Whats Lying on your Workbench MK IV

[Papa Rat]

3 hours ago, Big s said:

I kinda like em. It’s a bit heavy on the texture, but not bad. Maybe try some dry brushing of a lighter color over the area the light would hit and it might make things a little less muddy looking 

Totally. I think the texture at this scale is not working. Overkill. 
I like the idea of adding some highlights. It’s so murky, the colors are all the same value at this point. It needs something to pop. 

[Big s]

7 hours ago, Papa Rat said:

Totally. I think the texture at this scale is not working. Overkill. 
I like the idea of adding some highlights. It’s so murky, the colors are all the same value at this point. It needs something to pop. 

Yeah, but I don’t think it needs a lot, just a little highlighting to bring it out

[Papa Rat]

2 hours ago, Big s said:

Yeah, but I don’t think it needs a lot, just a little highlighting to bring it out

I hit it with a light gray/yellow ochre. It really gave some decent definition in what’s a very dark paint scheme. I need to keep practicing. Less is more. 
really appreciate the suggestion. ✌️

Edited Monday at 03:17 AM by Papa Rat

[sketchley]

58 minutes ago, Papa Rat said:

I hit it with a light gray/yellow ochre. It really gave some decent definition in what’s a very dark paint scheme. I need to keep practicing. Less is more. 
really appreciate the suggestion. ✌️

 

 

Much improved!

I've stumbled on the "less is more" the hard way as well on my Death Star II: 
https://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/topic/35120-whats-lying-on-your-workbench-mk-iv/page/433/#comment-1725046

 

I don't think I mentioned it at the time, but in addition to having to wipe off the heavy layer of pencil lead from the surface of the model, I also went over the larger blotches of red with a 2B or 4B pencil to break them into smaller swatches—to mixed results (pencil could only achieve darkish-red on those larger bright red blotches.  Not a complete save, but... 🤷‍♂️)

 

With your kit, there is another way to add detail highlights that I've heard about: edge highlighting.  If memory serves: mix a lighter version of the overall colour of the part you're painting (E.g. mix in white on a 1:10 or 2:10 ratio), and dry brush a little bit of that on the upper sharp edges (E.g. top of the forearms at the elbows, top of the knee pads).  If successful, it not only makes the overall shapes pop more, it also adds a dust-like effect that further contrast the 'muddy' bits below.

 

Edit:

Apparently you can do edge highlighting with watercolour pencils.  This may be a good way to try it out.  Worst comes to worst, you can wash it off!

 

Edited Monday at 04:14 AM by sketchley

[Big s]

1 hour ago, Papa Rat said:

I hit it with a light gray/yellow ochre. It really gave some decent definition in what’s a very dark paint scheme. I need to keep practicing. Less is more. 
really appreciate the suggestion. ✌️

It looks a lot more lively now 

[Papa Rat]

20 minutes ago, sketchley said:

Much improved!

I've stumbled on the "less is more" the hard way as well on my Death Star II: 
https://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/topic/35120-whats-lying-on-your-workbench-mk-iv/page/433/#comment-1725046

 

I don't think I mentioned it at the time, but in addition to having to wipe off the heavy layer of pencil lead from the surface of the model, I also went over the larger blotches of red with a 2B or 4B pencil to break them into smaller swatches—to mixed results (pencil could only achieve darkish-red on those larger bright red blotches.  Not a complete save, but... 🤷‍♂️)

 

With your kit, there is another way to add detail highlights that I've heard about: edge highlighting.  If memory serves: mix a lighter version of the overall colour of the part you're painting (E.g. mix in white on a 1:10 or 2:10 ratio), and dry brush a little bit of that on the upper sharp edges (E.g. top of the forearms at the elbows, top of the knee pads).  If successful, it not only makes the overall shapes pop more, it also adds a dust-like effect that further contrast the 'muddy' bits below.

 

Edit:

Apparently you can do edge highlighting with watercolour pencils.  This may be a good way to try it out.  Worst comes to worst, you can wash it off!

 

Thanks for sharing. What a cool build. 👍

[pengbuzz]

1 hour ago, Papa Rat said:

I hit it with a light gray/yellow ochre. It really gave some decent definition in what’s a very dark paint scheme. I need to keep practicing. Less is more. 
really appreciate the suggestion. ✌️

Like it so far!! Maybe some heat discoloration around the gun barrel and whatever thrusters it might have?

[Papa Rat]

14 minutes ago, pengbuzz said:

Like it so far!! Maybe some heat discoloration around the gun barrel and whatever thrusters it might have?

That’s a great idea. It has the laser and small exhaust pipe I could work with, but this make is thruster free. Simple bipedal slab of metal. Clunk clank bang. Hahaha 

Edited Monday at 04:59 AM by Papa Rat

[Papa Rat]

Going to slap this together tonight. 
Should I have any concerns regarding the old decals failing? If so is there any sort of method anyone can share that can increase my odds of them successfully working?

Edited Monday at 10:17 PM by Papa Rat

[Big s]

8 minutes ago, Papa Rat said:

Going to slap this together tonight. 
Should I have any concerns regarding the old decals failing? If so is there any sort of method anyone can share that can increase my odds of them successfully working?

Maybe test that spot that just states the scale on a scrap piece of plastic or a plastic spoon. They can turn brittle, but on the bright side, they never show markings in the series or movie for Zentraedi 

[Papa Rat]

13 minutes ago, Big s said:

Maybe test that spot that just states the scale on a scrap piece of plastic or a plastic spoon. They can turn brittle, but on the bright side, they never show markings in the series or movie for Zentraedi 

Its wild to imagine how large the text on these giant ships would be. Also this kit has visible  rivets which I find hilarious. Rivets the size of baseball stadiums. Lol

[Big s]

1 minute ago, Papa Rat said:

Its wild to imagine how large the text on these giant ships would be. Also this kit has visible  rivets which I find hilarious. Rivets the size of baseball stadiums. Lol

I honestly don’t really remember ever seeing rivets on the ships

[SteveTheFish]

1 hour ago, Papa Rat said:

Going to slap this together tonight. 
Should I have any concerns regarding the old decals failing? If so is there any sort of method anyone can share that can increase my odds of them successfully working?

 

I started building all four Zentraedi ships about a year ago. The decals for the LST ship turned out alright, but the ones for Breetai's flagship turned brittle. I just tried a tiny decal first, one that was inconsequential. I fed Micro Liquid Decal Film into my airbrush and went over the decal sheet a few times that way. It makes the decals thicker, but it'll provide a better chance at keeping them together. I did this when I built the old Takara Crusher Joe Fighter kits a few years ago. (There's some more Shoji Kawamori love for you all!) Those decals were real old, so I had to soak them in warm water for a very long time and had to be VERY patient with them, lest they'd rip.

I got a bit bored with this Zetraedi ship project and haven't gotten into it since I finished painting Kamjin's flagship. Seeing the discussions on here about these is getting me back in the mood to punish myself with this decal roulette.

[Papa Rat]

1 hour ago, Big s said:

I honestly don’t really remember ever seeing rivets on the ships

Whoops. Yeah I was referring to rivets on the model kit not the anime.

[Papa Rat]

6 minutes ago, SteveTheFish said:

I started building all four Zentraedi ships about a year ago. The decals for the LST ship turned out alright, but the ones for Breetai's flagship turned brittle. I just tried a tiny decal first, one that was inconsequential. I fed Micro Liquid Decal Film into my airbrush and went over the decal sheet a few times that way. It makes the decals thicker, but it'll provide a better chance at keeping them together. I did this when I built the old Takara Crusher Joe Fighter kits a few years ago. (There's some more Shoji Kawamori love for you all!) Those decals were real old, so I had to soak them in warm water for a very long time and had to be VERY patient with them, lest they'd rip.

I got a bit bored with this Zetraedi ship project and haven't gotten into it since I finished painting Kamjin's flagship. Seeing the discussions on here about these is getting me back in the mood to punish myself with this decal roulette.

Yeah I think the decals are nice but I may leave them off in the end and have it reflect the anime design even though the overall model proportions need an overhaul. 

[SteveTheFish]

4 minutes ago, Papa Rat said:

Yeah I think the decals are nice but I may leave them off in the end and have it reflect the anime design even though the overall model proportions need an overhaul. 

I'm bulding mine as-is, without modifications. I wish I had puttied in the dumb rivet holes in these kits before painting them, though. The nice thing about these ships is that they'd look fine without the decals since you don't see them that way in the show.

[Big s]

1 hour ago, Papa Rat said:

Whoops. Yeah I was referring to rivets on the model kit not the anime.

Yeah, I got what you meant. I just thought it was an odd detail for them to add to the kit.

[sketchley]

Question about those rivets on the Zentradi ships: where are they located?

 

I ask, because I'm wondering if they are supposed to be representative of the retractable beam turrets and missile launchers on the hulls of the Zentradi ships:

http://sdfyodogawa.mywebcommunity.org/Stats/Statistics/ZentraadiShips/StandardBattleship.php#OFFENSIVE_SYSTEMS

[Papa Rat]

1 hour ago, Big s said:

Yeah, I got what you meant. I just thought it was an odd detail for them to add to the kit.

It is odd. Yeah it looks like a quilt or cowboy boot. Hahaha Guess I’m going to putty town. 
 

@sketchley Here is a photo  

Edited yesterday at 02:24 AM by Papa Rat

[pengbuzz]

41 minutes ago, Papa Rat said:

It is odd. Yeah it looks like a quilt or cowboy boot. Hahaha Guess I’m going to putty town. 
 

@sketchley Here is a photo  

Or someone's weird leather purse O.o

[Chas]

A little off topic,  but Hobby Search has some great deals on 72nd scale military aircraft right now - like a hasegawa F14  for less than $10(US).

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10000627

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10000626

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10000567

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10000573

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10270781

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10000566

 

[Thom]

11 hours ago, pengbuzz said:

Or someone's weird leather purse O.o

Paint it brown...

[Papa Rat]

14 minutes ago, Thom said:

Paint it brown...

Hahahaha. Love it. 
 

The rivet marks are very shallow. I do think a light coat of surfacer will fill most of them in so no biggie. 

Edited 15 hours ago by Papa Rat

[sketchley]

What the...?  Why?!?

Is there any way to fill those in?

[Papa Rat]

16 minutes ago, sketchley said:

What the...?  Why?!?

Is there any way to fill those in?

They are real shallow and can be filled in. There are a ton though so it’s going to take some time. Might just brush in some MR Surfacer 500 and sand it a bit. The official anime art I have seen for the flagship has few if any panel lines so if they fill in during the process I think I’m cool with that too. 

Edited 8 hours ago by Papa Rat

[Big s]

9 hours ago, Thom said:

Paint it brown...

No!! It will look like a 💩log. Although it would be funny to make it float in a pool for April fools 

[Papa Rat]

39 minutes ago, Big s said:

No!! It will look like a 💩log. Although it would be funny to make it float in a pool for April fools 

Hahahaha. 😂

[Papa Rat]

Well I most definitely lost some brain cells tonight. I should have wore a respirator when brushing on that surfacer. Note to self. 
Anyway, I am hopeful that this is going to work out easier than expected. Maybe I already said too much. 🤔