Superjedi's FP Budget ESB for Mynock

superjedi

Sr Hunter
Hi all!
I'm back at it. This time around I'm working on one of the "Budget" helmet kits from Animefan.
The only thing "budget" about this kit is the cost because the casting looks great. I haven't
worked on a helmet with molded-on ears for quite a while, but the helmet arrived in great shape.
There were a couple of small air bubbles to fill on the sharp corners of the ear parts, but a little
epoxy putty took care of those in short order.

This is a cold-cast helmet, but since I had to putty a couple spots on the ears, I'll be painting
the exposed silver on the RF ear parts. No biggie!

I received the helmet on July 1st and began with the *yawn* prep. . . :lol: Got the visor area cut out
and thinned down, sanded a couple of rougher spots, and shot some Duplicolor self-etching primer.
I like using this for cold-cast, as it bites into the surface nicely and gives a nice rugged base coat.

IMG_1262_zps56d32a27.jpg


I'm beginning where I always begin: the back panels. I'm a creature of habit! I just got done
airbrushing on the Concrete, and I'll give it until tomorrow so it's nice and dry. Then I'll begin
stenciling and masking for the darker bluish-green shade.

IMG_1261_zps316cb961.jpg
 
Thanks, G2B. :)

UPDATE: July 4, 2014

Happy 4th of July! I'll be taking advantage of the long weekend to do some Fettin'.
The Concrete on the back panels was nice and dry this morning, so I began stenciling and masking
for the darker green. I use Winsor & Newton masking fluid for this stage. In the following pics, the
masked areas appear darker and a little shiny.

IMG_1263_zps095ca9f0.jpg


IMG_1264_zpsdc667527.jpg


I airbrushed on the darker shade, leaving the first coat just a tiny bit translucent, then going back
and darkening certain areas according to my reference pics.

IMG_1265_zpsa39a2ebb.jpg


I always check the reference pics carefully and tweak the edges of the Concrete sections with a fine
brush. This helps to make sure the shapes match as closely as I can get them. I also go back and add
some of the "anti-chips" of the dark green. They're scattered around on the panels. It's a subtle detail,
but it brings some depth to those areas.

IMG_1268_zpsfbea5131.jpg


Now that this stage is done, I can begin the gray and silver detailing. I'll have more to show tomorrow! (y)
 
Thanks, guys. Enjoy, Mynock!

UPDATE: July 5, 2014

OK, got the left panel done. Silver and gray. . . silver and gray. . . I'll be using these colors
quite a lot during the remainder of the paint job.

IMG_1271_zps8eed6e55.jpg


Next up is the right panel, with that huge silver area!
 
Thanks, guys! G2B, PM returned.

UPDATE: July 6, 2014

Right panel, part 1.
Whew! Gotta give my poor old eyes and wrists a break. :lol:
This is the most detail-dense area on the whole helmet. Maybe that's why I get the back
panels out of the way first. Everything after this is downhill!

IMG_1394_zpsaa423252.jpg


Still need to do the upper and lower right corners of this section. Have to let my
eyes uncross first, though.
 
UPDATE #2: July 6, 2014

Well, the weekend is winding down and that extra day sure helped things along. :)
The back panels are complete. Got the remainder of the right panel done this
afternoon, and added the small physical scratches (I did this on the left panel, too).

IMG_1397_zpsa49d3666.jpg


So tomorrow it'll be time to mask the back panels off and apply the base color to the dome and cheeks!
 
Thanks. :) Hopefully you'll continue to enjoy the updates.

UPDATE: July 7, 2014

Got the base coat and first weathering pass done on the dome and inner cheeks. After spraying
the base coat on, I mix a slightly lightened shade and airbrush it on in cloudy, broken patterns.
More weathering be applied toward the end of the project.

IMG_1398_zps1921759d.jpg


IMG_1399_zps9db0bdb0.jpg


The base coat will dry overnight and then I'll begin detailing the dome with the gray and silver combo. (y)
 
UPDATE: July 9, 2014

The last couple of days progress:

IMG_1400_zpsae4247f6.jpg


Gray and silver, gray and silver. :lol:
Plus lots of tiny physical scratches. There are some on other areas of the helmet, but
the majority are on the back of the dome. I use a sharp compass point to do these.

IMG_1403_zps7ae11538.jpg


Next up will be the area just in front of the RF ear platform and the cat scratch. One of my favorites!
 
I keep downloading each photo you post and stare at them all a little throughout the day.... Okay. Stare a lot.
 
Just amazing work, seriously who needs efx with the way these things are put together so beautifuly. :)
I think I want to start collecting lids painted by my favorite painters.
 
Thanks!

UPDATE: July 10, 2014

Moving around the dome now. I've got the whole cat scratch region complete. I like to do these
three areas together because the space between them is important, and once I get going, I just
work until it's done cuz the cat scratch looks so cool! :)

IMG_1404_zps2237423e.jpg


For tomorrow: the smallish damage areas above and around the turn signals.
Then, it's on to. . . the dent!
 
I agree SJ the cat scratch is one of my favorite points too. And yours is perfect nice work, real nice. I'm getting excited and Mynock is the proud owner.
 
This thread is more than 9 years old.

Your message may be considered spam for the following reasons:

  1. This thread hasn't been active in some time. A new post in this thread might not contribute constructively to this discussion after so long.
If you wish to reply despite these issues, check the box below before replying.
Be aware that malicious compliance may result in more severe penalties.
Back
Top