Starting to get into building aircraft to change things up a bit. You all do such a great job with your builds so any input would be great. I seem to have a hard time with the cockpits so any suggestions would be helpful
Start with basics- proper construction, clean up, etc. For painting keep it simple. Do base color, washes in shadow/recessed areas and drybrushed highlights.
Several options on cockpits. Eduard makes photo etch “Zoom” sets that are usually fully color and then have faceplates to go over gauges, dials, and instruments to provide some appropriate depth. It also generally looks better than trying to hand paint the TINY gauges.
Some kits also come with decals for the instruments. Personally, I can never get them to lay down well, but I tend to struggle with complex decals.
When I opt to paint a cockpit I will generally basecoat whatever colors I want, and then shave a toothpick into a point (with a somewhat dull X-Acto or a sanding stick) and use that to paint the tiny areas. This is great for switch and knobs as well.
For modern aircraft with screens, if you want them off, iridescent confetti cut to fit over the screen works incredibly to provide the kinda of multi-hued shine that LCDs give. Just cut to size and put a bubble of future in the well it will sit in. If I want to show them on, I’ll paint gloss black and then using the really sharp toothpick from before, create some designs and scribbles with gloss white. I leave the white thick, but scrape it out so it isn’t lumpy. After that I coat the whole screen with clear green.
After I have the gauges and dials set up I’ll dry brush with a medium to light grey color around the instruments and switch areas and with a dull aluminum color (VERY LIGHTLY) around the seat and areas the feet would hit (pedals and the bottom of the tub, and the mechanism that mounts the control stick). For the seats I base coat the thing with the original color (usually green or black) and then drybrush with a lighter variant of the color. For green cushions I also drybrush some tan. Many people use lead foil or folded tape to create seatbelts.
Then I may or may not apply a wash depending on the aircraft. Modern fighters are generally buttoned up pretty well, helos and WWII aircraft would be dirtier inside.
If you are painting a pilot figure, start with darker colors (modern green flight suit I start with dark green all over, then a heavy drybrush of olive drab, and then a hint of olive drab mixed with dark tan lightly drybrushed. Helmets are gloss white or flat green depending on the service, and faces I start with a darker shadow tone and then drybrush up to the skin tone I want.
The biggest thing is to experiment. If you intend to install an AM cockpit, practice on the kit version. If you don’t install the pilot on this model, save him and use him for practice or a different model.
Good luck!
Groot
Yep, that’s about right!
I had a busy day of building! I need to work on my skills for cockpits compared to all of you. Still had a great building.[:)]
Looks like it’s coming along very well for you. You’re in the right place for all the best advice on how to build a model! And remember - a bad day modeling is better than a good day at work!!
here are some more pics of the progress. Worked on where the wings meet the fuselage and the seam down the middle. had a hard time sanding around the wing. Any suggestions would be helpful for next time. Also I drilled out the manifolds on the exhaust to give a bit more realism. Well I hope you all enjoy my pics. More to follow.
Well I’m finally done. This kit had some really bad fitment issues but I worked through them. I tried dry brushing for the first time on the machine gun ports and the exhaust as well. That came out OK so I tried to do some on the whole Aircraft to give a bit more detail. It didn’t come out like some the Models I see here but I thought it was a good start. Thank you all that commented. My next build that I’m starting tonight is the Revell B-17G. I will be sure to post more Pics for you all to enjoy.
sweet, nice work!
Very nice for a newbie a/c builder. I wouldn’t recommend dry brushing the entire outside of the aircraft. Cockpits, wheel rims, wheelbays and inside of gear doors, and the gear legs themselves. Maybe the prop blades. Very nice work masking the canopy. Thats usually the hardest thing to conquer, even if you use pre cut masks.
Nice work, that kit is no walk in the park for fit issues. This kit was my first attempt at truly modeling after returning to the hobby, so I can relate to its warts.
Well done! I think it looks just like a presentation A/C ought to look like. Can’t wait to see the B-17. Do post WIP pics.
yeah I like it too, the Spit came out well
Gorgeous bird! Really nice job on the camo scheme!
Groot