I'm painting up a HWK (a really grubby looking one!). Normally I just add paint on top of the existing stuff but I had to strip this one down. My problem is getting the glass to match the prepainted ones:



Any advice?

Ardcoat by Citadel

I assume that's their shiny varnish? I've only used them in sprays before, can you get it in brush on form then? I should probably varnish the rest of the model too, is there a Matt one you'd reccomend?

http://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/forum/427-x-wing-repaints-and-conversions/

Ooh, when did we get that sub forum? And how do I move the thread?

by the way, if anyone has any other suggestions for my paint job they're welcome.

Ooh, when did we get that sub forum? And how do I move the thread?

by the way, if anyone has any other suggestions for my paint job they're welcome.

We got it last week (along with some other subforums for squad building and whatnot). I don't think you can move your thread. You might want to make a new one in that subforum, though.

Ardcoat by Citadel will be your best friend. Its basically brush-on-gloss. I use it in most all my repaints, after hitting the whole model with matte spray. I use it on guns/cockpits and sometimes the very center of engines. Looks/works great! Good luck finding it locally though... I have 4 or 5 shops locally that sell Citadel stuff, only 1 had it. One bottle will last you a very, very long time.

Vallejo black and some gloss coat works as well.. I have a bottle of testors gloss paint on and it is great for doing canopies on these.

I've used Testors semi-gloss black acrylic. It's almost a perfect match to whatever FFG uses.

We should move this to the painting and modeling forum, but to add my .02,

When Oneway said to use vallejo, i couldn't second that more. Their black has a really glossy look to it to begin with, add some gloss varnish to the black paint to make it super glossy, then coat it with more varnish to make that cockpit reflect more light than it absorbs. Trust me, that thing will be so glossy that it will look like its 6 miles deep.

For a couple of my advanceds I did an undercoat of red, then used a black wash and then gloss coated the glass..I think they look awesome and then did the 3 royal guard ties I have

For a couple of my advanceds I did an undercoat of red, then used a black wash and then gloss coated the glass..I think they look awesome and then did the 3 royal guard ties I have

yeah, using an alternate color under the black helps a lot too. next time you try it, try using a burgundy/dark red undercoat for the cockpit, then mix red and black wash together in a 50/50 mix. slap that on, and then roll it together after that dries with another coat of red/black mix, and gloss coat that. i used it on some salamanders i did on commission and it really snapped.

you can also use purple, its equally as good. Ill dig up some pics if i can find them.

That could be cool, I just wanted the red light effect in the cockpits...

it gives the red lighting, its just more gradient with the red wash behind it.

Thanks guys! I think Games Workshop is closed on Tuesdays, but I'll have a look in my FLGS this lunch time and if they don't have any I'll order some online.

So what about their Purity Seal spray? Should I use that for the rest of the model? If so, how would you advise I apply it without getting it on the glass sections? Masking tape?

Thanks guys! I think Games Workshop is closed on Tuesdays, but I'll have a look in my FLGS this lunch time and if they don't have any I'll order some online.

So what about their Purity Seal spray? Should I use that for the rest of the model? If so, how would you advise I apply it without getting it on the glass sections? Masking tape?

I would go with a Vallejo matte varnish and a wash to bring out the lines in your panels; I would use Secret Weapon Wash: Sapphire in the blue area and Sewer Water in the brown area, it will have a nice effect on this model.

Masking tape or silly putty; I recommend silly putty in this instance for the ability to cover without ANY risk of pulling your finish off the glass sections.

I got Vallejo Still Water. I have to try it out first, but I think thats what you are looking for.

EDIT: I tried Still Water and failed to replicate the perfection of FFG Slave I Paintjob. I ordered now Clear Varnish and Ardcoat and try that. I hope thats better.

Thanks for your help guys. I've used Ardcoat and got a nice shine. Doesn't have the smoothness of FFG's finish, but I like it

Edit: didn't come out very well in that picture, it's actually very black and very shiny, just a bit lumpy looking!