Thanks again guys!! Here's the latest. Started off masking the underside and starting to shoot some of the panels. The contrast looks high right now, but they will blend together as I add the multiple filters and thinned layers. If they started off too light, then they'd blend in, easier this way to soften them up. I started trying out the initial filter/weathering on the left half of the underside engine deck plate. That's only about half the filters, still needs the thinned gray and dirtiness added, but you can see how just the light filter knocks down the contrast compared to the other side.
Then, to make the painting easier, got help from a buddy and we setup the model on an engine stand (Lee Malone did this on his gorgeous 5 footer, and it makes things so easier. I can rotate it 180 degrees to make access easier from a number of angles.
Lastly, a couple shots standing next to it to get a sense of size and scale of this monster! So friggin' big!
Thanks for looking!
Sean
Masking the lower hull for the light gray panels (red panels already painted down)
Starting the gray
Model on engine stand for easier access/rotation.
Initial weathering on the engine plate (notice the darker panels on the far right without the first 'filter'.
Here's the top and bottom for scale
And the beginning of the base coat on the front half of the top is where we are at.