Robot Battle V MK44 in progress - Red Lobster Quasimodo From The Future!

After a long wait, mister MK44 finally gets some painting done. Meaning I can get some practice.

Decided to use enamel and lacquers with mr levelling thinner.

Started with the MK44 in black (spraybomb) and then roughly added a layer (or more in places) of dark brown.

Then I added some lighter brown, more or less randomly brushed on, intentionally a bit splotchy.
this should serve as a tone modulator thingy for the top colour.
I'm not making this up, though I am trying stuff I never did before ^_^

Add some red and stuff gets interesting. Obviously more coats are needed, many more. But the overal effect is quite lovely. Still just using enamels with mr levelling thinner, works a charm and dries really quickly due to the thinner.

the effect of the undercoats is really amazing, this being about the fifth model I ever painted, I'm quite amazed. Just need it a bit more red and a bit less uneven.

Of course, the thinner stuff reeks and is hardly any good for my health, let alone the asthmatics I have living in the house. therefore I work in a small paintbooth/spraybooth with quite the strong extraction fan and a very professional looking ventilation tube ^_^

I painted the undercoats with my own brushes (marterhaired) then switched to a new brush for the red. This I got from Charley of JSAN9 fame.
It's really a great brush, not sure if it's the hair type (no idea which type either) or the fact the hairs are almost twice as long as on my other brushes, but it painted way better and softer. I need more!
fame.

Weltenraum Nahkampf Gefechtseinheit Ausf. B 'Ollie' - part V Lucky 13

Added some decals to the beastie, numbers from a grosserhund kit, the rest from a 1/32 revell volksjager and assorted 1/48 german planes.

The orange bit at the front is meant to break up the rather boring main body. I also changed the graytones of some parts with some filters, but after weathering this might not be visible anymore.

It just needs some more warning decals and it is ready for weathering. 

 

Weltenraum Nahkampf Gefechtseinheit Ausf. B 'Ollie' - part IV PAINT!

I was lucky enough to get a workshop of lacquer painting from the master in NYC, Jsan from http://jsan9.blogspot.com/.

So afterwards I grabbed the thinner and foul smelling laquers and just went at it! 

It's way different from acrylics, and the thinner reacts with the undercoat, creating weird patterns and stuff. I wasn't able to get the smooth finish I went for, but I love the unexpected texture and mottling so can't complain really.

First layers

And a day later some more

It's drying now from addin ID marks, crappy pictures, but else I'll forget entirely.
Went for orange stripes and might add something more.
Numbers or letters a-coming to.

Robot Battle V MK44 in progress - Weldlines are FUN

Finished up all the weldlines I planned, and some more I didn't plan but looked logical.
Almost time for paint

I also decided the smokepots should get wires atached to them, just for good looks and all that ^_^
But the wires should also fit somewhere of course,
So I added a small plate of plastic and drilled three holes in it to fit the wires.
weld lines added, of course.

Everything is ready for primer now, just waiting for the weather to clear up so I can whip out the spray bombs.
Groupshot!

I'm still debating whether to add extra detail pieces here and there, but I fear they'll get swallowed up in the texture anyway...

Robot Battle V MK44 in progress - Heavy Texture Knight

Forgot to make photos of the steps in between....

Added a heavy texture coat on about every part. I loved the effect it had on the PKA I did earlier and wished to replicate this. Just applied it with a sponge and then sanded it down a bit until it was about 0.5mm thick.

Some parts have a smoother texture (Mr.Surfacer 500) or no texture for some diversity, but mostly heavy texture.

All the armour parts yet to go.

I decided to close this model completely, and the texture was great help in smoothing the fit issues on the engine cover. 

The placements for the rivets were marked by drilling them before applying the texture so I could find them after. Weld lines to be added on many parts and them it'll be boxed until I can find the will to paint it ^_^

Robot Battle V MK44 in progress - Battlesquids, Assemble!

Had some time to start the kit. I'm going to try to document the progress, but no promises if I'll be able to remember making photos.

Feet first into the build:

The feet can be detached from the hoverpads because of multiple polycaps in the feet, really cool and could lead to some interesting dioramas or different versions.

Legs, just two parts pressed togheter with a single polycap, forgot the photo, sorry :(

Pelvis, same story as the legs, simply two parts and some polycaps, also no pictures

Lower lower legs (the model has an extra joint compared to humans, they apparently step into a sorta boot which contains thrusters and other stuff.

Added some filler as the seams were pretty large in some areas.

'helmet' plate, added the ears and some filler to blend them in completely.
You can see that the further I go, the more I forget to take pictures. It stops the flow of building to take pictures and I just can't seem to remember it until after I finished a part...
Maybe with the next model it'll be better documented ^_^

 Arms, there will be subassemblies for the wrist ball, upper arm and lower arm.

To ensure they close properly I clamped the parts, I noticed in gundam models that polycaps sometimes don't fit too well and cause seamlines or push the model apart over time. These had similar issues so I trimmed the polycap edges a little and applied plenty glue and force to glue them.

That's for now, more to come (assuming I don't forget the in progress pictures ^_^

Wienerworner Martian Scout Part II

Washes

Starting to look good, but needed some red
So, more washes

And taking them off again with some cotton buds

Repeat until satisfied

But still thought it lacked some colour, and dust, it needs more dust.