Superjedi's 32" Falcon
- Thread starter superjedi
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superjedi
Sr Member
As far as weathering goes, it's 99% pastel weathering. I first mask/paint any conrasting panels on the hull, like the large "rust" colored panels, or the various darker grays. After that, I use a set of 24 colored chalk pastels I got at Michael's. I'm only using a few of the colors though.
I take the pastels and grind them onto a large sheet of sandpaper, different colors all on one sheet, so I wind up with little piles of colored chalk dust. Then I use a variety of cheapy paint brushes to kind of streak the colors onto the model. For most of the hull overall, I'm using medium gray, and gray mixed with some beige, just to get some tonal variation. I start with a 1/2" wide brush and LIGHTLY put some color down on the model. I pull the brush in the direction I want the weathering to go. For example, on the upper hull, it's streaked from the center (gun turret) toward the edges of the hull. On the lower hull, it's reversed. (Think about how water would flow over the surface if this doesn't make sense.)
After the basic gray tones are laid down, I go back using my reference pics and see if there are other variations. Some panels are kind of blue-gray, some are more of a straight tan. So I used a slightly smaller chisel tipped brush to lay on the varying colors.
Once that's done, I look at those darker streaks all over the hull. Using a size '00' brush, I use black pastel powder and pull that down the surface as well. The key is to let the color build up with 2 or 3 passes, and not try to get those dark smears in one pass. The thing with pastels is that the dust is so fine, it actually gets into the pores of the paint, and even though you can take off some of it if you make mistakes (using a damp cloth), it will actually stain the surface of the model. After the weathering is applied, I take a brush with pretty stiff bristles, and go back and brush over everything to remove any loose chalk.
I really like using pastels, especially for something of this size. It's quick, the chalk sticks last FOREVER (the set I'm using now I've had for more than 5 years), and you can go from color to color instantly without waiting for anything to dry. And there's hardly any cleanup involved. . . unless you knock your piece of sandpaper off the table like I did the other day. Then you have to vacuum it up before the wife asks you why there are a bunch of colored spots on the carpet.
After the pastels are applied, you also have to be careful not to touch the surface. Otherwise you can risk smudging your smudges. Pastels can be sealed using a clear coat, but keep in mind that a gloss clear will tend to "eat up" your work. Something about how the particles in the gloss medium lay on the surface. I always use Testors Dullcote for sealing pastels. It protects them, and doesn't take away any of the work you've done.
Sheesh, that went longer than I thought. Hope that helps.
Eric
superjedi
Sr Member
Hi.
I completely forgot to link to my photos once I completed the Falcon.. . :$
Here's my photobucket album. It contains a LOT of pics of the model. Some include a ruler to show scale.
http://photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjed...Scale%20FALCON/
Ralphee,
I've been following your progress on the FM 1/72 Falcon. Looks good. I'm still in the assembly phase with mine. Hopefully should be ready to start painting in a couple of weeks.
Eric
I completely forgot to link to my photos once I completed the Falcon.. . :$
Here's my photobucket album. It contains a LOT of pics of the model. Some include a ruler to show scale.
http://photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjed...Scale%20FALCON/
Ralphee,
I've been following your progress on the FM 1/72 Falcon. Looks good. I'm still in the assembly phase with mine. Hopefully should be ready to start painting in a couple of weeks.
Eric
Chewie15
Sr Member
Man, that's really awesome.
I just wish that a kit like this would be made available for people to buy and paint... MR has really left a bad taste in my mouth me with that stupid AT-AT ordeal and I can just see something going wrong in that direction with the Falcon I wish there was a decent kit to make...
Great work though. I'm dreaming now
H
I just wish that a kit like this would be made available for people to buy and paint... MR has really left a bad taste in my mouth me with that stupid AT-AT ordeal and I can just see something going wrong in that direction with the Falcon
I wish there was a decent kit to make...Great work though. I'm dreaming now
H
superjedi
Sr Member
Thanks for the continued comments, guys. I've shown off my pics on photobucket to people at work, and they all think I'm nuts. :lol
Phil, for the sensor dish, I actually used the little clear display base from the old ERTL Darth Vader's TIE Fighter model kit. Just sanded down the logo, and added detailing. I can't take credit for the idea though. . . I know I had read it somewhere. Maybe on Mr. Ketzer's or Mr. Moeslund's website, I can't remember now. It worked out pretty good though. :thumbsup
Phil, for the sensor dish, I actually used the little clear display base from the old ERTL Darth Vader's TIE Fighter model kit. Just sanded down the logo, and added detailing. I can't take credit for the idea though. . . I know I had read it somewhere. Maybe on Mr. Ketzer's or Mr. Moeslund's website, I can't remember now. It worked out pretty good though. :thumbsup
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