So I've just started on my first repaint. It's the HWK-290. I'm affectionately calling it 'The Dirty Bird' based on it's coloration at the moment.

So I started with a basic gray undercoat. I was surprised at how well it covered the brown of the model.

I followed that up with a beige.

Then a soft black wash (I picked up the tips for this in another thread).

And a second coat of a thicker black wash. I'm pretty happy with where I stand but obviously need to hit up some of the fine details, like the windows, engines, and guns.

And I will say, I'm pretty noob when it comes to painting minis, but these are pretty easy. So if anyone is considering trying their hand it, I'd say give it a go!

looking good so far!

Excellent progress, I'll be watching this with keen interest! ^.^

The wash really makes these models stand out. My first HWK I used a heavy wash on it and achieved an overall darker color to it.. I need to repaint the other, but too many irons in the fire.. lol..

After seeing this I may do the same thing. One thing I never really liked about that ship was how it stood out from the uniform coloring of the other rebel ships. So far so good. Can't wait to see your finished version.

So far so good...

I realize now I probably should've done some accent coloring before adding the wash. This means I may have to go back and do a wash, when I add them in.

Looking at some other models on here, I definitely want to do the engines, windows, and hatch. I'm also thinking green accents (like a forest or slightly lighter.) I have this Desert Storm motif in my head, for some reason. And if I really like the outcome, my other ships may get a similar treatment. I like the idea of flying squads that have some uniformity.

Well.. technically speaking, the rebel ships shouldn't be uniform... they're supposed to be rag tag... the fact that they had X wings that were all alike just shows they stole ships at the same time from the same place.. sure with some time they could paint them alike, but defeats the idea of them being able to scatter and remain anonymous. Once the rebels win, sure have unit paint schemes and unit symbols...

I'm not super happy with how the windows came out so I may do some retouching there - that trim is a biatch! I am happy with the gray panels and will likely do more. Still need to add the red engine glow. I may stay away from an accent color as previously intended.

Nice progress. Those windows will scare me when I start repainting. I do not have a steady hand

I'm thinking I should use a playing card or something to create a hard edge to paint against to get a better line.

I like the muted color you went with. The HWK's bright brown doesn't look right compared to the other ships in the game.

Nataris: I don't have a steady hand either. What I've found works for me is to hold the mini in one hand, brush in the other, and press a part (finger, palm, etc.) of each hand together. It seems to make my hands shake together, thus making them steady in relation to each other. Maybe I'm fooling myself, but when I started doing that, my lines ended up being a lot straighter.

Looking good man! Keep on going and don't be afraid to mess up.... it's the best way to learn!

Nataris: I don't have a steady hand either. What I've found works for me is to hold the mini in one hand, brush in the other, and press a part (finger, palm, etc.) of each hand together. It seems to make my hands shake together, thus making them steady in relation to each other. Maybe I'm fooling myself, but when I started doing that, my lines ended up being a lot straighter.

This is the technique I use - perfected over years of being the exacto knife king for a local newspaper. The problem is that the brushes don't hold a consistent amount of pain, or maintain a constant shape. Like I said, I think if I put a card next to the lines I want to firm up, I can get a better line. Will try and touch them up tonight.

A technique which might work with the windows would be to paint the whole windows silver first (the trim colour) then slowly build up the black in the middle of the windows getting as close as you dare to the edges without touching them.

Keep a moist clean brush or cotton bud handy to remove any spots where your black paint touches the finished trim.

Final apply layers of black wash to the windows. The wash will naturally build up next to the trim and should blend the black of the windows in.

Actually you might get away with just using washes instead of black paint as this would give a slightly mirrored effect to the glass.

Grayed a few more panels and straightened up the windows a bit. All in all, I'm pretty happy. The engines do need attention though - I got impatient and tried some stuff when I didn't really have the right colors and they look dumb.

I think it looks better in person than it does in the pic.