This project has proved more tricky than others recently.
My choice of colours/materials has led to unforeseen problems, and the sheer number of models in this project has proved daunting (6 frigates, 6 escorts, 4 destroyers, 1 Dreadnought = 17 models – the last project was 5!)
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| The Escorts. Not sure about the orange energy thing now. |
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| Virtually finished Bulwarks |
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| The beginnings of a freehand snake |
The Slate blue brilliant watercolour a) soaked straight in to grey undercoat – it worked fine over interference purple and b) ‘sours’ any white that I try to paint onto it, leaving a dull pale blue. Not so good when I was planning lots of white lines.
As a result I’ve gone over the white lines with liquitex fluorescent purple – but even that isn’t as bright as I’d have liked. It’s almost been a case of ‘back to the drawing board’
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Overhead view of a Bulwark frigate.
They're quite slim from that angle. |
Anyway, even with those setbacks, I’ve been soldiering on. I corrected the grey undercoat/slate blue problem by switching it for Citadel Asurmen Blue wash (which I daresay
I won’t be able to get any more of – might as well use it up.
This gave the effect I was looking for on the engines – a nice slate grey. I highlighted afterwards with a 0.7mm POSCA Metallic blue pen.
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| Another frigate with black/green/white motif |
It was also useful for achieving the dull glow on the top of the gun nacelles on the Bulwark Frigates.
I decided the pale green looked a bit bland, so I have added a little bit of design to the undersides – at first with a
Liquitex Green Gold – an olive green colour that, if applied lightly, becomes a dark greeny yellow – but the difference between that and the original Basil Green was negligible, so I over painted with
Secret weapon washes’ ‘Baby Poop’ – another olive green (and not at all like the colour they show on their webpage).
I’m really hoping to have some finished models to show you all next time – so fingers crossed!
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| Fin detail on the frigates |
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| The phoenix destroyers with a test 'rense' logo on the upper example |
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| I continued the same lower body pattern across all four Phoenix destroyers |
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| The power cascades light up on the dreadnought |
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| Rear view. I still have to work on the engines. |
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| Close up of power cascades. I need to brighten these - they've suffered from the watercolour basecoat and darkened. |
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The main bridge. I've had to bite the bullet and opt for
multiple coats of white on the bridge window areas. |
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| Front fork and main weapon detail |
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| Three-quarter side view of the dreadnought |
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| View from the front |
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| The engines are starting to get there |
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I'm saving all the fancy bits on this 'til last -
I'd like this one to be right |
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| Overhead Phoenix - a classic crucifix. |
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| The flight of the... [gets coat] |
