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Post by cfesmire on Mar 6, 2008 12:18:43 GMT 1
Excellent tutorial Dave Thanks! Modeling must be easy with three hands. Great results, beautiful cars.
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Post by cfesmire on Dec 19, 2007 2:37:01 GMT 1
I know how I feel when I’ve made an extensive change to a model and the results are what I had wanted to achieve. Hours of work scratch building parts and structuring the model to prototypical design and measurements, not to mention the research needed to work from, is all very gratifying when the results are correct. And even something as simple as a color change can alter a model’s appearance significantly. The huge influx of inexpensive diecast models to our scale leaves the doors wide open for such dramatic alterations. But also, there are often overlooked and very subtle changes we can do that don’t alter the general look of a vehicle but when viewed closely can bring a much greater realism to our models. Granted, at this point one must be working with an already nice quality model to get the best results but these subtle changes can be an improvement even on some of the worst models. So the following are a few minute changes that will produce equally minute but satisfying results. And may be just the finishing touches needed to that model you’ve spent so much time drastically changing. All too often, I view a model with total admiration until I see the front of the vehicles headlights are two bulbous silver buttons. It drives me crazy since the fix is so easy and the difference, so..... different. If a drill bit (or a small round rasp from a Dremel type tool would work also) only slightly smaller than the protrusion, is centered on it and drilled out to where the cut of the bit is to it’s maximum diameter, you should have a neatly concaved opening. I make a center mark with a pin to help start the bit. Obviously this works better in resin and plastic than white metal and the most difficult being diecast but I’ve somehow managed to do it to all of them. After the model is painted and detailing the chrome is being done, silver paint the entire headlight assembly. When dry, apply a drop of wh. glue or Krystal Klear in your concave depression and allow it to convex outwards. I use Sobo craft glue but any of the wh. wood glues or Krystal Klear will work. Not hard, expensive nor does it require any special tools but the difference is a desirable one. Same truck, different look Doing washes is a scary thought to many since they can be so awful if done wrong and so......well, permanent. Many of the models we see have terrific details that are often not noticed because of the lack of any miniscule shadows. Panel lines, vents and rivets particularly don’t show in photographs because their detail is too small to cast a significant enough shadow to be picked up by the camera under some lights. A wash, applied to these details often highlights them enough to subtly improve the look of a model. Panel lines emphasized on Monogram Ferrari with dark maroon There are two mistakes made most frequently when doing washes. The first is to thin down the wash (if using an acrylic) with water. Use an inexpensive windshield washing fluid or, what I use, Windex. I don’t know the technical verbiage for why but water leaves drippy marks and it is painfully obvious what has been tried. The second mistake is to always choose black. Black panel lines on a white or yellow car are hideous. Choose a color only a few shades darker than the color of the vehicle. I prefer water based paints for this since repairs are easily made while oil based washes are less forgiving (although there are some that achieve terrific results with oils). If panel lines alone are what you wish to do, just load your brush conservatively and allow capillary action to draw the paint up into the recess by touching it at only one point one the line. Dark green wash While on the subject of washes, turn your attention to the wheels. Now you can go to black and allow the wash to settle in to the depressions in the wheel. Especially on wheels that have holes simulated in them, this will be a big improvement. If you’ve put too much on, dab your brush on a paper towel and then wick some of the excess paint in the rim out with the dryer brush. Chromed or painted, your wheels will have a much more convincing look. Same wheel one without one with black wash Since we’re down at the wheels, take a look to see if there are mold seams on your tire treads. A light sanding solves this problem and actually gives the tread a slightly different texture that the sidewalls which comes out quite nice. New looking tires “Dressed” tires One more use for black washes is on grilles. I suppose I should tell you that I like the PolyScale acrylic in ‘oily black’ for these. Again, I emphasize the ability to manipulate a dried acrylic wash especially on chromed pieces. This is particularly handy for grilles when the really fine details can’t possibly be accentuated unless you clean up after the wash. I just use a clean toothpick and burnish off the dried paint from areas that I want the chrome to show through. So don’t hesitate to thin down that paint when you are attending to these types of places on a vehicle Detail jumps out with wash Look closely at your model. Are all the lights painted? I’ve had some nice looking models that really don’t need much except that the turn signals are the body color or the same to be true of the tail lights. Easiest fix. Carefully paint with silver. Then use a transparent red or yellow and you’ve created a realistic looking lens. I use the acrylic Paactra racing colors for this but there are several manufacturers that have transparent colors. If push comes to shove, food coloring in wh. wood glue works the same. Silver painted lights with transparent red lense I’ve bought some rather expensive artist chalks to improve my models and they are great for making weathering powders but not necessary. There’s a lot of products used everyday that can be substituted for them. The simplest and most effective change one can make with powders is again on the tires. I use a Q-tip dipped in gasoline and slightly wet the rubber tire (don’t soak it, it will dissolve most rubbers used in modeling). Then a light dusting with something from the wife’s compact, tobacco ashes, foot powder or what I like to use, cement, will knock the sheen off of the rubber. If a less used look is desired merely wipe off what you have dusted on and the powder will remain in the crevices of the tread pattern. These are just a few of the many easy and cheap techniques that will make the subtle changes to your models that may be what is needed to turn a good model into a great model. I hope there will be some more added here please.
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Post by cfesmire on Dec 11, 2007 3:27:23 GMT 1
Bryan, Penbay decals had a sheet called 'truckers assortment' that had grille decals to put on the Promotex Aerodyne. Inside the decal was the blue oval. The mudflap decals from the same set had the old style "Ford" that would work on the tailgate in white but not the modern block lettering..
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Post by cfesmire on Nov 16, 2007 2:51:35 GMT 1
The deviation of color in viewing models is called the scale effect. When one looks at a 1/87 scale model at a distance of 3 feet for instance, you would be actually looking at the scale distance of over 250 feet. Atmospheric debris, including moisture, dust, smoke etc. tends to dull the color of things. The further away, the less intense the color. It isn't necessarily a lighter color one should strive for but more a faded or washed out color to appear more realistic. Keep in mind the kind of lighting you are photographing under as well. Flourescents have a tendency to wash out colors.
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Post by cfesmire on Nov 10, 2007 18:41:13 GMT 1
Wow, he knows cars AND literature. The man is a fountain of knowledge.
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Post by cfesmire on Oct 24, 2007 0:53:54 GMT 1
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Post by cfesmire on Oct 22, 2007 21:46:24 GMT 1
Did Life-Like have a mid sixties Ford pickup also?
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Post by cfesmire on Feb 12, 2008 5:14:17 GMT 1
No apologies needed, spacious work area and neat too (compared to mine)
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Post by cfesmire on Oct 5, 2007 12:03:43 GMT 1
Very nice. And it's nice to see that someone actually models a cut stump that is cut correctly. Nice steam donkey too.
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Post by cfesmire on Oct 1, 2007 12:00:27 GMT 1
Wow is right, thanks F.John.
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Post by cfesmire on Sept 30, 2007 13:33:14 GMT 1
Nice workspace fJohn. and I agree, the tree is spectacular. I know this is a vehicle forum, but I'd love to know how you did it.
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Post by cfesmire on Sept 25, 2007 0:48:54 GMT 1
Hmmm yes, I see how badly the models suffered for it Joe. Too bad. So now what's your excuse.
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Post by cfesmire on Sept 13, 2007 1:24:47 GMT 1
Well here's my 1/87 scale workbench but I can't get my legs under the desk. So I have to settle for working at this bench.
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Post by cfesmire on Sept 8, 2007 12:27:30 GMT 1
First off, let's try to put these kind of questions in the "Workbench" section. There's a basic rule in modeling that lighter colors be painted first, that being said the above advice on painting the rim first is right on. I airbrush one piece wheel/itres the color I want first by putting them on some double sided tape and mounting them on a scrap of wood or cardboard. Again the above advice on tire color is correct. Dark gray with a spot of brown is most convincing. I've been using PolyScale oily black for this and paint the tire part by hand. I just posted a good example in the "all done" thread (Chester-finished) of the one piece plastic wheels from Roco.
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Post by cfesmire on Sept 9, 2007 23:42:26 GMT 1
Super results Jack. You've sanded all the mold lines off of the treads for a real uniform circle, the prep work means as much as the painting. Color looks good too.
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