wan314
10-04-2014, 15:38
So I have finally complete the HMS Defence. I've been working on this for quite a while. Of course only a few hours a week.
Part of it is learning techniques (like making ratlines).
Obviously perfection is harsh mistress.
So instead of just jumping straight into the finished piece I have pictures to show the progress. If you want to see the final, go to the last few pictures.
In the beginning there was the ship out of the box. As you can see the mast is slightly bend.
11705
Thanks to the people on the forum this was rectified with the hot/cold water baths.
11706
So why the repaint. Well the next two pictures show more detail on the factory paint job.
As can be seen quite a bit of paint missing on the structure that holds the sail to the mast.
Nor are the battle tops painted consistently black and spars not black at all.
Now I have nothing to compare to, so not sure if this is the expected quality of prepainted figures. I've looked at X-wing (haven't bought) but their paint jobs are quite good. Not perfect. But then again how do I know a fictional object is painted correctly.
11707
11708
So the first step is to paint the sails. Sounds easier than it is for two reasons:
I think my paint wasn't very good and chalky. I bought better hobby paint but still had to paint multiple times.
Paint spillage. Kept getting paint on the deck and rail. I started using painters tape to do the deck.
The picture below shows just the foresail painted. The lighting is a little white washed so there seems to be too much white contrast.
11709
The next two pictures show all the sails painted.
I did highlight the tell-tales on the sail. It is just a mix of white and tan (1:1). Very subtle.
I tried dry brushing but it just became painting on the raised lines.
11710
11711
The next two pictures is where I think the model starts improving. The painting of the spars black.
Then it really popped when I paint the rope lines on the spars. That is also the white/tan mix.
Definitely picky work and half the time working with globby paint. I've got better brushes so hopefully the Frigates are easier (I have the French SOL waiting for rigging, painting already done).
11712
11713
Decisions, decisions, what color (colour http://sailsofglory.org/images/icons/icon11.png) do I paint the mast.
I tried matching the color to the original from the factory. Drove me a little more crazy.
Then I decided on yellow ochre, doesn't match the original factory paint job, but is suppose to match the actual color of the time.
Difficult to know as yellow ochre seems to come in different shades.
Well I was happy with the results and made the model that much better.
Again being a perfectionist (curse and blessing) I also paint the black ropes (http://sailsofglory.org/images/icons/icon5.png) around the mast.
I swear, if the mast were truly round it would be easier to wrap thread around it.
I tried to be very precise. I guess it was more for pictures than game play since the players are like flying 300-1000 feet above the model.
11714
11715
The next step rigging.
I used the cotton thread with white glue method from www.warartisan.com
The next photo is some standing rigging and my homemade ratlines (http://sailsofglory.org/showthread.php?2610-Home-made-Ratlanes&p=36328&viewfull=1#post36328).
I did have to cut the flag post and then reattach it.
Still wonder if I should just add a flag on an extra running rigging.
11716
And then the completion of the standing rigging (the stays).
This was hard for me since I didn't know how many to do.
I used some references and did what I though looked fine. I visually liked when the two stays start on the same point of the rail and end up in two different spots on the mast.
Later on, I also tried using weight to pull the lines tight and then glue by pushing down the tread. Used some quick drying crazy glue.
11717
And finally added the running rigging.
I used white thread and painted with a brown/golden brown (1:1). Push the thread into the paint, pull and squeeze and then add the white glue.
These are the final set of pictures.
Hope you liked the write up and of course the pictures.
I always do when others on the forum post.
Thanks
11718
11719
11720
11721
11722
11723
These are the final pictures.
Part of it is learning techniques (like making ratlines).
Obviously perfection is harsh mistress.
So instead of just jumping straight into the finished piece I have pictures to show the progress. If you want to see the final, go to the last few pictures.
In the beginning there was the ship out of the box. As you can see the mast is slightly bend.
11705
Thanks to the people on the forum this was rectified with the hot/cold water baths.
11706
So why the repaint. Well the next two pictures show more detail on the factory paint job.
As can be seen quite a bit of paint missing on the structure that holds the sail to the mast.
Nor are the battle tops painted consistently black and spars not black at all.
Now I have nothing to compare to, so not sure if this is the expected quality of prepainted figures. I've looked at X-wing (haven't bought) but their paint jobs are quite good. Not perfect. But then again how do I know a fictional object is painted correctly.
11707
11708
So the first step is to paint the sails. Sounds easier than it is for two reasons:
I think my paint wasn't very good and chalky. I bought better hobby paint but still had to paint multiple times.
Paint spillage. Kept getting paint on the deck and rail. I started using painters tape to do the deck.
The picture below shows just the foresail painted. The lighting is a little white washed so there seems to be too much white contrast.
11709
The next two pictures show all the sails painted.
I did highlight the tell-tales on the sail. It is just a mix of white and tan (1:1). Very subtle.
I tried dry brushing but it just became painting on the raised lines.
11710
11711
The next two pictures is where I think the model starts improving. The painting of the spars black.
Then it really popped when I paint the rope lines on the spars. That is also the white/tan mix.
Definitely picky work and half the time working with globby paint. I've got better brushes so hopefully the Frigates are easier (I have the French SOL waiting for rigging, painting already done).
11712
11713
Decisions, decisions, what color (colour http://sailsofglory.org/images/icons/icon11.png) do I paint the mast.
I tried matching the color to the original from the factory. Drove me a little more crazy.
Then I decided on yellow ochre, doesn't match the original factory paint job, but is suppose to match the actual color of the time.
Difficult to know as yellow ochre seems to come in different shades.
Well I was happy with the results and made the model that much better.
Again being a perfectionist (curse and blessing) I also paint the black ropes (http://sailsofglory.org/images/icons/icon5.png) around the mast.
I swear, if the mast were truly round it would be easier to wrap thread around it.
I tried to be very precise. I guess it was more for pictures than game play since the players are like flying 300-1000 feet above the model.
11714
11715
The next step rigging.
I used the cotton thread with white glue method from www.warartisan.com
The next photo is some standing rigging and my homemade ratlines (http://sailsofglory.org/showthread.php?2610-Home-made-Ratlanes&p=36328&viewfull=1#post36328).
I did have to cut the flag post and then reattach it.
Still wonder if I should just add a flag on an extra running rigging.
11716
And then the completion of the standing rigging (the stays).
This was hard for me since I didn't know how many to do.
I used some references and did what I though looked fine. I visually liked when the two stays start on the same point of the rail and end up in two different spots on the mast.
Later on, I also tried using weight to pull the lines tight and then glue by pushing down the tread. Used some quick drying crazy glue.
11717
And finally added the running rigging.
I used white thread and painted with a brown/golden brown (1:1). Push the thread into the paint, pull and squeeze and then add the white glue.
These are the final set of pictures.
Hope you liked the write up and of course the pictures.
I always do when others on the forum post.
Thanks
11718
11719
11720
11721
11722
11723
These are the final pictures.