How to add depth to large Scale monotone models?

greasyspoon · Post by **greasyspoon** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 4:59 pm

How do you add depth to basically monotone large scale models like the TOS Cylon Basestar, TOS Battlestar Galactica, and SW Star Destroyers? I was thinking of working on my TOS Cylon Basestar but I was thinking of how to paint it but I am not sure how. They don’t have Aztec patterns like star trek, but if I paint one color it will look flat. I am afraid a dark wash would shrink the scale look down or leave rings on the large open areas. Dry brushing would help, but I am not sure if it is enough. What tips and tricks do you use?

Mr. Badwrench · Post by **Mr. Badwrench** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 8:51 pm

Some sort of color modulation. There are all kinds of ways to do this, preshading, post fading, panel masking. They can all be used to break up large, flat surfaces. A quick example is in this week's reader's gallery, where Fred Smith uses panel shading to break up his Romulan Warbird:

http://www.starshipmodeler.co/gallery15 ... 3_rom.html

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Wed Apr 02, 2014 12:10 pm

And simple pre/post shading can work wonders.

dizzyfugu · Post by **dizzyfugu** » Thu Apr 03, 2014 10:44 am

Second that. I just work with brushes, but found these to be very effective:

a) a black ink wash. highly thinned and rubbed off so that the pigments only stick to engravings and edges. Adds depth, and depending on how thorough you do this, it also weathers the surface visually.

b) Counter-shading of areas /panels with a slighly lighter tone than the basic one. Difference should be subtle and I apply this with a flat, soft brush - airbrush with darker panel lines first does more or less the same, but you can do this technique with a brush, too. Enhances impact of a)

c) do some careful dry brushing with a lighter basic tone, with a soft brush and only a few paint pigments that cling to edges. This points out details, but on small scale vehicles (1:100 or less) this can easily look "dirty"; needs practice.

For each technique you need some practice, but the difference with or without them is IMHO dramatic.

There's a lot you can do/try!

Post by **TER-OR** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:11 pm

Save the black ink for the deep details, use Neutral Gray or Payne's Gray for most other paneling etc. - and don't forget if you've got a color other than gray as your base to wash with a darkened base color, not black!

Shading is paramount to give depth. You can start dark and work light, or start with the base, then dark and light highlights and then overcoat with base color to tone and mediate everything.

I do a lot of monotone aircraft, here are some examples.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ter-or/se ... 297836353/

This shows some shading technique in progress:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ter-or/se ... 373328365/

Heavy UV fading on the Ventura:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ter-or/se ... 404342769/

Post by **TER-OR** » Wed Apr 09, 2014 8:40 pm

Oh, and use different shades of gray - some are blueish, some green. Where it makes sense, panel them off - you can always lightly overcoat with your base again to blend them back.

greasyspoon · Post by **greasyspoon** » Thu Apr 10, 2014 11:19 am

preshadeing like you did is what I had in mind. The Basestar maybe a little trouble to do with all the bits and bobs on it. But it should work.

CaptBillD · Post by **CaptBillD** » Wed Sep 17, 2014 12:59 pm

I'm a little late to the party, but here's a pic of a studio replica showing the subtle blue-gray panel pattern the filming model had:

http://squaremodels.com/basestar/images/043.jpg

Edit: Found the whole gallery:

http://www.byyourcommand.net/cylongalle ... ?album=191

Mr. Badwrench · Post by **Mr. Badwrench** » Sat Sep 20, 2014 10:12 pm

That first image is from Square Models, Sean Sides' website.

CaptBillD · Post by **CaptBillD** » Thu Sep 25, 2014 3:53 pm

Yup. Well researched, but a replica.