MF ESB Archive-X Paintup

[PropReplicator2]

I figured it has been quite some time since I have done a paintup. I believe the last couple I did all got sold here or on the RPF. Around Spring of last year, I got a super nice MinuteFett ESB cast from another member here for a good price. Now that its been sitting on the shelf for a while, it is definitely time to start painting! This will be my first paintup using Archive-X acrylics instead of my usual humbrol enamel paint up.

As always, my masking fluid is applied with tooth picks, layered paint is applied with an airbrush, and my topical paints are applied with fine paintbrushes from Walmart and more toothpicks. Nothing fancy!

I already knocked out the back panels over the last several weeks. Started with a base of fine primer, and started laying on color. Next a layer of dark grime. I used Humbrol liquid mask to mask off the damaged area, then applied a 2:1 mix of Dark Green and Engine Black.

Next, I traced out the areas where the SP Lark Dark Gray, Vallejo model air aluminum, and custom light gray/blue mix would be topically applied. Lastly I mixed light green with a small amount of light gray until the right color was achieved for the scratches on the left hand back panel.

I am actively cutting out Rafal's template for the upper and lower cheeks, and plan to be better about documenting the next steps as I go. Stay tuned!

 

[lowberg]

Following this build! Thanks for going over the colors with each step, I'm going to be painting a lid this year using Archive X for the first time (I also have only used Humbrol in the past) so I appreciate in depth steps!

 

[PropReplicator2]

Following this build! Thanks for going over the colors with each step, I'm going to be painting a lid this year using Archive X for the first time (I also have only used Humbrol in the past) so I appreciate in depth steps!

I am absolutely horrible with documenting updates throughout this process because I do it in little bursts. However, I am forcing myself to get better for the sake of this thread. It wont be a tutorial, but it should be relatively easy to follow paint mixes, techniques, and order of operations when painting an ESB helmet.

 

[BudaFett]

I love a solid back panel WIP!

 

[PropReplicator2]

I love a solid back panel WIP!

It's definitely my favorite part of the ESB helmet.

 

[PropReplicator2]

I got some spare time today and started layering the cheeks. This is a good time to note that it is okay to make mistakes! I thinned the acrylic too much yesterday and it caused really bad runs on the cheeks. However, I was able to correct it by using 0000 steel wool to smooth out the drips, then cleaned the surface and resprayed with properly thinned paint.

I used Lark Dark Gray for the upper and lower cheeks. Then masked off the lower cheeks and sprayed Engine Black on the uppers after masking everything off with a toothpick.

Stay tuned for the lower cheeks and dome getting sprayed in the morning!

 

[PropReplicator2]

And the green is dried! I jumped ahead of myself and painted it last night because I just couldn't wait. Im trying something a little different with the dome and I did the silver as a layered color, and will be adding the small scratches and gray patches topically prior to applying killstripes.

For the green, I used a 4:1 mix of Light Green and Lark Light Gray, and misted with a VERY light coat of Earth to shift the color a little bit.

 

[PropReplicator2]

Last night I stenciled everything put on the dome and added the Lark Dark Gray damage to the dome and the small Lark Dark Gray details to the cheeks that were still needed.
Then, I added the black misting around the dent and on the lower potions of the cheeks. Today if I have time, I will be adding the last bit of silver damage to the dome topically (small scratches and two small sections near the dent). Then we press forward to the mandibles!

 

[BudaFett]

That's looking really great! I do have a question...do you plan to remove the rest of the lip after you've finished?

 

[PropReplicator2]

BudaFett Thanks for the compliment! I plan on removing the lip at the very end and repainting those edges prior to doing final weathering. That was not the initial plan, but I had realized it was not taken care of once the silver layer was dried. Nothing a little touch up won't take care of later!

In other news, I got killstripes laid on tonight! SP Armor Yellow as the base and then mixed up a cup with the same yellow and some Scarlet Red until I got the orange that I liked. Then slowly misted it over the aft yellow killstripes until I got the color I wanted.

I still have plenty of touch up to do around these areas before starting the red, but for now, progress is progress!