Bell Bloke
Key Veteran
Location: England
| Hi stephanuccio, just thought I'd answer your questions in this section. The base coat of paint is an Acid Etch primer from a can, it's called ''Acid 8'' and it's made by U-POL, www.u-pol.com. This Acid primer needs no rubbing down to take hold of the plastic components on the heli. Next is the colour paint on the model, this is ordinary car paint from a can, paint the model to get a good finish. Then when it is dry very lightly rub it down just enough to provide a key for the fuel proofer. Next is the best bit! My inspiration for this technique came from a man who pioneered the model Film special effects industry in England. His name was Derek Meddings; he did all of the Thunderbirds series and most of the James Bond films and many others. Now if you look at models in films they are never immaculate, they always look worn or used, if you look at a real aircraft they too are never perfect. The name that Derek Meddings gave this technique was, Dirtying Down. This look is designed to simulate the wear and tear that a building or piece of matchinary might recieve in its daily life. So how to do it! Firstly the Dirtying Down should be done in sympathy with the age of the matchine or the life that it has had. Secondly dirt always accumelates in the corners so that is where you start first, and the colour of dirt is usually grey or brown/black so those are the colours to use starting with the lightest colour first and then getting darker. Thirdly, becuase it is a model and is usually seen at a distance the Dirtying Down should be exagerated slightly. Think about where the dirt would accumalate, think about the exhaust carbon where would it go, on the Lama its all over the tail and tail rotor! How about people wear and tear, the pilot’s shoes kicking the paint away exposing metal, use silver paint for this.
Anyway the technique is to use a DAMP paintbrush starting with a Dark Grey, Water Based, Acrylic tube paint. And apply it to all of your wear areas this must only be a Fine Coloration but it is built up in layers, so that you can decide when to stop.
Pencil graphite is another quick and much easyer way to Dirty Down a model, just create a pile of graphite powder from your pencil dip a dry brush in it and paint it into the corners. This is the best way to get started and gives you a good feel for the whole process.
An Airbrush can be used for some processes but unless used skillfully it can create alot of problems for a beginner, and to be honest it's very easy to over do it with an airbrush and the results can often look Clumsey and.... well, Airbrushed! Finally when you have finished your heli and you are happy with it. Fuel proof it, this will seal in the whole effect and there it will stay Permanently! Anyway Good Luck and All The Best!  |
