Looking at the small size and the sheer numbers of the snub fighters, is it really that important to prime them prior to painting? I don't feel like taking my air brush out for something that tiny and that many.
Colouring the snub fighters
That's really up to you. I found sharpies + ink to be adequate for my needs/skills. But if you want top-notch results you would certainly have to go through the whole process.
I don't think its necessary to prime the fighters before painting. I didn't prime my fighters but I don't think there's any harm in it either. (I used to prime my BFG fighters and bombers and they're half the size that Armadas squadrons are, so it shouldn't kill the details) I can't nail it down, but something about the plastic that FFG uses seems to have more adhesion for paint than most that I've dealt with. If you can find an ideal colour, then I see nothing wrong with using said primer as a basecoat either. I don't have too much experience with an airbrush, but I remember hearing that something about the atomized particles on most plastics can work as a half-decent substitute anyway.
It might help to run a warm water and soap bath for all the fighters, then let them air dry on a serviette or towelette before you start painting. That way there should be no lingering oils or mold release agents to gum the model up. Then paint them as you see fit. Still, I will advocate for using a matte varnish on fighters after they are chemically dry (give it a day or two). This can remove some of the worries about the paint rubbing off easier and I'd recommend it even with primer on.
So is priming necessary? No, but it certainly can't hurt (especially with more handling), and in some cases it can really be a helpful time saver.
Edited by VykesHmmm.... The plastic does feel as though it accepts paint easily.
Anyway, what's a sharpie?
Yep, I used that set along with a silver sharpie & both white and yellow, fine point paint markers. Honestly the worst part is blacking the inside of the Bombers and advanced panels. It is a tight fit.
I skipped the insides on mine for now
I still have x2 GSD and x2 VSD to go before I get to the snubs. I realise the cockpit for X isn't that pronounced.
Aye, the cockpit for X-wings isn't that pronounced and so far those fiddly T-65's have the most irritating mold lines to clean off. In short, I find X-wings to be the biggest pain to paint with a brush.
I'm just going to leave the mould seams there but if it's too much, I'll have to take out my modelling jnife. It's amazing to see who you guys managed to pick up X's cockpit details
Here is what you can do with a bit if patience. You can do a lot better if you take more time.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0VSNzmthd1vfjI3aGh1bU5ld2NQeUotZXA3Tmt0UE1CVHhwQUxKVUtYQzU1TEhyVkhKZ1E&authuser=0
The squadron plastic is ridiculously annoying to slice/scrape mould lines off of. The stuff doesn't want to let go, and you'll often find a mould line "hair" hanging on by a thread when you thought you'd taken it completely off.
Some of them can also be kind of tough to see. All of my A-Wings have a line down the port nose because I couldn't see it before priming. 
But the squadron plastic itself allows to paint to easily adhere w/o any priming right?
That is my experience so far. I just couldn't bring myself to prime them. so far, no issues.
As for the mold lines, I used a tiny file to get the worst of them.
You said it, Gibarian. Scraping and cutting it clean is frustrating enough, but the plastic hairs just cling, and the X-wing S-foils are the worst for me. TIE fighters have an irritatingly deep misalignment on the inside of the panel, but they file down with a bit of help from an emery board. The same thing just doesn't fit well with the X-wing.
I tend to wash all my rebel fighters in a light blue or a dark umber just to bring out all the details I need to paint and create an artificial shadow... those mold lines love frustrating me because of that. The Tie series hasn't been too bad, a modeling knife clears it up, but those X-wings.... ugh.
But aye, Cruiser. The paint holds good in my experience (I like my Y's, and they aren't showing any wear, despite the fact that I ran out of varnish before I could get to them). I didn't prime it and I've played probably 20 odd games so far without any damage to any of my squadrons. That's usually the time that I'd start to see some scuffs and chips on the leading edges of a hard plastic or metal model that wasn't primed. I'd still say a matte varnish is best after the fact, but that might just be habit and insurance.
Those permanent markers/sharpies seem to hold surprisingly well to plastic (I didn't use any on fighters, but I did use one on some of the clear packaging plastic that I cut into 'squadron base marker chits' and it's holding nice.)
Oh, and before I forget, Mike, I do really love those full-spectrum TIEs.
Edited by VykesI don't plan on using shrpies on the snubs. I'm going to paint them with what ever Tamiya colours that I have though it's limited to the common ship and tank colours. I think I may still be able to pull it off as shown by my NebB, CR90 and RAF repaints.
The interesting part would be pulling off different paint schemes and/or squadron markings since I plan to attach 3 generic squadron to 1 hero squadron.
I don't prime my rebel fighters at all...I wash all my fighters in an undiluted ink wash, then let the ink dry, then dry brush P3 Menoth white highlight over the fighters lightly to pick out the details of the model... After that just pick what color you want for your fighters markings.
On the markings and details I use a precision brush. Key thing is have a steady hand and keep the bristles pointy.
You can check out my fighters on my Armada Facebook page since for some reason the files are too big to fit on the forums.
It may give you some ideas or a guide to colors to use. And I will agree with everyone else the X-Wings are the toughest to paint but take your time and it will turn out great
I primed mine with Gesso and, being a bit goopy, took away some of the scuplt details du to the smallish depth of the scuplts. Its ok, but a bit muddled.
Well, I stripped then quickly painted up a squadron/group of X-wings. I'm still not pleased about them, but I suppose I can say 'if you need straight, dark lines to differentiate sub-panels, Micron pens are good'. I think I went overboard, so these fighters might be returned to the Simple Green vats before sundown. Or they could just be cursed. If I do strip them, then I'll prime them with a dark umber primer and see if a primed and maroon colour scheme does anything different.
On the topic of colours, what does everyone think of non-star warsy colour palettes? There does seem to be a rather limited selection of patterns and colours that seem 'canonical' where as metallics and brighter shades just don't seem to be used all that much (the naboo fighter is the only exception I can think of).
Edited by VykesWell, I stripped then quickly painted up a squadron/group of X-wings. I'm still not pleased about them, but I suppose I can say 'if you need straight, dark lines to differentiate sub-panels, Micron pens are good'. I think I went overboard, so these fighters might be returned to the Simple Green vats before sundown. Or they could just be cursed. If I do strip them, then I'll prime them with a dark umber primer and see if a primed and maroon colour scheme does anything different.
On the topic of colours, what does everyone think of non-star warsy colour palettes? There does seem to be a rather limited selection of patterns and colours that seem 'canonical' where as metallics and brighter shades just don't seem to be used all that much (the naboo fighter is the only exception I can think of).
Wow.... Your X-wings just blew my A-wings out of the water.
Here's my A-wings. Full description is in the link below.
All I did was just to paint them using Tamiya colours and just washed them. I'm putting dull coat on them later to seal the whole thing.
Speaking about non-Star Wars colour pallets, it really does work very well. My RAF has D-Day stripes and follows C-47 Dakota colours, my NebB follows US Navy's Measure 22 while CR90 follows WW2 IJN planes. The A-wings follow the Tuskegee Airmen.
As promised, here's the full link to my A-wings
https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/178994-cruiser2710s-repaints/
Well, I stripped then quickly painted up a squadron/group of X-wings. I'm still not pleased about them, but I suppose I can say 'if you need straight, dark lines to differentiate sub-panels, Micron pens are good'. I think I went overboard, so these fighters might be returned to the Simple Green vats before sundown. Or they could just be cursed. If I do strip them, then I'll prime them with a dark umber primer and see if a primed and maroon colour scheme does anything different.
On the topic of colours, what does everyone think of non-star warsy colour palettes? There does seem to be a rather limited selection of patterns and colours that seem 'canonical' where as metallics and brighter shades just don't seem to be used all that much (the naboo fighter is the only exception I can think of).
Dude, those look like the old Games Workshop painting style, back when they did in house battle reports.
First and foremost, apologies in advance for a long rambly post. I am sincerely interested in how people are colouring their fighters (rebels, imperials, the methods involved, and what people think is a good idea aesthetically.)
Heyas Grave, I'm liking what I see for those facebook pictures. It's a good mix between good detail and high visibility. I'm particularly liking those Y's: the distinct flight and squadron marks really does it for me. Are you using a P3 black ink wash, nuln oil, or something like Magic wash? I'm just wondering if the shadows come out shiny (I use a P3 armour wash for my TIE cockpits and it's shiny).
I primed mine with Gesso and, being a bit goopy, took away some of the scuplt details du to the smallish depth of the scuplts. Its ok, but a bit muddled.
z22, how have you found the qualities of Gesso on something that small? I have a few friends who used it religious only on 28mm stuff from 'Grandma Wendy' and I even have some of that stuff around, but I've never been sure how well it holds to bare plastic compared to canvas. While any loss of details hurts, most of these fighters are pretty geometric; so I'm wondering if it might even help temper any of those lingering mold lines. Oh, and does it brighten the paint job up like a traditional light coloured primer?
Speaking about non-Star Wars colour pallets, it really does work very well. My RAF has D-Day stripes and follows C-47 Dakota colours, my NebB follows US Navy's Measure 22 while CR90 follows WW2 IJN planes. The A-wings follow the Tuskegee Airmen.
I like those A wings, I'm tempted to try out a metallic colour scheme but I just haven't had the guts to try anything far outside the usual Star Wars colour palette (Tempted to try rose copper and dark stains).
Aye, I spotted the RAF and I love the Tuskegee Reds. I really will admit, I never thought that they would work so well together on such different air frames. I like it, the flight/squadron feels authentic. More over, the subdued colours just seem to fit with a few vibrant splashes here and there. Keep at it mate, I'd like to see some other representations too (all mine are the relatively blasé base Star Wars colours) .
Did you find any chipping or rubbing on those A-wings? Did Tamaya acrylics hold well? (I found Vallejo holds slightly better than citadel, for instance. I notice a bit of rubbing on the blue cannon mounts of those X-wings which had to be fixed up before the varnishing. The grey held great.)
Dude, those look like the old Games Workshop painting style, back when they did in house battle reports.
Oh, many thanks Cynan. I'm a big fan of those earlier GW battle reports, especially the older BFG magazine and the late 90's/ early 2000 era stuff.
Edited by VykesWell Vykes, for ships, I spray Mr Finishing Surface 1500 Black onto my ships using my air brush. Of course that primer hs to be thinned with the corresponding Mr Colour Thinner 110. That thinner is for that black primer and Mr Colour paints. There after I thin my Tamya paints in about 1:1 ratio or slightly more thinner and load it into the air brush. If you want to make something like the D-Day stripes or masking, Tamiya's masking tape is great since the tackiness is enough to hold on to the model surface, yet not strong to lift the paint it's sitting on. Do have a 0 or 00 or smaller brush in hand for the modules and other dribbles that you want to pick up.
For the snubs, I just thin my Tamiyas into the workable consistency and it straight goes onto it using a 0 and 000 brush. Actually, I was rather hesitant on using silvery colour on it but it turned out nice and even greater after washing. I think among all my squadrons, colouring Luke's and Wedgie's squadron would be a walk in the park compared to Fel's Flying Circus.
If you are using the white, black, or grey primer from Vallejo with your airbrush, it also serves as a good base color. It's what I recommend.