« 2005-07 | HomePage | 2005-09 »
08/30/2005
I'm in heaven.
Just found a new site....well, actually I was sent the link from a fellow modeller. The site is called E2046. Not only do they have a great shop selling anime kits, but they also have a very good multinational forum. There are competitions, from which you can win shop vouchers, and an excellent gallery showing the very high level of skill amongst the mecha and anime model makers there.
Well worth a visit.
16:27 Posted in Scale Models | Permalink | Trackbacks (0) | Email this
08/08/2005
The Usual Suspects
Here are some of the most basic methods for finishing models. Most modelling sites have at least one or two of these methods listed, but for a beginner they can still be a bit tricky to figure out what is going on. So, here's my crack at the usual suspects with as little gobbledygook as possible.
So, first here's:
Drybrushing
The point of this is to expose the detail in your kit, you know, all those little raised rivets or creases or even to show off all the pits and scratches. How you do this is pretty simple. Just get a really old brush. In fact you can even buy new ones from your local pound shop in different sizes (like the thick stubbly brushes you were given in primary school to paint with). The point is it should be thick with short hairs and not really needed for anything else as this method of painting is a brush killer. Anyway, all you do is get a lighter paint than the one your going to drybrush onto, put it on your brush, then wipe as much of it off as you can (I just brush it on my work board) until practically nothing is coming off, then quickly brush it over the surface of the kit. What happens is the paint that is left on the brush will stick to the raised bits and give you a nice weathered but detailed look.
Washes
This is almost the exact opposite to drybrushing. With this your making a very watery mix of paint or ink with the intention of letting the colour seep into all the nooks and crannies in your model. This is great for surfaces that have grooves or panelling, but also good for hair and clothes. It's best to do a lighter wash and build it up over several coats for subtlety, or just do one big one for oil spillages or rust streaks. It's time consuming though as you need to let it dry as naturally as possible, a hairdryer can move the still wet paint around too much.
Pastels
This is an art form all on it's own. Here your using those artists pastels, not the oil ones or chalks, but the dry type of pastel. You then get a knife and scrape the edge of the pastel into a powder. Dip your dry brush in this (preferably a thick strong brush) and brush the powder into the surface of the kit. The idea is to ingrain the powder. You can get some really nice finishes with this method. You do need to seal it though which I've found lessens the colour slightly, so dont worry if you put it on a bit thick. I've found multiple applications work best, and my best results have all been on clothing. p.s. I seal mine with a watered down Johnsons Klear, but if you can get your hands on Dullcote that is best.
Netting
Used mostly for a military look, you can get some great effects with this. I use surgical gauze, but some use hairnets or any type of netting. You place it on or over the area to receive it and just add a mix of white glue and water to it. The stuff will all go soggy and you'll wonder what you've done, but when it's dry it goes rock hard. I've also tried pre-painting the gauze for different looks all of which seem to work well. I've also tried it over bushes on vehicles, but remember to add some string for ropes to show how it's kept on.
Incidentally, if you use tissue paper instead of gauze, then that is the method for making canvas sheets or flags draped on vehicles etc.
Mud
This is a doddle. Just mix up some brown muddy coloured paint and try adding a powder, like plaster, to the mix. It will go a bit stodgy, but take it and add it to the wheel areas where mud would be flicked up.
Foliage
You can add foliage to your netting in a very simple way. Just follow the steps for Netting, but as the glue is drying add some tea leaves (proper tea, not the dust that's in tea bags). Then when it's dry, add a bit more water/glue mix over the top to harden it all up. This can then be painted and drybrushed for excellent results.
Well, there you are, just a smattering of the usual techniques. For a more in-depth discussion on these methods and others, then please try asking over at The Clubhouse or Total Model
12:44 Posted in Scale Models | Permalink | Trackbacks (0) | Email this
08/05/2005
Do you like Futurama?
Well if that is the case a great site to visit is: Can't Get Enough Futurama
it was there that I saw some cards in the Character Bios section and that gave me an idea to do a bigger set.
The whole range that I made of 52 cards can be downloaded free at my Webshots album Here
17:32 Posted in Home Cinema | Permalink | Trackbacks (0) | Email this