 |
Paint Test
16 May 2006
My NX-01 was the first model I've ever painted with an airbrush. I am generally happy with the result, and at first I was planning on painting my Refit with an airbrush as well. The only problem is, I will be working on my Refit in my apartmetn here in Charleston, while my Dad's airbrush and compressor are back in Indiana. So, that left me with a decision to make: Either buy an airbrush and air supply of my own, or resort to spray cans to paint the model. Given that this model project is already going to cost a bundle and I would get infrequent use of the airbrush at best, I decided to go the spray can route. I will be doing most of my spraying on the small porch attached to my apartment, in order to get adequate ventilation.
Above: My "spray booth."
With this in mind, I made a local trip to Lowes. I was not only looking for colors to paint the outside, but the inside as well. I am planning on painting the inside of the model flat black first, followed by a reflective color in the lit areas to better reflect and distribute light around the inside of the model. I painted the inside of my NX-01 with a reflective paint with good results, as I was able to adequately light the entire saucer with 4 white LED's. What I found was chrome metallic paint made by Rustoleum that produces one heck of a shiny finish. I think it will do nicely! I was worried that it might attack the plastic of the model, so I decided to light-proof the extra secondary hull bottom (the same one I drilled a practice hole in while fitting the armature). The black and chrome paints really did the trick. I could hold the part up to the sun and not see any light!
Above: Here is that spiffy chrome paint in action.
While also at Lowes, I ran across some cheap ($1.00) flat and gloss white paint. I decided that I had nothing to lose and got a can of each to try and see what kind of Aztec effect they could create. Rather than just start in on the extra hull piece, I decided to try this out on a piece of Masonite I had laying around first. I decided that I would follow all of the steps I planned for the actual model. First, I primed it with grey, then painted it flat white. I then used some masking tape to create a rough mock Aztec pattern. I tried to emulate the alternating positive/negative pattern found on the saucer. Once the pattern was laid down, I sprayed the gloss white. The results, as you can see below, were promising. I really got the effect I was going for, where the pattern just seems to "pop" as the light shines across it.
Left: This
piece of Masonite was actually an extra shelf that came with a media tower I
use to keep my Gamecube games in!
Center: Here is the rough Aztec sheme I taped off.
Right: The finished effect.
Encouraged by my success with the test piece, I decided to repeat the process with the extra hull piece. I used the same sequence; grey, flat white, then gloss white. As you can see below, the aztec scheme was something I pulled of the top of my head and hastily cut. It is rather crude, but I think it gives a good impression of what the actual scheme will look like on the finished model.
Left: I
masked the windows do avoid dulling the shineyness ;).
Center: The flat white went on after the grey primer.
Right: This is the masked Aztec scheme.
After the piece was masked and painted with the gloss white, I peeled off the masks to see what I had. The effect came out pretty much as I hoped it would. The only problem that I noticed is that the paint got a little thick in places, so I will definitely have to be careful with how thickly I am laying it down when I paint the model for real.
Above: This is the look that I got after peeling off the tape.
Also for your viewing pleasure, I have included a couple of short videos to show how the effect looks when light is shined across it:
To sum up, I think that this paint test was successful. I am satisfied with the effect I achieved using the spray cans from Lowes, and at $1 this approach will definitely prove economical!
Andy Rucker