Making a practice 1/537 model for aztec painting in airbrush, getting ready for 1/350 build

[Tarekcryptor]

After painstakingly, and horrifically watched certain areas of my paint job on my saucer get destroyed, it was soo hard to see her like this after sanding her new rim down smooth. I can almost see her crying in pain. I was about to

 

[Tarekcryptor]

Wanted to go back before it took a swan-dive and show you how good it looked before with its spotlight test pic. My favorite pic thus far!! Did it with a #3 dental mirror with an led strapped into the base. Ill clean that up before im done. It will be this good again. I swear it.

 

[Tarekcryptor]

Anyway, Here is the mess of what the new rim looked like before I sanded it. The UV light shows you the mess that exists even though invisible.

After 2 days of filling, drying sanding and painting I got the rim back to a proper smooth circumference. It looks SOOO much better and all the electronics are working flawlessly, even though I have to drill the holes and repaint certain aztec patterns on certain panels over and redecal the rim. I dont care it looks proper again and it took ALOT of work. Seriously guys, if your not modeling with your 3d printers excess UV resin, your missing a serious opportunity. This has had some major ups and downs as you have with this kit because of the manufactured defects and inaccuracies, I did learn what I started out to learn and that was masking aztec and paneling, as well as airbrushing said panels onto model with translucent custom mixed mica paints and I learned to mix, reduce, and airbrush 7 colors in total! I didn't know airbrushing when I started, but I sure as hell got it down to a science now. A demonstration of that is the galaxy clouds and star halos I painted on the base. At least thats coming out on the first attempt. **See very last pic in this column.** I had to reinforce it for the excess weight but it is coming out nicely! There thats all my updates for the last week. Let me know how I did so far!

 

[division 6]

Great recovery.
Can't wait to see it finished.

 

[Tarekcryptor]

Thank you for the compliment. I hope the recovery keeps the momentum. So far it has. I redrilled the proper holes for the windows and it came out perfectly aligned and accurately placed. I made a drilling template out of an old lotion bottle lol. Whatever works right? I filled the new holes with elmers to match the other holes and the results are breathtaking when lit up. It required some filing and sanding but the resin held up and it came out WAY better than the original windows. These are sized right and accurately placed and drilled which I had no intention of doing but being I had to rebuild the rim , I just ran with it. Ill post more pics as I go. Its touching up paint and aztec patterns next. *Hail mary**

 

[Tarekcryptor]

One thing I will say is that at least its even with the saucer all the way around now and completely smooth despite how it may photograph, it looks soo much better. The engines falling off turned out to be a blessing as well because I was able to put them back on better aligned and symmetrical than before, improving the overall look of the ship format and profile.

 

[Tarekcryptor]

This was what it looked like before I repainted the saucer rim and drilled holes etc. I knew I would have to touch up some areas but this was heartbreaking knowing I have to redo the aztec around the rim edge and whatnot. So far its going great but the first time was great I just want to get back to then hopefully.