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How to paint dark color schemes

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  • Member since
    June 2017
How to paint dark color schemes
Posted by JugRunner on Monday, June 12, 2017 8:59 AM

Hi all - im about to embark on a couple builds of US Navy aircraft that involve the ubiquitous overall dark navy blue finish. I'm concerned that i'll wind up wih a monotone navy blue blob when i'm finished without using the proper techniques.

Anybody out there have some recommendations on how to apply a dark monotone finsh in such a way that it remains visually appealing? Such as the proper primer color to use for the undercoat, how to apply highlights and shadows to enhance the 3D effect, etc. would be greatly appreciated!  

Many thanks for anybhelp provided...

 

 

 

concerned 

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Poland
Posted by Pawel on Monday, June 12, 2017 3:13 PM

Hello!

Well, you have to use your imagination - and look at lots of 1:1 photos, too! As for tricks it could help to lighten the colour a bit - the more the smaller the model is going to be. Smaller objects really tend to look darker than they should - this is known as the scale effect. At first I didn't like the idea, but then when you get used to the thought that there is NO SUCH THING as 100% accurate colour in modelling, you just have to be in the ballpark. Then there's is fading caused by the sun and sea salt spray, and exhaust grime. So try to get some nice contrast on your aircraft - from definitely lightened spots in the middle of large flat upper panels, to dark crevices where oil and crud corrosion would accumulate and you should be OK. Remember to look at the photos! Good luck with your builds and have a nice day

Paweł

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 8:53 AM

Any photos I do on my finished models, I do outside in sunlight, just to get realistic shadows.  If you try to duplicate sunlight shadows in one lighting condition, I feel they look funny with other lighting.

You can weather that solid blue to add some interest.  I mix up a whitened mix of the color and airbrush just a very thin coat on the top of the fuselage (while the canopy is still masked, top of wings, and top of horizontal tail surfaces.  On the top of fuselage area, I round the corner a bit so an even lighter coat goes on the upper fuselage sides.  This lightened coat represents paint chalking due to sunlight exposure.

Other weathering also enhances such monochrome paint schemes- oil and hydraulic stains, exhaust stains, etc.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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