Bakster
Hey PG, bummer the templates didn't work out but it was a good idea. No shame in trying new things and thinking outside of the box is a good thing! In the end, you nailed it by installing them manually, they look perfect.
Hi Bakster,
Yeah the difficulties with the templates while challenging, were not a 100% loss. Thankfully enough of the missiles stayed in places that I was able to use them as markers for alignment with those placed by hand.
Bakster
I really like what you did with this model. It looks like a real and fully functioning machine. That realism is a good goal and you nailed it. Yes
So glad you like it and thank you for the praise. I spent hours fretting over the look and feel of the model. At times it brought me to a complete standstill. The one benefit of spending all that time looking at and contemplating the model is that I learned what I didn't want. It played a big role in the final look of the model.
Bakster
Question about the decals. What is your process to applying them? Did you start with a gloss layer and top coat with a flat? Just wordering what your process is because they look very good.
Apologies if I'm more verbose than desired with my response, but here's my general process for including decals on my models.
Started with a satin or gloss coat to do the first pin wash. Then applied a gloss coat over that before starting the decaling. I don't always lay down Micro Set before applying a decal. Usally it's just a little bit of water under the decal and then brush over them with Micro Set. Once that dries it's a very generous application of Micro Sol. Working in sections so as not to let it run and also to keep my fingers off of the softened decals.
In this instance it was several days of applying Micro Sol. Between coats of Micro Sol there was lots of poking holes and making tiny cuts where there was silvering.
A "trick" that seems to work for me is to let the decals get really good adherence to the surface and then brush the edges of the decals rather vigorously with Micro Sol. Some pressure is needed, but have to be careful as the decal could still lift and tear. The action of brushing the edges rather firmly with Micro Sol seems to soften the edges of the decals. I won't go so far as to say it feathers them but it appears to reduce the outline.
The next gloss coat often removes the majority of the decal's outline. When switching colors of wash I'll usually apply a very thin coat of gloss to prevent the next color from erasing or blending with the previous. Layered colors look better to my eye than blended.
Top it with a final light matte coat to affix the pastels/pigments. Usually by this point the decal looks like part of the model.
With all those clear coats there is a slight softening of detail. Perhaps there are better ways to do it but this way gives me the results I am looking for.