How to Make a Blue Squadron B-wing

Smart Way

• Get a B-wing Expansion B-wing.
• Paint the gray bits blue.

• Get a Rebel Aces B-wing.
• Try to strip it with Simple Green, so the high-contrast markings don't show through the base coat and the cracks will take wash better.
• Accidentally break the starboard gun trying to scrub paint off.
• Fail to remove any paint after half a day.
• Switch to brake fluid.
• Fail to remove any paint except some wash and one big flake off the main wing after another half-day.
• Leave the model in brake fluid overnight.
• Discover brake fluid ate through the longer lower gun.
• Glue starboard gun back on. Leave lower one as-is because it still has its short barrel and looks OK.
• Mix paint to try to match the first B-wing's base color.
• Apply basecoat.
• Discover that the few flakes that did strip off show through as gulleys.
• Wash the model.
• Detail the model. (Including the canopy. Stupid canopy.)
• Stamp on those orange circles, since freehanding them won't be clean enough.
• Drop the model on the floor during play and break off the short lower barrel too.
• Scratch-build replacements for both lower barrels.

Sounds like Murphy decided to take notice of you. Oh well at least you are a few experiences richer from this repaint.

I like the B Wing on the right. It has a sort of lived in feel.

I strip my minis regularly. I use Mr Hobby thinner. A cotton swab dipped in thinner works well with a little scrubbing and I can get 80-90% of paint off in a short time, I don't tend to over-aggressively strip however. Key is just to use small amounts of thinner on the swab and 'scrub' the paint off. Then I prime with a thin mix of Mr Hobby surfacer 1200 and thinner before repainting.

In the interest of full disclosure: My brother has used the exact same methods (and thinner) but has had problems with some of his ships breaking up when he strips paint. I've never had that problem over half a dozen re-skins for my ships, and despite discussions I can't figure out what he is doing differently.

I laughed way too hard at this. Awesome thread!

I LOL'd pretty hard too.

Don't forget:

18. Remember that you forgot to put the lid on blue paint. Cat tipped over and decided to walk in it. Follow cat footprints a'la Family Circle to find the culprit. Find that cat has a fetish for your wife's under pants and he also drank all your beer.

19. Lie to wife. Blame the above on cat...