]

This stuff's always tough.. but here's a little swatch I made from an unflashed screen grab. The color looks like a slight mix of tan and cool grey. The base coat underneath it looks like a medium to light sea-grey?? This is with my work display that's perfectly calibrated though.

If I can get some higher res source of this shot, I'll send you a pm. I think this is about spot-on.

 

[ralphee]

Cheers Matt! Well after a long long time mixing and shooting, and even photographing greys to make sure no blue comes through, ive found it!

Ive just stripped, rubbed down and reshot the whole model, using Floquil SP grey mixed to 15% Reefer white.....and im one happy bunny, thanks Guy, you gave me the stones LOL.

Was a big job, but had to be done....if its going to be done, its gotta be done right and i was at the stage where it was possible, i wouldnt have wanted to finish the whole thing up and then say "ya know that grey aint right" lol.

I will say, the Floquils went over way nicer than the Tamiya paints, and she now looks screen accurate....i think LOL.

Pics to come!

bests, and thanks guys.......lee

 

[MonsieurTox]

Cant wait to see new pics of the new paintjob bro !

 

[ralphee]

Right, ill stop whining now lol, to my eye, this is it, no blues creeping in, god i go the long road home at times, always the hard path i choose :lol

lee

 

[MonsieurTox]

The base coat looks very good and very very smooth ! Should well react with the weathering

Will you got the side panels done soon ? And what will you use for all the hoses under the head ?

Anyway great job I dont know you stripped off the paint without breaking this delicate rail ! :lol

 

[ralphee]

Fine wire wool applied to cotton buds, and a lot of patience bro, luckily 'cos im anal with paint, my coats are always very thin, so it only took a few passes to rub most areas down......was heart in mouth at times though LOL.

Hoses, there the clear ones in the F1 kits bro, you can see on the prop the hoses are opaque, and the size matches up well too!

Side panels, already started buddy, should have them ready in a few days

 

[ralphee]

One for Julien, the side panels! I cheated, and made 'em outta sheet, not that kinda sheet :lol!
Came out OK TBH so i was happy to add rivet detail,shoot the base color and attach!
Made a new start on the weathering (feet) a much more subtle approach from here using a neutral slate grey for the grime...blacks are a little too harsh 'cept for really small work where you need the joint darker maybe?

lee

 

[MonsieurTox]

Bro those panels are spot on and look like to be vacformed, nice job !

I dont know if you added it but there is a H (if I'm correct, dont have the ref pic on this computer to check) beam between the side panel and the head ! Just a tiny detail not very visible but your build os worth it !

I agree bro, I used black on my first paint job, I dont know if you remember how dark it was... when I redid it I used tamiya neutral gray and that's just perfect... sometimes mixed up with some drop of black but never again pure black for me !

Oh I had to find those clear hoses for mine, thanks for the tip ! I'm not sure my F1 kits provide them, gotta check that, thanks bro !!


That's an impressive model, I would like to see it in person someday bro ! :thumbsup

 

[ralphee]

Bro all the 1/12 F1's should have the hose, but shout me if you need some and ill send you a roll my friend!
Im using Neutral grey bro, im going very slow, but ive got the Hero side outer leg almost done, and im very happy indeed.

Wont bore you guys with a pic just yet lol, want to get some more done :lol

lee

 

[swpropmaker]

Lee, painting..I thought was done 10 pages ago! looking good! Also thanks for the shot of the top engine cowling..

Question: I guess since your ATST is positionable you dont have to settle on a final pose but I have to ask.... what are you thinking for a primary pose when complete.

 

[ralphee]

Nah Steve its never really done huh lol. I had to go back and have a do over, that grey just wasnt right, after a boat load of re prep work, now were cookin'.....i wouldnt want to strip one of these again though...but very glad i did lol, the new color not only looks right, the Floquil gave great coverage, better than the Tamiya anyhoo!

Engine cowling, yes Allan found that one, i just made a cutout as i feel the hoses run down to the 312t engine casing!

As for the pose, i may stick with how she is, i like the taller stance and its a bit like the Kenner promo pic, a pose i kinda got hooked on lol.

You could pose it on one leg (its sturdy), but i wouldnt want to leave it for years like that, there pretty heavy TBH, i will endeavor to finish it up, and now that it will free stand very well with the alloy foot plates added, pray for some snow...i kid ye not lol, i want snow pics!

Edit!

One thing i will add Steve, the we kinda now know why the ILM prop was covered in glue, hot glue it seems, these kit parts must have been popping off left ,right and centre, i reckon, along with Julien, thats why the ROTJ was tapped and the parts screwed on...even handling this TESB is tricky...adjusting it...ohhh thats another headache lol.

bests.......lee

 

[zorg]

lookin good, without going through the whole thread again, what did you use for the neck (the black bit)

and what is the final colour paint called

thanks:thumbsup

-z

 

[ralphee]

Z, the neck boot, are the front tyres from the Tamiya 1/12 Tyrell, you just turn the lil' buggers inside out!

The final paint color.....grey death on a ski slope is the moniker ive given it....two parts Rum...one part Vodka.....no thats not right is it :lol

I used Floquil SP grey, mixed to the right flavor with Floquil Reefer white buddy!

bests.....lee